MAKOMU HOSPITAL APPEAL,

KILIMANJARO REGION, DIOCESE OF MOSHI (RC)

REGISTRATION NUMBER 034011

Local Contacts:

Fr John Senya Mob: +255 784 847400

Email: fr.senya@yahoo.co.uk

Sister in Charge: BASILIA Riwa CDNK.

Mob: +255 753258022

Fr D. Matiika Catholic Diocese of Moshi

Email: revmatika@yahoo.com

P.O.Box 3041 MOSHI – TANZANIA . (EA)

UK Contact: Fr Arbo Lekule, chair and founder of You Touch Africa(UTA).

Email: arbolekule@youtouchafrica.org

The Background

Makomu Dispensary (Hospital) was built in 1967 thanks to financial assistance from the Missionaries of the Holy Ghost and labour force from the parishioners’ under late Fr Ambrose Kyaloichi.  Up until now the Catholic and Lutheran churches provides most of the medical care in Kilimanjaro area.  From the 1970’s the administration of the Dispensary has been under the religious congregation of indigenous nuns; Sisters of Our Lady of Kilimanjaro while the parish priest remains the overseer.  

The dispensary relied on subsidized medicine from donor organizations and small fees paid by the patients in its day to day running costs.  Villagers in the area depended on coffee for their income.  But since coffee prices started to decline in the 1990’s patients were unable to pay their medical bills.  Consequently the dispensary failed to pay its staff and the infrastructure felt in to ruins

Fr Arbo became aware of the dire situation of the hospital when his mother, Mrs Odilia Lekule died at the dispensary in 2002 after been cared for by Sr Anselma, Dr Paul Mmari and other members of staff.  On the first anniversary of Odilia’s death, Fr Arbo Lekule and his friends Chris Henley, Mick Casha and John Murphy from St. Chad ’s Church South Norwood, London, embarked on a sponsored climb of Mount Kilimanjaro and raised enough money to renovate the building and improve its facilities in supporting the dispensary.

However, the improvement of the infrastructure did not translate to the improvement of the day to day services and the running of the dispensary.  The villagers were still unable to pay their medical bills and the hospital was still unable to pay its staff.  In 2004 Fr Arbo formed a trust fund through a micro-credit union run by the Catholic Women’s Organization to subsidize medical bills of the patients who could not pay their bills.  This project was later endorsed by the trustees of the charity, You Touch Africa, which he founded in 2008.

The Current Situation

The dispensary’s lack of medical personnel and functional laboratory, continued to undermine the potentials of the hospital.  However, the current parish priest Fr John Senya has proved very committed into turning the situation of the dispensary around.

After several appeals to the government for some assistance, in September 2010, the hospital received a qualified clinic officer (Medical Officer) under a two year contract.  Later in the year, he was joined by a Registered Nurse, a Nurse Midwife and a Medical Attendant.  Currently, the management is looking a Laboratory Assistant or a Laboratory Technician.

The Appeal

In September 2010 Fr Arbo was requested by the hospital management to fundraise for a second hand ultrasound machine at a cost of £1,750 or a new one at a cost of £3,000.  The management believe that such a facility will be of great use to the patients of the area.  In November 2010 Fr Arbo presented this request at St James the Great Parish, Petts Wood and the Justice and Peace Group, which is responsible in fundraising, agreed.

Fr Arbo was informed that the Parish could raise at least £4,000 by summer 2011.  While trying to find out what could the extra money be used for, if was discovered that the ultrasound project was not properly scrutinized.  After a number of discussions with the Moshi Diocesan Development Office, the Hospital Administration and the villagers, a decision was reached to abandon the initial request of the ultrasound machine and build a new laboratory.

New Laboratory

Why a new laboratory?

• The existing Laboratory which measures 2 metres by 2 metres is far too small even with the existing equipments.  Therefore more space is needed.
• The existing Laboratory is not secure enough to put in expensive equipments such as an ultrasound machine.
• A good laboratory will attract better qualified medical staff, will increase the ability to diagnose illnesses and also will attract more assistance from the government.
• The amount of the money to be raised by St James the Great (at least £4000) will be enough to complete a sizeable and secure room to be used as a laboratory.
• Patients have to walk up to 10km just to get some simple laboratory services, which add to their overall expenses of their treatment.
• According to medical advice received, the laboratory building should be separate from the other rooms to avoid cross infections.

