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Welcome to International Health Partners TZ and International Health Partners - US INC.

 

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Dear Friends and Supporters,

 

June, 2010 Update from Nyakato

 

From Mary Ellen Kitundu, President, International Health Partners US & TZ:

Dear Supporters of Health Care at Nyakato!

 

For a large part of this month, we have been blessed by the presence of Iowa volunteers: health care and construction!  They have moved the entire process forward so much.  They have painted, built walls and hauled stones!  The building of the laundry was started so people will have clean sheets, the concession stand was almost completed so people have water and goodies to eat while waiting, the Patricia Ward is almost ready to open so we will have a place for patients to sleep and for nursing care.  They painted and painted...making an impressive difference to the place.

 

And they have cared for patients.

 

Just one example of how care influences a large part of society: they discovered high blood pressure in a young man who is going to run for the parliament.  He is a young man going places He has a child with severe sickle cell disease and has been campaigning for better care for these children.  So if he lives and wins, the person who discovered the high blood pressure will have influenced thousands of children of sickle cell, and have contributed to the quality of political life in Tanzania.  Thank you Dr. Malcolm Findlater.  Another doctor found a little girl with an impressive swelling of the parotid gland.  After follow up, we found it was a rare manifestation of AIDS and by discovering this, we were able to get her and her family on drugs, teach them how to avoid giving others AIDS, and influence the care of multiple people acquainted with the little girl and her family.

 

Stories like this are common, and if you come, you like the Iowa team, can make a huge difference in lives of people.  If you cannot come, you contribution helps with delivering these services.  You do make a difference.  If you cannot donate, your prayers and your telling the story makes a difference.  Thank all of you so much.

 

Mary Kitundu

 

From Den Lofstrom, Vice President, IHP, US & TZ:

The team from Iowa has come and gone this past month since the last update.  Dennis Gormley and Larry Yoder from the construction personnel of the team were very conscientious, attending the 7:30 A.M. meetings that assigned the projects for the day and coordinated our Tanzanian workers and the wagenyi (USA workers) on the many projects.  Good progress was made and the buildings look much brighter, inside and out, with their new coats of sealer and paint.  Also, their rock wainscoating is very impressive – heavy work as attested to by the sore muscles that moved the heavy rock.

 

Some of the medical personnel also participated on the building crew for this project.  Dr. Malcolm Findlater was commenting on his sore muscles, too.

 

Incidentally, both Larry and Dennis were voted by our Tanzanian supervisors as “Worker of the week” for their significant contributions to the projects.  They each received an official certificate signed by the Project Manager and myself as Chief Operations Officer of IHP, TZ.  They each received a bonus of $10,000 Tsh, also as is customary as a token of appreciation.

 

Mary Ellen Kitundu, President of IHP, US & TZ, came up from her home in Dar es Salaam to work with the team’s medical personnel for the weeks they were here.

 

Former Acting Bishop Francis Gunda stopped by as the team was leaving to thank them for all their good work – a God’s blessing and safe journey back to the U.S., words we heartily endorse.

 

Den Lofstrom

 

From Charles W. Powell, MD:

Our second trip to Nyakato was a good one. It was quite surprising how much the site at Nyakato has changed over the past year. The buildings that were mere shells are now nearing completion. The eye clinic is near completion, needing only a few more weeks in the hands of Sele's able crew to be ready for furnishings and patients. The birthing center lacks beds, an obstetrician, and some NICU equipment to open. The Patricia Ward, after housing the crew from Iowa, is ready for use.

 

While we were in Nyakato we saw great progress on the building exteriors and the finish inside the birthing center and the Patricia Ward. The visible changes were quite impressive. The Iowa volunteers and Sele's workers appeared to work wonders on the facilities.

 

We were surprised one night to find the tool shed unlocked well after dark. There was concern that it was an oversight, and an effort was made to locate the key to secure the area. It turned out that the local crew was still busy working on one of the site projects. As a physician, I am quite familiar with long days. Nonetheless, my days are not physical labor in the hot sun. We rarely miss meals to complete projects like the local crew did that day, and as I am certain they do many days.

 

I left with my family to visit Arusha about a week in advance of most of the Iowa volunteers. I understand that they were able to complete many if the projects as well as erect a substantial bit of the walls that will house the laundry.

 

Building aside, the Nyakato Health Center continues to serve an ever increasing community. The exciting thing is that the Patrcia Ward is soon to open to inpatient care. The birthing center should follow soon after. The eye clinic will fill a tremendous need, and the soon-to-be opened dental suite will prevent the needless loss of countless teeth. As much as I admire Dr. Bon's ability to pull teeth, I think there's little dispute that it will be better to save them.

