Photo: A member of staff admires in the newly refurbished operating theatre which previously had no lighting or equipment.
A team of 24 determined people, made up of Rotarians and volunteers, has just finished an emotionally exhausting but inspiring mercy trip to Tanzania in Africa where, thanks to their efforts, hundreds more mothers and new-born babies will be saved. The largest ever international project by District 1040 has provided the remote, island-based District Hospital of Ukerewe with a new operating theatre, sterilising room, improved lighting and resuscitation tools especially designed for babies.
John Philip from the Rotary Club of Mirfield was spurred into action following a heart-breaking trip earlier this year where he saw surgeons frantically trying to operate in dirty, badly lit conditions. In one case, a woman in labour had been brought to the hospital by boat and then pushed along on a bicycle. By the time she was brought to Ukerewe she had collapsed. Surgeons succeeded in saving her life but the baby, sadly, died due to complications.
For John, a retired surgeon, this was a call to take action: “What I saw in January distressed me so much that I felt this compelling urge to improve conditions. The operating theatre was in disrepair and suffering from neglect. The labour room had five beds, some rusted, some covered by torn rubber sheets and soiled foam mattresses. One in twelve children born in the hospital were dying due to lack of facilities and poor maternity care.
“I have great respect for the staff who, despite constraints, deliver a high quality service to their patients. They take great risk operating under these circumstances but the consequences of not operating are far worse. I helped out where I could with the operations which brought home to me just how urgent the situation was.”
Alarmingly, the hospital is the main medical life line, serving 350,000 people in scattered communities and islands, connected by mud tracks and boats.
Following his first visit, John returned to the island last month armed with £250,000 worth of supplies and dedicated volunteers from the Rotary clubs of Bookham & Horseley and Saltash. On arriving at Ukerewe, the enormity of the task hit the team as they surveyed the tattered and worn out facilities. Undaunted, they set to work and within days, had installed lighting, sterilisation equipment and an operating table, and taught staff how to keep the areas clean.
Simultaneously, with the help of REMIT, a malaria-control programme was launched with volunteers going from village to village to distribute 3,000 nets and raise awareness about the risk of malaria, which is the commonest cause of child mortality. The team managed to reach 8,000 people, lives which may now be saved thanks to this intervention.
The team also visited a number of secondary and primary schools where sanitation is a serious issue. Dormitories have no toilet facilities and very few have clean running water.
A follow-up visit is being planned and further intervention to reduce child mortality. John is appealing for more people to help by volunteering their skills and talents: “I received a wonderful phone call from a midwifery student who’s studying at Birmingham University. She and her fellow students would like to come out and help with the project. I’m also looking for teachers, engineers and water experts to help the schools which are also in dire need of attention.“
The project is supported by two matching grants from the Rotary Foundation and generous donations from clubs, Inner Wheel and private individuals.
For more information or to become involved, please contact John Philip 01484 421032 or email johnphilip@btconnect.com.
