Latest news with #childrenhospital
Zawya
6 days ago
- Health
- Zawya
World Health Organization (WHO) hands over supplies to Al Sabbah Children Hospital, South Sudan's only children hospital
Al Sabbah children hospital is the only tertiary referral children's hospital in South Sudan with a stabilization center receiving children with severe acute malnutrition from all parts of the country. This translates into the high demand for medical supplies and equipment for the hospital to be able to tend to the one thousand children coming to the center each month. Despite the stretch, Al Sabbah children hospital runs with slightly over 100 health workers and still manages to provide clinical training to students from both public and private institutions. The nutrition team of the World Health Organization (WHO) in South Sudan has been a longstanding partner and advocate for the hospital to benefit from technical and logistical support in critical areas. Dr Joseph Elias, the acting Executive Director of Al Sabbah is appreciative of WHO's support: 'We know that the patients exceed the hospital's capacity which affects the access to timely and quality healthcare. Having partners such as WHO supporting Al Sabbah children hospital is a godsend for both the health workers and the families.' said Dr Elias. On 21 July, WHO handed over pediatric beds, mattresses, oxygen concentrators, spare parts, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) kits and pulse oximeters to the management of Al Sabbah children hospital. The medical supplies and equipment were procured with funding from the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO). The handover was an emotional moment for the personnel who often have more patients than beds and less supplies than they need to treat them. Betty Achan has been a nutritionist at Al Sabbah children hospital stabilization center for over a decade: 'Look at this beautiful ward. These beds were really needed. Receiving them from WHO was a relief. We have so many children, and it is heartbreaking to tell a family that you have nowhere to put their sick child. Please go be our ambassadors and advocate more. We need more over everything because the demand is so high.' Said Betty. South Sudan faces many challenges, particularly in the health sector, and children are among the most vulnerable. Based on the hospital's monthly pediatric death audits, 50% of deaths occurring at Al Sabbah are recorded at the stabilization center. Over the first quarter of 2025, mortality rates at the center range between 14% and 19%. The main causes of the alarming rates being Malaria, Pneumonia, Sepsis and Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) which is particularly dangerous for children due to their smaller and developing bodies making them more susceptible to infections. The supplies from WHO are intended to strengthen the stabilization center and hospital's capacity to respond to the needs of children who walk through Al Sabbah's doors. Dr Humphrey Karamagi, WHO Representative in South Sudan assured the hospital of continued support: 'These supplies are for the children. They are for the mothers who sit anxiously at their bedside. They are for the doctors and nurses who work tirelessly. And they are for a future where every child in South Sudan has the opportunity not just to survive, but to thrive.' Supporting Al Sabbah children hospital is part of WHO's broader commitment to improving maternal, newborn, and child health in South Sudan as well as the country's health priorities. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) - South Sudan.
Irish Times
02-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Children's hospital contractor BAM to deliver €380m university campus project
A consortium led by national children's hospital contractor BAM is to deliver a €380 million university campus project, the Cabinet was told on Tuesday. The project, which will see the construction of five new buildings across multiple university campuses, is being delivered via a public-private partnership (PPP). The Dutch-owned builder has been involved in a long and bitter dispute with the State over cost and time overruns at the children's hospital project, which is now estimated to cost more than €1.5 billion above what was originally envisaged. The contract has been signed by the Invesis consortium, which consists of an investment company owned by BAM and a Dutch pension fund, alongside Bam Building Limited and BAM Facilities Management Ireland. READ MORE The Irish Times previously reported that the contract was awarded to the group despite the bid not meeting value-for-money tests. A previous financial cost/benefit analysis conducted by the State found that economic benefits outweigh the costs of the project, but ministers were told last year that the tender price also exceeded the upper end of a benchmark used in a value-for-money comparison test. These tests are designed to ensure a PPP costs less than using traditional procurement. The Government must give direct approval to contracts which exceed the public sector benchmark. Last December, Government figures argued that the projects would help economic growth regionally, generating €1.60 back for the State for every €1 it spends on the project. A spokeswoman for Minister for Higher and Further Education James Lawless said BAM have a track record in delivering projects as part of public-private partnerships. 'The PPP is very robust contract and as part of a PPP contract there is a significant risk transfer to the contractor,' the spokeswoman said. The risk transfer element means that the company only receive payment if the building is delivered, she said. BAM is building the project but the funding is being provided by a consortium of lenders, who will be the one's to lose out of the project is not delivered. 'Our contract is with the PPP company not the builder,' the spokeswoman said. The project consists of the second phase of a higher education PPP programme and will see new buildings constructed in the Waterford and Carlow campuses of the South East Technical University , and the Letterkenny and Galway campuses of the Technological University of the Shannon .