 

So, what is impossible for man continues to move forward with God. Fear not; there is plenty of work left to do. A solar power supply with wind backup is a much needed addition. A local water well and adequate purification are absolute necessities. A surgery center and staff to man it are high on the agenda. And amongst the other needs, a modern X-ray suite is required to progress from health clinic status to hospital status.

 

Finally, I would like to report how much we enjoyed working with the medical students who were in Nyakato during our stay. It is wonderful to watch both their enthusiasm, and the sacrifice they make to work under less than five star conditions.

 

We look forward to returning to Nyakato.

 

Charles W. Powell, MD

 

Sylvia Exum, (2nd year medical student, Univ. of NC School of Medicine):

Nyakato has so much more to offer than I originally expected.  I knew there were plans in place for expanding and adding different clinics and housing for pregnant women, but I thought this would happen at a snail’s pace, since after all “this is Africa.”  But as I see the progress on each building, I am astounded at how much they have already accomplished in the few short weeks I’ve been here.  In just a few short years Nyakato will be an all encompassing hospital, providing much needed medical attention to the surrounding community.  Nyakato not only has competent and caring doctors but they provide services for just pennies on the dollar, which is a blessing to those who only make a few dollars a month.

 

This opportunity has blessed me with a chance to learn firsthand about practicing tropical medicine.  There are many aspects and diseases that traverse continents that I never really considered to be a problem when thinking about tropical medicine.  Still other diseases that are easily treated in the States shorten the average life-span here by so many years.  I know this won’t change overnight but working with the doctors and nurses has shown me that they are really interested in changing this, in educating their patients to prevent early death.  It’s extremely encouraging to know that everyone here at Nyakato is willing to take the necessary steps to educate patients.

 

BrittanyWhite, (2nd year medical student, Univ. of NC School of Medicine):

When Paula came to give her presentation at my medical school in September, I knew that Nyakato was where I wanted to be this summer.  I spent last summer in Kenya, and was praying for the opportunity to come back to Africa on a medical mission after my first year of medical school.  God was faithful in answering my prayers, and I am thankful for the opportunity to be here.  Paula and everyone here are organized and so helpful.  They really do care about making this a good experience for all of their volunteers.  I have loved getting to know all of the workers at the clinic and around the compound; they are all so friendly and welcoming.

 

This experience has further confirmed my desire to be involved in medical missions in the future.  I have spent some time in Kenya on medical missions, and with each experience I have a stronger desire to return.  I am excited to see where God leads me.  After only being here for a few weeks, the educational experience has been invaluable and I know I will take it all home with me!

 

Priyanka Rao:

Habari!!!  My name is Priyanka and I am a second year medical student from the University of Iowa.  After finishing a year of school I knew I wanted to spend my final summer experiencing healthcare in a non-Western setting, little did I know what was in store.  I have been in Nyakato for almost a month now and I think I have found myself a second home.  Currently there are 10 medical students here at Nyakato and we have set up a rotation schedule for ourselves where we all get a chance to work with doctors, in the lab, in the pharmacy, and in triage at the clinic.  We also have miscellaneous days which give us a chance to go into town with Paula, visit other hospitals and clinics, and give health education presentations to local secondary school students.  Everyone who works at IHP has been so warm, welcoming and kind.  I feel so thankful to have the opportunity to live here for the summer to begin to understand the challenges and joys of running a healthcare facility in rural Tanzania.  I came to Tanzania completely unsure about how my summer would turn out.  All I can say now is that I can’t wait to come back!

 

Eugenia Pyntikova, Student from Georgetown Univ, Washington, DC:

 Hello!  If you are reading this update, you are likely a potential volunteer, donor, or collaborator of IHP.  I hope my brief statement about what I learned and experienced during my time in Mwanza will encourage you to think about what you can do with your time to contribute to the effort here in Nyakato.  Before my trip this summer, I had been looking for an opportunity to travel to sub-Saharan Africa or Central Asia with the hope of “testing the waters.”  I am currently half-way through a joint JD/MPH program at Georgetown and Johns Hopkins and, before I committed to a career in international health law/policy, I wanted to make sure that working and living in a developing country or a resource-poor community was something I could personally handle.   During my time here, the IHP staff have graciously involved me, a non-physician, in as many facets of this NGO’s work as I could possibly absorb: I assisted the clinic support staff and looked at patient privacy rights, I shadowed physicians, I helped paint the isolation ward, I accompanied Paula Lofstrom on visits to the local family planning dispensary and the wholesale pharmacy on behalf of the clinic.  In short, I was given the opportunity to observe every part of IHP’s function and to learn about the very multidisciplinary challenge of running a healthcare delivery facility in rural Tanzania.  As a first time visitor to sub-Saharan Africa, I worried about adjusting to a new lifestyle but Paula, Dennis, Mary Ellen, and all the employees – from Mboto the chauffeur extraordinaire to Lucy our chef-in-charge – were a consistent and committed resource for the volunteers.  I came here wondering if I could tolerate this lifestyle as a career and left wondering how soon I would be able to come back to Tanzania!  IHP is a truly unique NGO because of the people who operate it and the love and thought they put into their work.  I hope IHP continues to push forward and expand its critically-important service to the local community in Mwanza and I feel privileged to have contributed some small part to its work this summer.

