Copperbelt University Health Services Department

Introduction

The Copperbelt University Health Services (CBUHS) provides medical services to a community of over 50,000 people including students, staff and their dependants and also the communities from the surrounding suburbs.

It has two main services:

1. Clinical care
2. Outreach health promotion

Clinical Care

The CBU Clinic is open 24 hours a day and is linked to several tertiary institutions including the Kitwe Central Hospital, the Sinozam Friendship Hospital and the Wusakile Mine Hospital. It offers the following services: Outpatients Clinic; Specialist Clinics; Laboratory; Pharmacy; Observation wards and Ambulance Services.

Outpatients Clinic

Common conditions attended to in the Outpatients Clinic over the last few years include malaria, chest infections, diarrhoeal diseases, sexually transmitted infections and nutritional disorders.

For non-CBU residents the CBU Clinic offers a fee-paying service on demand.

Specialist Clinics

The Specialist Clinics include:

• Hypertension and Diabetes Clinic - runs on Mondays from 14.00 to 16.00 hours.
• Chest Clinic - open on Wednesdays from 14.00 to 16.00 hours
• Under Five Clinic - held on Wednesday from 08.00 to 12.00 hours
• Antenatal and Post Natal - meets on Thursday form 08.00 to 12.00 hours
• Family Planning - held on Thursday afternoon from 14.00 to 16.00 hours
• Voluntary Counselling and Testing - offered every day

It is hoped that in the near future the CBU Clinic could have its own dental and radiology units.

Laboratory

The Laboratory offers the following services: Blood slides for malaria; Full blood counts; Biochemistry; Tests for sexually transmitted infections; Pregnancy tests; HlV tests; Blood group; stool and urine examination and Fasting or random blood sugar.

Pharmacy

The main items stocked include: Antimalarials including artemisinin based compounds such as Coaterm, quinine, sulfadoxinel pyrimethamine (Fansidar); Analgesics such as paracetamol, ibruprofen, aspirin; Antihypertensives including ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers, diuretics, beta blockers; Antibiotics; ARVs and TB Drugs.

Observation wards

The Clinic runs a 12-bed observation ward for both staff and students

Ambulance services

The ambulance is available 24 hours per day and can be requested for from the Duty Nurse.

Outreach Health Promotion

The CBUHS believes that the best approach to the AIDS pandemic is a multi sectoral approach using the various stakeholders within the University community. We have therefore encouraged and supported two initiatives run by the students and staff.

Anti AIDS Society

A vibrant and active Society run by and for the students has been in existence for over a decade now and has provided the much needed service to students and staff. Activities include peer education, counselling, distribution of condoms, networking with other colleges and universities, spiritual support and working with vulnerable populations. The Society has in the past received support from both local and international well wishers.

Health Support Group

The Heath Support group is a staff initiative formed to respond to the AIDS crisis. It is fully independent and has its own governance structure. Its mandate is to alleviate the impact of HIV/AIDS amongst University staff and is currently running a very successful home based care programme and has well trained counsellors ready to offer both spiritual and psychosocial counseling.

CONTACTING THE CBU HEALTH SERVICES

The CBUHS can be contacted at the following numbers:

Dr Oscar Simooya,
Medical Officer: 260 2 227796
Observation Wards: 260 231850
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Postal Address: POBox 21692, Kitwe.