What an adventure! In October 2009 Derek was part of a group of volunteers who traveled to the remote island of Ukerewe, which is the largest of a small group of islands, situated in the middle of Lake Victoria, in Tanzania. The only way of reaching Ukerewe is by a ferry which takes three and a half hours from the mainland town of Mwanza.
The island is home to a population of 350,000 people who only have ONE hospital. The purpose of our visit was to refurbish the hospital operating theatre block and to furnish it with medical equipment that had been donated in the U.K. Prior to our visit, a forty foot container, full of medical and educational equipment had been shipped out to Tanzania.
At the hospital the staff worked very hard, under difficult conditions. Often there was no power, due to electricity cuts and the surgeon would then carry out operations using only a head torch, to see what they were doing. Such dedication!
This is a photograph of the sterilising room, before we started our work. The main reason for the dirty condition of this room, was that the autoclave for sterilising surgical instruments was not working, and the staff had to use kerosene heaters which give off black oily smoke.
The local people were very thankful for our help and were soon along side of us, painting ceilings, walls and tiling with great enthusiasm.
This is the same room after the painting and tiling had been completed. What a transformation! On a later visit, hopefully, we can replace the autoclave.
As you can see below, the difference to the conditions in the operating theatres was fantastic, especially when the new equipment was installed.
We found it strange that the patients at the hospital had to provide their own food, and take care of their own laundry. A tap outside was used for personal hygiene and washing clothes. There is a maternity unit in the hospital for complicated pregnancies, and some of the women walked considerable distances in the final stages of pregnancy in order to give birth.
On this first visit we also visited some of the local schools, and also assisted in the distribution of mosquito nets as part of REMIT, which is a Rotary project for the eradication of Malaria in Tanzania. More about the hospital, schools, the malaria programme, and of course, the people living on Ukerewe, next time.
Until then,
Best wishes, Diane and Derek.
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ReplyDeleteEveryone who has been in the theatre before refurbishment really appreciates how it has now after refurbishment transformed into such an attractive place, This is surely new hopes to expecting moms on the Island, “ A place you go and have faith in services provided,
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