Patient safety

Pilot site in the African Region

St. Francis Designated District Hospital, Ifakara, United Republic of Tanzania

St. Francis Hospital is part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Mahenge, but functions as a public district hospital. Public financing covers all recurrent costs and the diocese is responsible for capital investments.

The hospital has the capacity to handle 370 permanent patients; 600 adults per day are given outpatient treatment, while the pediatric ward in a neighbouring building treats 300 children daily. As direct access to the clinic, which has only one ambulance, is too difficult for many sick people, four district health centres play a major role in providing basic health care. Three of these also have their own small laboratories.

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