Godwin Marufu

• My work visa and work contract in South Africa expired on 31 August 2019.
• I therefore left South Africa to follow my family who had earlier on moved to New Zealand for a new life experience.
• I had also completed my specialist training with the University of the Free State (Master in Medicine in Family Medicine) and CMSA (Fellowship of the College of Family Physicians/FCFP) in 2018 and I used the opportunity to successfully complete my mini-dissertation during the employment break.
• I finally got attested into the College of Family Physicians of South Africa as a Fellow at the end of May 2020. This after a long delay occasioned by the outbreak of Covid worldwide in early 2020.
• Provided comprehensive patient examinations and assessments to determine healthcare needs.
• Prescribed medications and therapies following established medical guidelines and protocols.
• Collaborated with healthcare team to develop effective treatment plans for patients.
• Educated patients on health maintenance, disease prevention, and lifestyle modifications.
• Conducted follow-up appointments to monitor patient progress and adjust treatments as needed.
• Participated in continuing education to stay current with medical practices and innovations.
• Counseled patients on lifestyle changes and preventive health care measures.
• Referred patients to specialists when necessary or requested by the patient and family member.
• Responded promptly to emergency calls from patients in need of urgent care services.
• Participated in continuing education programs to stay up-to-date on new developments in medicine.
• Scheduled regular checkups with patients to monitor progress of existing treatments or conditions.
• Coordinated home visits when needed due to mobility issues or lack of transportation.
• Maintained accurate electronic medical records in accordance with HIPAA regulations.
• Established and maintained relationships with specialists to provide patient referrals and holistic care.
• Delivered information regarding care and medications to patients and caregivers in comprehendible terminology.
• Supervised junior medical staff and provided training as needed.
• Provided medical advice and support to patients, families, and healthcare personnel.
• Maintained accurate records of patient data including test results, diagnoses, treatments, allergies.
• Adhered to all safety protocols while performing medical procedures.
• Performed minor surgical procedures such as suturing wounds or removing cysts or tumors.
• Facilitated referrals to specialists when necessary.
• Coordinated with other healthcare professionals to ensure optimal patient care.

• A provincial hospital serving as the referral hospital for the Northern Cape Province
• Also serves as the district hospital for Kimberley city providing primary care in the surrounding areas.
• Daily patient turnover at Kimberley Medicine (hospital-based primary health care) with a daily workload of 30 patients per doctor on a normal 8a.m to 4p.m shift, and 20 patients per doctor on an after-hours 4p.m to 8a.m shift.
• We also had to work two days a week at the surrounding primary care clinics providing general medical care (acute and chronic) for all age groups and all illnesses at the clinics, with referrals to the provincial hospital for those needing hospitalisation or specialist care.
• We provided care to private patients in a much more upmarket and decongested private clinic run by the department of family medicine for full- fee paying patients at the Kimberley hospital complex, with senior doctors rotating, providing one week 8a.m to 4p.m coverage per month
• I also enrolled to study towards specialisation as a family physician from 2015 to 2019 with the University of the Free State (UFS), while working and being supervised by consultants at Kimberley Hospital, which was a satellite teaching hospital accredited for training by both the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) and the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) which manages the accreditation of all specialists/fellows in South Africa.
• Level of Care: Primary Health Care; Emergency Medicine Services at a Tertiary Hospital; Teaching Hospital Providing Tertiary Care
• Description of Workplace and Roles:
• Developed treatment plans for patients based on diagnosis and individual needs.
• Ordered laboratory tests or imaging studies as needed for diagnosis or treatment planning.
• Provided follow-up care for previously discharged patients.
• Stayed up-to-date with current trends in medicine through continuing education courses.
• Established solid relations with leadership and staff by attending and coordinating interdepartmental information exchanges.
• Maintained awareness of government regulations, health insurance changes and financing options.
• Collaborated with healthcare teams to ensure quality patient care and efficient operations.
• Provided medical advice and support during emergency situations in hospital environments.
• Managed clinical records and maintained compliance with healthcare regulations and standards.
• Supervised junior medical staff, offering mentorship and fostering professional development.
• Implemented new protocols to enhance service delivery within the hospital system.
• Performed minor surgical procedures such as suturing wounds or removing cysts or tumors.
• Facilitated referrals to specialists when necessary.
• Coordinated with other healthcare professionals to ensure optimal patient care.
• Attended conferences relevant to area of specialty.