 

From Eugenia after her Mt. Kilimanjaro climb:

 Paula, You are right!  We were tight on time and did only the curio mart and it was fantastic.  Very good bargaining and they had exactly the thing I was looking for for Frank.  Met a woman who does "everything beads" and belongs to a women's union AND gave us fantastic prices when I told her I volunteered in Nyakato.  Also just walked around Arusha and visited an expat bar one evening, watched a World Cup match there on a big screen.  That was surreal.  Many people in Arusha living in little compounds and are not interacting with locals.  Just got home.  Still a little delirious after the long flights.  It's 5am here.  Kili was great but yikes so tiring.  The 7 day trek is no joke. 5 days of hiking before the summit attempt!  Ours was the only group at the base camp where nobody was sick.  Our guide gave away all his ibuprofen to other teams and one girl developed a pulmonary edema while others just had all kinds of GI problems :) For other people attempting it I would say a) eat all the food they give you especially the boring things that look like gruel but save your stomach and b) definitely bring knee braces for the descent, where you sprint downhill on loose gravel!  Overall great, unforgettable, experience and Vesna was very sweet and her husband Bube gave us a ride to the airport himself.

 

Amit Gupta: (2nd year medical student, UNC):

 Hello friends!  Two days ago I had home-cooked pumpkin pie for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!  Who would have thought?!  Working at Nyakato has been more enjoyable than I could have ever expected.  After hearing Paula and Denny talk at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine last fall I was won over by their obvious passion for their work.  What appealed to me most about Nyakato was a sense that it wasn’t just any foreign operation in Africa, but a truly locally integrated clinic that Tanzanians could consider their own.  Three weeks in and I couldn’t feel more strongly about this. All the doctors and staff who run the clinic are Tanzanian and the rush of patients that come in everyday are a testament to the wonderful work being done here.  The staff are wonderful and work from their hearts.  From joking about Dr. Bon(d) going on secret 007 missions to pushing Nurse Elizabeth to dance, we have a great time learning and treating patients at Nyakato while always smiling in the process.  We have already had many opportunities to learn about tropical diseases, practice doing blood draws, work in the lab, and shadow at different clinics in Mwanza itself.  Nyakato is a great setting for learning and I look forward to everything in store for the next couple of weeks!

 

Jade Jones : (2nd year medical student, UNC):

Jambo!  My name is a Jade and I am a second year medical student at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.  Volunteering at the Nyakato Health Center has truly been a blessing and my experience here thus has far exceeded all my expectations.  I have always wanted to do a medical missions trip and travel to Africa so when I heard Paula and Denny speak at my school back in November I was thrilled.  I have already learned so much both spiritually and mentally by being here.  The people of Tanzania along with IHP are so warm and friendly.  I spend most of my days here working in the clinic assisting the doctors or working in the lab.  The clinic has so many patients and I believe that this is a testament to the great work IHP is doing here.  Along with assisting in the hospital we have also given talks about sexually transmitted diseases at local schools here.  I have only been here three weeks but I already know that I want to come back here once I start practicing.

 

Daniel McMillan: (2nd year medical student, UNC):

Greetings from Mwanza.  Life here is good, and the opportunities to work and learn with IHP have been a true blessing.  After spending just a few weeks here, I know that my skills and efforts this summer break have been put to good use.  As a medical student interested in medical missions, I knew that gaining some clinical experience in tropical medicine would serve me well in my future profession as a healthcare worker.  Even more impactful than gaining the clinical experience, I have been able to live within a community and experience more of the culture in Mwanza than I could have imagined possible in a short 3 weeks.  Whether it be trips to the market to buy fruits and vegetables, church services on Sunday morning, watching soccer games at a pub, or playing pickup basketball with the locals, it has been great to be immersed in this welcoming community. I know the next few weeks will continue to be filled with opportunities to grow both as a medical professional and as person, and I look forward to gleaning from them all that I can in the short time I have left here.

