LION functions as the department of orthopaedics and neurosurgery at Kamuzu Central Hospital, and provides essential services in trauma, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, diagnostics and musculoskeletal rehabilitation for free.
LION delivers integrated point of care services from diagnosis, to surgery and rehabilitation. We have an emergency department, four operating theatres, a modern radiology department, laboratory and a rehabilitation centre to treat patients whether they have acute injuries or impairments due to previous injuries or other conditions.
Please note that some services are still hosted at the main KCH campus as fundraising still goes on for an additional ward building at LION to accommodate children and neurosurgery patients.
LION Accident and Emergency department (A&E) - Kungozi
The A&E Department is usually the first point of contact with LION. This is where patients present with an injury for the first time. Enter by the west entrance on the front of the hospital and register at reception.
The patient will be examined by a clinician or doctor here, and a plan will be made for further examinations and treatment. If an X-ray image is needed, the patient will be sent to our radiology department next door. Often an uncomplicated injury can be treated with a Plaster of Paris (POP) cast or bandage and the patient can return home directly from A&E. More serious injuries will need the patient to be admitted to one of our wards.
The A&E also has procedure rooms where POP cast application and minor surgery can be performed.
Outpatient Department (OPD)
The LION Outpatient Department (OPD) is where patients are seen when returning for review of an injury or if they have made an appointment. The entrance is on the right side when facing the front of the hospital and is clearly marked “OPD”. We do not see walk-in patients without an appointment in the public OPD. The patient must register at the OPD reception counter when arriving, before taking a seat in the waiting area, so we know you have arrived.
Rehabilitation
The LION Rehabilitation department provides essential physiotherapy and occupational therapy services for free. Prosthetic and Orthotic (P&O) services are also provided, but due to the high cost of materials for prosthetic limbs and splints, patients are asked to contribute to the cost of these according to their ability to pay.
A dedicated rehabilitation building is under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.
Radiology
All essential radiology services are provided for free to LION’s public patients. Some specialised examinations, such as MRI and some CT examinations, are very costly and are in general only available as private services or when sponsored through research programmes or donations.
General Wards
Our general wards have 60 beds for public, non-paying patients admitted for care. We are working hard to raise funds for a new paediatric and female ward building to increase the number of patients that can be admitted at any time.
Operating Theatres
LION has four state-of-the-art operating theatres with modern equipment for treatment of orthopaedic and neurosurgical conditions and injuries.