• This was a Regional Hospital and District Hospital combined, serving a catchment of 300 000 people, mixed rural and urban.
• It also served as the primary health centre for the local town which had no primary care clinics.
• It was the referral hospital serving a network of 12 surrounding clinics and three District hospitals.
• My primary duties included the Internal Medicine department as a Medical Officer internist, and as a Primary Health Care Manager overseeing health care in the districts.
• Everyday clinical duties were from 8a.m to 4p.m but as an administrator I had no fixed working hours.
• We ran a semblance of specialised clinics at the hospital (TB/HIV/ NCDs), which had a good multi-disciplinary representation
• This was a busy 400 bed hospital, with a daily workload at the OPD per doctor of 30-40 patients.
• Level of Care: Primary Health Care in the Clinics; Health Services Administration; Internal Medicine Referral Services
• Description of Workplace and Roles:
• Conducted patient examinations and assessed medical conditions daily.
• Maintained accurate records of patient data including test results, diagnoses, treatments, allergies.
• Stayed up-to-date with current trends in medicine through continuing education courses.
• Kept informed of advances in medicine and computerized diagnostic and treatment equipment.
• Maintained records management system to process personnel information and produce reports.
• Built work schedules and staff assignments, taking workload, space and equipment availability into consideration.
• Assessed need for additional staff, equipment and services based on historical data and seasonal trends.
• Established solid relations with leadership and staff by attending board meetings and coordinating interdepartmental information exchanges.

• Managed a growing cohort of patients with HIV infection at different stages of treatment and monitoring from pre-art primary care, art initiation and monitoring of treatment.
• Normal working hours were 8a.m – 4p.m
• Patients of all age groups and gender were attended to.
• Daily turnover of over 40 patients in the unit.
• Multidisciplinary workplace with Nurses, VCT Counsellors, Nutritionists, Community Health Workers, Peer Educators and Community Activists
• After hours duties were in the main hospital performing general medical duties across all age groups, all disease spectra, and covering acute, chronic, and emergency care.
• This was both a primary care centre and referral centre for the surrounding primary care clinics.
• Complicated cases were referred to the provincial hospital, Rundu, which had specialists in different fields.
• Monitoring of daily care was done by the Principal Medical Officer at the same hospital, and by a monthly M&E visit by a team from the Catholic Health Services in the capital Windhoek.
• M & M meetings were held monthly and separately for the HIV unit and the rest of the hospital.
• Level of Care: HIV Primary Care and Specialized Infectious Diseases Care
• Description of Workplace and Roles:
• Managed medical records while ensuring compliance with health regulations.
• Evaluated patient progress and adjusted treatment strategies accordingly.
• Engaged with families to discuss treatment options and address concerns directly.
• Evaluated test results and implemented appropriate treatments.
• Stayed up-to-date with current trends in medicine through continuing education courses.
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• Conducted patient assessments and developed treatment plans in a clinical setting.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to enhance patient care effectiveness.
• Implemented infection control protocols to maintain a safe healthcare environment.
• Assisted in emergency situations by providing life-saving measures when necessary.
• Educated patients on preventative health care practices, nutrition, and lifestyle choices.
• Adhered to all safety protocols while performing medical procedures.
• Facilitated referrals to specialists when necessary.
• Coordinated with other healthcare professionals to ensure optimal patient care.

