To take care of

They always say that everything starts from a meeting... This time, there are actually two meetings, certainly not driven by "chance". The first between a Tanzanian priest with Valeria and other friends in Sardinia; the second among all of us. And now, together, we share experiences to do something new where it is not possible for this to happen otherwise.

The place of the impossible is Lituhi, southern Tanzania, on Lake Malawi; specifically, the St. Elizabeth Hospital, a diocesan hospital in the diocese of Mbinga. That of a diocesan hospital is an important role, but very difficult... As is known, in Africa healthcare is never free: healing implies being able to afford treatment. Possibility for quite a few, if there weren't structures that still don't refuse to provide service even to those who can't make it. But, the cat bites its tail: the poverty of the users leads to a scarcity of resources for the structure that takes care of them; making its “sustainability” a great challenge.

St. Elizabeth is a large facility of over 3,000 m2, with 82 beds. In one year 3,720 patients were admitted, together with 3,360 consultations for external patients. What is missing? If not everything… really a lot. An annual budget of around 80,000 euros barely supports a limited workforce and the most necessary drugs; the margin for investments actually does not exist. Nonetheless, its role is essential: the nearest hospital, also diocesan, is 47 km away.

There are many challenges that the hospital must face - in every area
– to improve, strengthen and make its service more sustainable. We chose to start with the most priority: having safe water for consumption by the nearby mission and the local inhabitants. Now it receives an inconsistent flow, from an unsafe source. To remedy this, a deep well with adequate flow rate was drilled in 2016; but pumping was suspended, unable to meet energy costs.

After careful work, a project was defined, which involves, by restoring two existing tanks, the installation of 2 photovoltaic pumps: the first immersion in the well, to pump water to a large capacity tank 80m3 that supplies the hospital; the second, by immersion in the tank, to pump water to another tank on the mission bell tower, and distribute it by gravity to the other users. The power supply, with a 7Kwp photovoltaic system, to be installed on the ground, near the well. If the sun ever doesn't show for a while, the pumps switch to mains power, ensuring continuity.

All the necessary material will be sent, taking advantage of the set-up of one of our equipment containers to various beneficiaries in Tanzania. This will allow us to send other things immediately: equipment for the production of sodium hypochlorite, to guarantee hygiene - another absolute priority -, oxygen concentrators, an electrocardiograph, wheelchairs, computers... In the meantime, a telemedicine service has already been launched, to be close to local healthcare providers with remote consultations with friendly doctors. Soon a training period with us, of a local nun.

It is intended to be a good start, made up of solutions. To then take other steps to equip and grow the health center. How to do it? As usual: not without difficulty, and only with the help of many friends.

Sermig Re.Te Association. for Development
IBAN: IT29 P030 6909 6061 0000 0001 481

Mauro Palombo
NP March 2024