Reconstruction and extension of St. Francis Hospital in Marial Lou, South Sudan

The hospital in Marial Lou is located in the north of South Sudan. The hospital has developed from an emergency hospital to a permanent hospital for the surrounding villages. The conversion has been accompanied by BBM in several phases since 2010. The following improvements were achieved:

• New construction of bed wing, OPD (outpatient department / outpatient clinic) and operating theatre
• Equipment with the most important utensils
• Installation of a solar power system with 28.8 kwP and Li-Ion battery

The buildings had to take into account the special situation on site: The soil condition (black cotton soil) favours the development of substantial cracks in the masonry. This required special structural measures. With regard to the materials needed, excellent planning and calculation of the quantities was required, because the access routes to the hospital are very difficult.

The new operating theatre was planned and built – adapted to the local situation – according to minimum hygienic standards. For example, a separate "employee-patient-material circuit" and a ventilation system to counteract the high temperatures (up to 40 degrees in the shade) were taken into account.

Under the supervision of BBM, the construction work was carried out by the Ugandan company OB Tech. Through regular training and project visits – even after the construction phase – the operators continue to be supported by the BBM team in maintaining the infrastructure.