Local contributions

Parishioners are prepared to take part in getting the foundations ready, collect enough rocks for the construction of the foundation, security, transportation of some of the building materials and they are ready to contribute up to 10% of the total cost.

Participants

1. Joachim R. Lekule – Chairman Parish Executive Committee.

2. Fr John Senya – Parish Priest

3. Fr Sylvester Hamaro – assistant Parish Priest

4. Tibrus E. Mlay – Vice Chairman Parish Executive Committee

5. Timoteo A.Shirima – Secretary Parish Executive committee

6. Teresia Ngowi – Assistant Secretary Parish Executive Committee

7. Sr Basilia Riwa – Hospital Sister in charge

8. Dr. Francis Shayo – Hospital Doctor in Charge

9. Evernalda Ngowi – Registered Nurse

10. Ignace B.Marealle – Parish Treasurer General.

11. Rogato Kombe – Parish Assistant Treasurer

For more information please consult the Diocesian Medical Department

Director Fr Aloyce Urio, Mob: +255784305905

The Estimates for the proposed Laboratory building Makomu Hospital

(January 2011)

A. KAUNZA UJENZI (Initial Phase)

1. Matofali lori 7 @ shs. 250,000/=                                 shs.1,750,000/=

2. Mchanga lori 2 @shs. 100,000/=                                    shs.200,000/=

3. Kokoto lori 1 @ shs. 120,000/=                                     shs.120,000/=

          Jumla (Total)                                                              shs.2,070,000/=                     £900

B. KUENDELEZA UJENZI (Second & Main Phase)

4. Saruji mifuko 80@ shs. 13,500/=                                shs.1,080,000/=

5. Nondo 12mm – 30 @shs. 17,500/=                                shs.525,000/=

6. Bati mita  3 G30-30@ 15,000/=                                      shs.450,000/=

7. Misumari                                                                        shs.45,000/=

8. Ceiling boards 15@shs. 12,000/=                                  shs.180,000/=

9. Misumari ya ceiling                                                         shs.17,500/=

10. Tiles (vigae) vya sakafu                                                shs.340,000/=

11. Vigae (scating)                                                               shs.75,000/=

12. Chokaa mifuko 10                                                          shs.38,000/=

13. Kofia za bati                                                                  shs.50,000/=

14. Wire mesh                                                                      shs.20,000/=

15. Binding wire                                                                   shs.12,500/=

16. Grill, milango na madirisha                                            shs.300,000/=

17. Rangi (maji) ndoo 4                                                      shs.106,000/=

18. Rangi (mafuta)                                                               shs.87,000/=

19. Gharama za puchi                                                         shs.162,000/=

20. Masinki 4                                                                       shs.68,000/=

21. Gharama za kufunga umeme                                         shs.200,000/=

          Jumla (Total)                                                               shs3,711,000/=                   £1,620

C. MBAO (Timber)

22. 4” X 2” X 13’ – Rft 390                                                   shs.195,000/=

23. 3” x 2” x 13’ – Rft 650                                                    shs.260,000/=

24. 6” x 2 x 7 – Rft 280                                                       shs.280,000/=

25. 8” x 1” x 13 – Rft 260                                                    shs.156,000/=

26. 12” x 1 x  7- Rft 168                                                      shs.168,000/=

          Jumla (Total)                                                              shs.1,059,000/=                     £465

D. FUNDI (Labour)                                                         shs.1,200,000/=                     £525

E. JUMLA KUU (Total costs)

27. Kuanza ujenzi=                                                           shs.2,070,000/=

28. Kuendeleza ujenzi=                                                    shs.3,711,000/=

29. Mbao =                                                                     shs.1,059,000/=

30. Ufundi =                                                                    shs.1,200,000/=

          Jumla (Total) =                                                           shs.8,040,000/=                   £3,500

KAZI ZA WANANCHI / WAKRISTO (Local labour)

31. Kusawazisha kiwanja                                                      shs.80,000/=

32. Kukusanya mawe lori 3@60,000                                    shs.240,000/=

33. Gharama za usafiri na usafirishaji                                   shs.300,000/=

34. Ulinzi                                                                            shs.200,000/=

35. Dharura – 10% ya gharama yote                                    shs.804,000/=

Jumla (Total)                                                              shs.1,624,000/=                     £710

          Grand total                                                                                                         £4,210