Irish Times
27-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Cost to take priority over ‘aesthetics' in future State infrastructure projects
The Government will prioritise 'cost and efficiency over design standards and aesthetics' when it comes to future infrastructure spending after the cost overruns and delays of the €2.24 billion national children's hospital , the Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers has said. 'There needs to be much better discipline in cost effectiveness in projects,' Mr Chambers said in London. 'That means making choices around cost and efficiency over design standards and aesthetics in some instances. There are important lessons out of the children's hospital,' he said. The Minister confirmed the Government will publish a review next month of the State's €165 billion National Development Plan that will map out multiannual spending on specific projects into the medium term, instead of planning funding year-by-year. 'We have heard the concerns about the annualised nature of [current] funding and how that affects the pipeline of projects,' said the Minister. 'Some commercial State bodies aren't even sure on a year-to-year basis what projects they can commence.' READ MORE He said a new approach to decide funding for a pipeline of projects over the longer term would 'send a strong signal to the market that the projects are coming'. Water, wastewater and energy projects will be prioritised over all other types of investment, along with transport infrastructure targeted at areas where new housing can be built. The review will also allocate an extra €20 billion for investment, comprised of back-taxes received from Apple, the State's sale of AIB shares and other funds. Mr Chambers spoke to The Irish Times on the margins of an insurance industry event at the City of London offices of the Fidelis Partnership, a specialist firm that covers risky events such as wars. He said he was still in talks with other Ministers over infrastructural spending but hinted he planned to disappoint them with a 'disciplined' focus on his core priorities of water, energy and transport to boost housing. 'There is always ambition in Government that exceeds what's possible.' He said the core areas he intends to prioritise 'are not optional extras'. He singled out investment in the power grid as one area to be prioritised at the expense of less urgent projects. 'We have an infrastructural deficit. We need to address that and front up to it. That means choices and trade-offs.' The Minister said rules around capital spending in State departments and agencies will also be overhauled to cut red-tape and reduce 'needless delays'.
CNET
17-06-2025
- Health
- CNET
It's Quick and Easy to Check Your Blood Type. Here's How I Found Out Mine
Blood type is a personal medical detail that doesn't come up much in casual conversation or even at doctor's visits, so I never really thought much about mine until it was required when filling out a volunteer application for a children's hospital. At the time, I was about 99% certain my blood type was O-positive, but I wanted to confirm for sure ... and realized I didn't know how to do that. CNET First, I called my mom to see if it was listed on my birth certificate -- it wasn't. Then I checked my doctor's online health portal -- nope. That's when I realized a lot of people probably don't know their blood type, which could be a big problem in an emergency. Your blood type matters more than you might think. It can affect everything from your risk for certain conditions to how your body handles a blood transfusion. If you're not sure of your blood type, there are a few easy ways to find out. Trust me, it's worth knowing. This whole experience started me wondering: How does someone find out what their blood type is if they don't already know? The good news is that finding out your blood type is relatively simple, and you have multiple options for doing so. Below are three easy ways to find out your basic blood type. Blood type basics Blood type is categorized into one of these eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive and AB-negative. But what determines blood type and what does that blood type mean? Blood types are determined by antigens -- a substance that triggers an immune response -- on the surface of red blood cells. There are ABO antigens, which designate ABO blood types. This is determined by the ABO gene. For example: Type A blood type has the A antigen blood type has the A antigen Type B blood type has the B antigen blood type has the B antigen Type AB blood type has both the A and B antigen blood type has both the A and B antigen Type O doesn't produce any A or B antigen There are also Rhesus (Rh) antigens, which determine if blood is "positive" or "negative." If you have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you are Rh positive (like me and about 80% of the population). If you don't have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you have negative blood. Blood type is categorized into one of these eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive and AB-negative. Ekachai Lohacamonchai/EyeEm/Getty Images How to find your blood type? Here's three main ways to type your blood: Have your doctor do a blood test Donate blood Use an at-home blood test 1. Clinical test One of the easiest and most effective ways to determine your blood type is to have your doctor perform a test. A professional will draw blood and then perform two tests on the blood sample: forward typing and reverse typing. During forward typing, the blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood. Based on whether the blood cells stick together when mixed with the antibodies, your blood type can be determined from there. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies against type B blood, you have type B blood. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies against type A blood, you have type A blood. To confirm the result, the next step is reverse typing, meaning the blood sample without red blood cells -- called a serum -- is mixed with type A and type B blood cells. Type A blood will have antibodies against Type B blood in the sample and type B blood will have antibodies against Type A blood. Type O blood will contain antibodies against Type A and Type B. So, if sticking occurs when the serum is mixed with type B blood cells, you have type A blood, and if sticking occurs when the serum is mixed with type A blood cells, you have type B blood. I recommend calling your doctor's office to see what a blood type test costs out-of-pocket and if it's covered by insurance. 2. Donate blood This is an easy -- and free -- way to determine blood type, but results are not immediate. If you donate to a blood drive, you can simply ask the staff about your blood type. Blood usually is not tested right away, so it may take up to a few weeks to get the results. With at-home kits, you can determine your blood type in just a few minutes. EldonCard 3. At-home blood test At-home tests are relatively straightforward. You will usually start by wiping your finger with an alcohol wipe and then be required to prick your finger with a disposable lancet to draw blood. Then, you will wipe blood on the provided card. Depending on how the blood dries, clumps or spreads, you will be able to compare your blood stain to a results card. Within minutes, you'll be able to determine your blood type. For more, try these seven methods for sneaking more exercise into your daily routine.
