Brain scan at Bethesda Hospital in Agou Nyogbo: Interview with Dr Etiam Koffi Sowu, Director of Bethesda Hospital in Agou Nyogbo

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Extract from the article: On Monday 20 November 2023, Bethesda Hospital in Agou Nyogbo enthusiastically celebrated the official launch of its brand new CT scanner. This long-awaited piece of unrivalled equipment marks a significant step forward in the medical services availab

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« Bethesda Hospital Agou Nyogbo is committed to providing quality care and remaining at the forefront of medical technology to meet the growing needs of the community »

 

On Monday 20 November 2023, Bethesda Hospital in Agou Nyogbo enthusiastically celebrated the official launch of its brand new CT scanner. This long-awaited piece of unrivalled equipment marks a significant step forward in the medical services available to the local population. In this interview, the Director of Bethesda Hospital in Agou Nyogbo, Dr Etiam Koffi Sowu, talks about the impact of this cutting-edge technology in improving healthcare in the region and the hospital's capacity to treat certain pathologies. 

Santé-Education: Bethesda Hospital has announced the availability of a CT scanner. Why such a cutting-edge device in a rural area?

Dr Etiam Koffi Sowu: Bethesda Hospital used to be a referral hospital throughout the Plateaux region. This is no longer the case. Nevertheless, we receive patients from far and wide. As a hospital, we need to have the technical facilities to meet the demands of health care. That's why we fought to install a scanner in our hospital, to improve the level of diagnosis and offer better care.  It should also be noted that scans are usually done in Lomé. And when patients are referred for a scan, unfortunately some of them even die en route, because they have to travel miles to get the test. Having a scanner in Agou represents a major step forward in the treatment of pathologies. It's not just for our hospital, but for the whole Plateaux region. The installation of this equipment will also enable other hospitals to refer patients to us, so that they can benefit from this examination in the best possible conditions. Bethesda Hospital in Agou Nyogbo is committed to providing quality care and remaining at the cutting edge of medical technology to meet the growing needs of the community.

What is the medical purpose of a scanner and which patients can be scanned? 

A scanner is a device used in medical imaging to diagnose certain conditions. For example, when it comes to strokes, a CT scan is needed to determine whether it is an ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke.When a woman has breast cancer, an extension scan is performed to see if the cancer has spread to other organs. An X-ray or ultrasound scan can miss this diagnosis, but a CT scan is more effective and efficient.

All patients who need a scan should have one.There are no restrictions, except for certain indications.For example, a pregnant woman cannot benefit from a CT scan. However, at the end of pregnancy, especially in women who have not yet given birth, they can have a pelvic scan.This scan will show the actual dimensions of the pelvis.It is the obstetric gynaecologist who decides whether a caesarean section is feasible, if the pelvis is not practicable.In traumatology, some people have complex fractures that cannot be properly analysed by X-ray alone; a CT scan will then provide more details about the lesions.

Since the announcement, what is the situation in terms of people scanned and for which pathologies? Which localities have these patients come from?

From 20 November to date, we have registered around thirty patients who have had scans.Most of the patients received at our hospital have come from Kpalimé, Agou, Azanhoun and neighbouring villages. They suffered from strokes, cranioencephalic trauma, bone fractures, deep vein thrombosis, lung problems and tumours.All those who come are satisfied because they save on the cost of transport.They are satisfied with the welcome they receive, and that's part of the strength of our service. 

What is the average cost of a CT scan?

The costs of the various examinations are reasonable.For example, a brain scan without injection of contrast products costs 30,000 francs, but with contrast products you have to add 15,000 francs.But a thoracic-abdominal-pelvic scan costs 80,000 francs. For the time being, this is the ceiling for scanner examinations at Besthesda Hospital.  It should be emphasised that patients do not come voluntarily for a scan. It is a doctor who prescribes the scan for a given indication or to seek a precise diagnosis. There will therefore be an official note describing the various costs of the examinations.

What is the average cost of a CT scan?

The costs of the various examinations are reasonable. For example, a brain scan without injection of contrast products costs 30,000 francs, but with contrast products you have to add 15,000 francs.But a thoracic-abdominal-pelvic scan costs 80,000 francs.For the time being, this is the ceiling for scanner examinations at Besthesda Hospital.  It should be emphasised that patients do not come voluntarily for a scan. It is a doctor who prescribes the scan for a given indication or to seek a precise diagnosis. There will therefore be an official note describing the various costs of the examinations.

What services are currently available at Bethesda Hospital?

At Bethesda Hospital, we have gynaecology and obstetrics, general surgery, general medicine, traumatology, cardiology, paediatrics and ophthalmology. There is a laboratory for parasitology, haematology, immunology, bacteriology and virology.

There is also a medical imaging department with a scanner and digital X-ray.In addition to these examinations, we carry out abdominal, pelvic and soft tissue ultrasounds. We perform electrocardiograms or ECGs.We have a medical technical department, an administration and accounts department, a sales pharmacy and a shop that supplies the sales pharmacy.We have a morgue and a dentistry department that works part-time (German dentists come twice a year to offer their services to the population, in March and November).

When was this hospital built and what is its level and capacity of care? How many service providers currently work in the hospital?What is the current level of hospital attendance?

Bethesda Hospital in Agou Nyogbo was opened in 1969.  We are neither a prefectural nor a regional hospital.As a faith-based organisation, we receive subsidies from certain partners and from the State. Among other things, the State pays the salaries of certain employees. We are a hospital that treats a wide range of medical, surgical and obstetric conditions. What's special about Bethesda Hospital is that we receive doctors from different specialities that don't exist here, for medical and surgical missions.The doctors in question come from Togo or abroad to carry out consultations and surgery.The missions are carried out in two ways: either we obtain funding to carry out a mission completely free of charge, or we obtain funding so that patients contribute to a social cost. The hospital has already carried out a gynaecological surgery mission that enabled us to operate on 25 women free of charge in November 2021.With La Chaine De L'Espoir, we operated on 116 children out of the 500 who were seen in consultation in December 2021.Twenty (20) women were also operated on at reduced cost in 2022 and a further 20 in 2023.In traumatology, we fitted 20 total hip prostheses at reduced cost in 2022 and a further 20 in 2023.With the NGO Aimes Afrique, we operated free of charge on 215 of the 400 patients seen in November 2022.

The hospital now has around sixty employees, including trainees. We have consultation days (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and operating days (Tuesday and Thursday).

On consultation days we see an average of around twenty patients.In 2022, around 3,000 patients visited the hospital.

Your final words

Bethesda Hospital in Agou Nyogbo is a referral hospital that strives to offer healthcare at social cost. As such, we would like to thank the Togolese government for the help it has given us to enable us to provide care for the population.We would also like to thank our local and foreign partners who are also helping us to achieve these noble objectives, given that we are in a rural environment.We are a faith hospital with a social mission.But to be able to treat people at low cost and in the best possible conditions, we are asking for help and contributions from people of goodwill.

The opening of this scanner is a great relief for the population and potential patients, given the scarcity of health facilities in Togo, the problems surrounding its operation, and the high cost of the service.

Interview by Abel OZIH