The Department of Surgery at Kratie Provincial Referral Hospital recently started using four new medical items: an ostomy pouch, petrolatum gauze, a crutch, and a walker.
All of these items are available for the first time in our hospital. Until now, some patients who knew that these medical items bought and used them by themselves; however, this was very rare.

An ostomy pouch is a pouch attached to the stoma (artificial anus or artificial bladder), in which urine or stool can be stored and then disposed of. So far, simple handmade pouch has been used at our hospital, but there have been issues with the leakage of bodily waste and the stress on the patient's skin. Manufactured pouch allows people with reduced bowel or bladder function or who have had their bowel or bladder removed due to illness and can live their daily lives with few restrictions.

Petrolatum gauze is gauze soaked in petrolatum to keep the wound moist. Our hospital has started using it to care for babies' wounds after they have been burnt by boiling water. As the gauze does not stick to the skin, it eases the pain caused when changing the gauze.

Hospitalised patients now use crutch and walker. Patients with leg injuries can move more easily, such as from their rooms to the toilets.

Before starting to use these medical items, we paid attention to the training of the surgical staff on how to use these items. With the help of nurses assigned to the hospital as the Japan International Cooperation Agency team, we informed the surgical staff in detail about the use of each item and the precautions in using it. The training was repeatedly conducted.
In one of the training sessions, hospital staff explained how to apply an ostomy pouch and the precautions while doing it and showing it to the participants. This is so that family members of patients who have undergone surgery to create a stoma can take care of the patient on their own after discharge from the hospital.

The new medical supplies have not only helped to heal injuries faster and more reliably, but have also improved pain relief and infection prevention. Also, patients now can walk and rehabilitate with more stability, and it brings smiles to the hospital staff and patients.

These medical items were donated by FIDR to the Kratie Provincial Referral Hospital, with funds raised by the Interact Club and the first and second-year students of the English Department at Okayama Gakugeikan High School. We sincerely appreciate the support of the students of Okayama Gakugeikan High School.