HABARI GANI (“What news” in Swahili)

A Newsletter by Priscilla and Henry Ziegler (Tanzania)

December, 2009

 

We made it! Thank you so much everyone who donated!  We raised over $10,000 and so were able to get the full $10,000 from the anonymous donor - giving the Tanzanian program over $20,000.    

 

This is the last newsletter of the year – just squeaking in before the year ends.  It has certainly been a busy year for us and the health program in Tanzania.  Priscilla was in Tanzania for two weeks beginning the day after Thanksgiving and returning December 11.  Her goal was to strengthen the financial systems at the health centre and was successful in doing this.  Both of us will be in Tanzania at the end of January and will continue to monitor the finances.  

 

Recent patients at Buguruni Anglican Health Centre

 

  

 

While at the health centre, Priscilla was thrilled to be able to take pictures of two new babies born there (see above).  Both mothers were very happy to have photos of their new infants.  Because our delivery suite has only one delivery bed and we charge for deliveries (less than $25 which includes an overnight stay if the mothers require it), we do not do many deliveries – but we provide quality services! The local regional hospital delivers approximately 80 per day and the postpartum women there share beds because there are not enough. 

 

All the inpatients that Priscilla encountered during her trip to Tanzania were suffering from severe malaria for which the treatment is five doses of IV quinine.  Remember that malaria is the number one cause of death in Tanzania.  The infant shown with his mother below was admitted for treatment of malaria.  For many young children, the malaria parasite enters the brain, causing seizures and death.

Every morning at the health centre, the doctors and nurses do rounds with the inpatients and make decisions about their care.  Sometimes they do rounds in the late afternoon as well. Consistent inpatient rounds like this are unusual in Tanzania where rounds are done only two to three times a week, if at all.  The two clinical officers shown below are relatively new to the health centre.  Dr. Isack is on the left and is talking with a woman admitted for malaria.  Dr. Ernest is on the right and is talking with a patient also admitted for malaria but with an ongoing problem with hypertension.  Dr. Max, who has been with the health centre the longest, is at school working on his AMO degree (Advanced Medical Officer).  This is an 18- month course which will enable him to perform major surgeries such as C-sections. 

 

   

 

The woman on the left below was tested by the community outreach program and found to be HIV negative.  Unfortunately, her daughter who is 10 months old and is sitting on her lap, is HIV positive and already showing signs of AIDS.  The child was born in the rural area and was possibly exposed to contaminated blood during delivery. Further tests are being conducted at the main hospital in Dar es Salaam.

                   

 

Pharmacy and finances at BAHC

One of the goals that Priscilla had when visiting the health centre was to evaluate and strengthen the pharmacy.  It is the biggest source of income for BAHC.  Prices were evaluated and procedures set up that insured that medications are to be purchased from sources offering the best prices.  In consultation with Dr. Mokiwa (the Director of the health centre), new medication prices were instituted and were posted outside the pharmacy window.  The goal has always been to offer medications at prices lower than the local duka la dawas (pharmacies) but at a reasonable profit. If patients are unable to pay the full prices for their medications, they pay what they can and the rest is charged to charity care. 

 

Eliaichi, the nurse midwife pictured above on the right, was made the manager of the pharmacy.  She was chosen because of her careful attention to detail and her honesty.

 

  

 

Above is a photo of Respicious, the accountant at BAHC, who reviewed the financial policies with Priscilla.  Together they strengthened the policies and improved the collection of the daily receipts. 

 

Anglican Church of Canada

As the year comes to an end, we would like to give a special thanks to the Anglican Church of Canada that over the last several years has donated $120,000 to the MEA Foundation for our AIDS and community health efforts. The grant has allowed us to develop a peer support program for people living with HIV/AIDS and has provided general support and microfinance loans for HIV positive people.  Such loans allow them to start small businesses and provide an income for their families. The grant has allowed us to expand the home-based care program piloted by Jeanie Robertson from Arizona. The grant has also allowed us to increase staff and treat many more HIV positive people for opportunistic infections at no cost to them. In addition, the Peer Support Building was built with grant funds and has served as the site of over 100 community meetings and training sessions.

 

    

                        Peer support mother with baby                 Woman with tumor receiving donated food

 

During this last grant year, over 100 HIV positive participants received micro-business training and loans to start or expand micro-businesses.  The businesses were monitored and supported by MEA staff.

 

The home-based care program identified and visited 117 homebound patients. Their caregivers received health education on how to maintain and improve the health of these patients. Other services included the provision of: emergency food, treated mosquito nets, clothes, washing soap, exercises for those unable to walk, a wheel chair, two walking sticks, transportation to the health centre or the hospital, HIV counseling, and HIV testing.  Unfortunately, the money for these important programs has run out but the need continues. 

 

Money is also running low for the Incarnation Project, the program which supports children orphaned by AIDS.  Most of these children have had both parents die from AIDS and are being cared for by their extended families.  Our coordinator for the program knows of many more in the community in need of help.  Currently, we help over 200 children and their families with educational support and health care.  

Please continue to support the wonderful people in Tanzania with your prayers and donations.  Together we are making a difference. 

    

               Happy New Year and May God Bless All of Us,

               Henry and Priscilla

 

 

 

A recent photo of the entrance to the health centre