CNET
30-05-2025
- General
- CNET
I Had No Clue About My Blood Type -- Here's How I Finally Found Out
I never really thought much about my blood type until I needed to know it. A couple of years ago, I was filling out a volunteer application for a children's hospital, and one of the questions asked for my blood type. I knew I was O-positive, but I wanted to double-check just to be sure. First, I called my mom to see if it was listed on my birth certificate. It wasn't. Then I checked my doctor's online health portal -- nothing there either. That's when I realized a lot of people probably don't know their blood type, and that could be a big problem in an emergency. Your blood type matters more than you might think. It can affect everything from your risk for certain conditions to how your body handles a blood transfusion. If you're not sure what yours is, there are a few easy ways to find out, and trust me, it's worth knowing. This got me wondering: How does someone discover their blood type if they don't already know it? The good news is that finding out your blood type is relatively simple, and you have options. Below are three easy ways to find out your blood type. Blood type basics CNET Blood type is categorized into one of these eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive and AB-negative. But what determines blood type and what does that blood type mean? Blood types are determined by antigens -- a substance that triggers an immune response -- on the surface of red blood cells. There are ABO antigens, which designate ABO blood types. This is determined by the ABO gene. For example: Type A blood type has the A antigen blood type has the A antigen Type B blood type has the B antigen blood type has the B antigen Type AB blood type has both the A and B antigen blood type has both the A and B antigen Type O doesn't produce any A or B antigen There are also Rhesus (Rh) antigens, which determine if blood is "positive" or "negative." If you have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you are Rh positive. If you don't have Rh proteins on the surface of your red blood cells, you have negative blood. Blood type is categorized into one of these eight groups: A-positive, A-negative, B-positive, B-negative, O-positive, O-negative, AB-positive and AB-negative. Ekachai Lohacamonchai/EyeEm/Getty Images How to find your blood type? Here's three main ways to type your blood: Have your doctor do a blood test Donate blood Use an at-home blood test 1. Clinical test One of the easiest and most effective ways to determine your blood type is to have your doctor perform a test. A professional will draw blood and then perform two tests on the blood sample: forward typing and reverse typing. During forward typing, the blood sample is mixed with antibodies against type A and B blood. Based on whether the blood cells stick together when mixed with the antibodies, your blood type can be determined from there. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies against type B blood, you have type B blood. If your blood cells stick together when mixed with antibodies against type A blood, you have type A blood. To confirm the result, the next step is reverse typing, meaning the blood sample without red blood cells -- called a serum -- is mixed with type A and type B blood cells. Type A blood will have antibodies against Type B blood in the sample and type B blood will have antibodies against Type A blood. Type O blood will contain antibodies against Type A and Type B. So, if sticking occurs when the serum is mixed with type B blood cells, you have type A blood, and if sticking occurs when the serum is mixed with type A blood cells, you have type B blood. I recommend calling your doctor's office to see what a blood type test costs out-of-pocket and if it's covered by insurance. 2. Donate blood This is an easy -- and free -- way to determine blood type, but results are not immediate. If you donate to a blood drive, you can simply ask the staff about your blood type. Blood usually is not tested right away, so it may take up to a few weeks to get the results. With at-home kits, you can determine your blood type in just a few minutes. EldonCard 3. At-home blood test At-home tests are relatively straightforward. You will usually start by wiping your finger with an alcohol wipe and then be required to prick your finger with a disposable lancet to draw blood. Then, you will wipe blood on the provided card. Depending on how the blood dries, clumps or spreads, you will be able to compare your blood stain to a results card. Within minutes, you'll be able to determine your blood type. For more, try these seven methods for sneaking more exercise into your daily routine.