• Solus practice, mixed cash patients and patients on medical aid
• Daily patient turnover averaged 20 per day
• Mixed patient mix, all age groups, acute and chronic, excluding emergency care and trauma
• Nurses assisted with taking vital observations, doing dressings, administering injections, and dispensing any on-site medications
• Level of Care: General Practice
• Description of Workplace and Roles:
• Diagnosed and treated various medical conditions in a diverse patient population.
• Managed patient records using paper-based health record systems for efficient documentation.
• Collaborated with specialists to coordinate patient care and treatment plans.
• Provided patient education on disease prevention and healthy lifestyle choices.
• Maintained compliance with healthcare regulations and standards in daily practice.
• Referred patients to specialists when necessary or requested by the patient and family member.
• Participated in continuing education programs to stay up-to-date on new developments in medicine.
• Managed acute and chronic diseases using evidence based medicine guidelines.
• Scheduled regular checkups with patients to monitor progress of existing treatments or conditions.
• Coordinated home visits when needed due to mobility issues or lack of transportation.

• Conducted literature reviews to support ongoing clinical research projects.
• Assisted in data collection and management for various research studies.
• Collaborated with team members to design and implement research protocols.
• Participated in patient recruitment and informed consent processes for studies.
• Analyzed research findings using statistical software and tools.
• Documented and maintained accurate records of research activities and results.
• Engaged in regular training sessions to stay updated on clinical research practices.
• Created databases for tracking research activities and results.
• Assisted in preparing presentations on findings from various studies conducted by the organization.
• Evaluated existing policies and practices related to research initiatives.
• Analyzed data using statistical software programs such as SPSS, STATA, SAS.
• Presented findings to colleagues during industry meetings and conferences.

• In -patient clinical and administrative work in different wards. We each worked in one specific ward for four months at the end of which we rotated around
• Each ward catered for a specific patient group, and these were Male General ward, Female General Ward, Paediatric General ward, Maternity and Labour ward.
• Operations Room where we performed various surgical operations as per scope of practice of General Medical Officers. These included Caesarian sections (emergency and elective), hernia repairs, appendicectomies, orchidopexies and orchiectomies, Incision and drainages, uterine currettages and evacuation of uteruses, management of fractures (mostly closed reduction but a few open reductions and internal fixations too).
• Infectious diseases were galore, with malaria being endemic, a TB epidemic, and an emerging HIV- AIDS pandemic.
• Attendance at local clinics to assess patients with undifferentiated conditions in a primary care setting.
• Out-patient clinics at the District hospital (secondary care level) for both acute and chronic conditions and for down -referrals from Central Hospitals.
• Quality assurance with Clinical audit every 6 months, and M & M meetings monthly
• Mentorship for nurses and Medical Students sent to our hospital on attachment
• Emergencies in the A & E department on a rotational basis.
• Referral of patients to tertiary care as needed.
• Part of the District Heath Team which discussed and monitored disease trends, resource utilization and budgeting for the District Health Care
• Attending multi-disciplinary meetings at the District Administration’s call representing the Health department.
• Participating in local and national research, of note, Cervical cancer screening for low resource settings, Post-abortal care, Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI)
• Working hours:
• Monday to Friday: 8 hours
• After hours calls- attended on as needed from our home which was in the hospital complex, with one Medical Officer attending to all medical and surgical disciplines, except for when there was a disaster, when the whole team attended.
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Was mostly by peer-review, but was also overseen by the Medical Chief, called the District Medical Officer, who in turn reported to the Provincial Medical Director.
• This was great for consolidating patient care by looking at a patient as a whole being, unlike the compartmentalized approach at the tertiary hospitals.
• It was also a great introduction to the twin concepts of PATIENT-ORIENTED CLINICAL CARE and COMMUNITY-ORIENTED PATIENT CARE.
• Because of resource limitations, the concepts of EQUITY and COST-EFFECTIVENESS also took root.
• Level of Care: General Practice and Primary Health Care
• Description of Workplace and Roles:
• Attended continuing education courses to stay up-to-date with advances in medicine.
• Oversaw the training of junior doctors and medical interns during clinical rotations.
• . Assessed the need for referrals to specialists or

other healthcare providers when necessary.

• Diagnosed and treated various medical conditions in outpatient and inpatient settings.
• Managed emergency medical situations, ensuring timely intervention and care delivery.
• Educated patients on health promotion, disease prevention, and medication management.
• Maintained accurate patient records in compliance with hospital policies and regulations.
• Participated in community health outreach programs to improve public health awareness.
• Collaborated with other healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care to patients.
• Responded promptly to emergency calls in a timely manner.
• Educated patients on preventative health measures, such as diet, exercise, immunizations, hygiene.
• Participated in research projects focusing on improving patient outcomes.
• Adhered to professional standards of practice while providing quality care to all patients.
• Conducted community outreach activities aimed at raising awareness about health issues.
• Oversaw day-to-day practice functions, patient care, medical, and administrative staff and business activities.

• Rotations:
• The following clinical rotations consisted of at least two Clinical Specialists and Consultants, a Senior Registrar, Medical Officers, and Interns:
• Junior Resident Medical Officer in General Surgery (3 months), Orthopaedics (3 months), Internal Medicine (6 months)
• Senior Resident Medical Officer in Anesthetics (4 months), Paediatrics (4 months), Obstetrics and Gynecology (4 months).
• Normal working hours:
• Monday to Friday 7.30a.m to 4p.m 8 hours
• On -call after hours from 4p.m till 8a.m 20 hours
• Weekends when on call- 48 hours
• Duties:
• Clerking patients at presentation from A & E department or clinics.
• Presenting and discussing patients to the team/firm at word rounds.
• Initiating agreed clinical management plans for each patient.
• Monitoring patient progress and adjusting treatment as required.
• Updating patient records and clinical notes.
• Performing required laboratory and radiological investigations and discussing results with senior team members as needed.
• Performing minor surgery and assisting in major surgery as needed.
• Preparing and sending referrals to other departments as needed.
• Attending to consults together with senior team members as needed.
• Preparing clinical audits and attending M & M meetings regularly.
• Monitoring and evaluation of Progress and Competencies:
• Daily through mentoring by senior team members.
• Twice by the Head Consultant of the term formally with a written record.
• In all my rotations my progress was deemed satisfactory and I progressed well to completion.
• Level of Care: Central Teaching Hospitals
• Description of Workplace and Roles:
• Assisted in patient assessments and recorded vital signs accurately.
• Collaborated with healthcare teams to develop patient care plans.
• Administered medications and monitored patient responses under supervision.
• Participated in medical rounds, discussing patient progress with attending physicians.
• Maintained accurate medical records in compliance with hospital protocols.
• Provided assistance with minor surgical procedures such as suturing of wounds.
• Evaluated patient's response to treatments based on observations and assessments.
• Counseled patients on proper post-operative care instructions following surgery or other medical procedures.
• Observed basic critical care management in sepsis, cardiac and respiratory failure, sedation practices and hemodynamic monitoring.
• Prepared reports summarizing clinical findings for review by senior staff members.
• Shadowed medical specialists through rotation work with different departments.
• Participated in interdisciplinary team meetings to discuss patient progress.
• Provided support services such as scheduling appointments or arranging transportation for patients.
• Assisted in the management of chronic conditions like diabetes or asthma through medication reviews and follow up visits.
• Responded promptly to any emergency situations that may arise within a hospital setting.
• Ensured compliance with safety protocols related to handling of medical equipment or hazardous materials.
• Updated charts with latest information, test results and differential diagnoses.
• Referred patients to medical specialists, social services or other necessary resources.
• Managed ongoing care of patients with chronic issues of varying severity and treatment requirements.
• Consulted on outside cases with generalists and specialists needing specific expertise.