 

Mary Pace: (Volunteer from Kansas City, MO):

Jambo from Mwanza.  This is my second trip to Tanzania and I am loving it.  I came last year for a week and did not want to leave when the time came.  When I decided to come back this year, I decided to make my stay last a month.  The people here are very friendly and welcoming.  Everyone you along your way back and forth to the health center greet you with wonderful smiles and greetings.  Even though I am not in the medical profession, there are many things I can do to help here.  I have helped by doing many things from helping in the kitchen, to washing laundry.  I am not a construction worker, but I still helped the construction crew.  I spent the last three days sanding and bleaching wood.  Next week I will be staining beds in the Patricia Ward.  You do not need a specific skill to be of help here.  Every job is important and appreciated here in Tanzania.  I would encourage you to come help.

 

I have benefited greatly from life in Tanzania.  Every day is a new experience, whether it be a trip to the central market or playing with JJ in the afternoon.  I feel like my life is better and I am a better person because of my time here.  I have learned that everything in life is special, and I can be a help by just doing the small things.  It has made me feel very needed and appreciated.  I would recommend this experience to everyone.

 

Sid Starkman (medical student):

Hi, this is Sid Starkman, and I’ve just finished my first year at medical school.  This summer, I’m checking out IHP in Mwanza, Tanzania.  We are affiliated with the Nyakato Medical Center and they have been great at putting me to work.  So far, I have gotten experience working in triage, lab, pharmacy, and with the doctors.  It has been great putting to work the knowledge that I’ve gained in school this past year.  When Dr. Bon tells me the patient has salmonella Typhi, I actually have a clue what he’s saying.  It hasn’t been all work, though.  I’ve also been able to take in the Tanzanian culture.  I’ve visited the market, gone into town, and recently just got back from a safari in the Serengeti!  All in all, it’s been amazing so far, and I’m really getting a great idea of what international medical work is like.

 

Brandon Leake (medical student):

Hello from Africa!  My name is Brandon Leake and I am two weeks into my first volunteer trip to Africa.  Having just finished up my first year in medical school, this experience has given me the opportunity to not only help so many, but learn a great deal at the same time.  In the short time that I have been here, I have worked in the pharmacy, learned how to take blood and run lab tests, and shadowed numerous doctors.  Just like many of the other students have said, it has been quite the learning experience and I can only hope that the next two weeks of my trip will be just as great as the last two.

 

Liz Keating (2nd year medical student, Mayo Medical School):

Jambo!  My name is Liz Keating and I am a second year medical student spending my summer here in Nyakato.  I have had an absolutely amazing experience so far.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect coming to Africa for the first time, but I have quickly developed a love for this wonderful place.  The people here are so friendly and kind, and the culture is very rich and intriguing.  Working in the clinic has offered lessons in many areas: illnesses common in this region of the world, how to test for typhoid and malaria, how to best find veins in order to draw blood, and many other skills that will serve me well in my future as an international medicine physician.  One thing that I find unique about the IHP Clinic is the collaboration with local Tanzanian physicians, nurses, technicians, drivers, etc.  It is a very comprehensive project that greatly benefits the people of Tanzania by providing them with quality, affordable health care.  This is an experience that I would encourage everyone to try out, whether you are interested in international medicine or not.  It offers lessons beneficial to any future physician, lawyer, nurse, or lay person that cares about helping people of the world with great need.

 

Mira Coleman (2nd year medical student, Mayo Medical School):

Hi, my name is Mira Coleman, and I am a 2nd year medical student at Mayo Medical School.  Shortly after finishing my first year of medical school, I hopped on a plane to Africa with three of my classmates not really knowing what to expect.  After two weeks of being immersed in African culture and tropical medicine, I have learned many lessons that I will take with me throughout the rest of my career.  The people here are incredibly welcoming and grateful, qualities that are not found as readily in the States.  In the short amount of time we’ve been here, I’ve learned how to take a patient history, how to do blood draws and other lab tests, how to fill prescriptions in the pharmacy, how to work on a team with other healthcare providers, and much more.  We’ve also worked on generating a working electronic record system in the IHP Clinic—which I hope will leave the clinic with a lasting improvement.   Overall, I’ve been very impressed with the amount of organization, collaboration, and generosity that I’ve seen here in Nyakato.  Hopefully, I will be able to incorporate all of these valuable skills into my future career as a physician.

 

Paula writing:

There you have it.  Another incredible month made possible by the generous donations of our supporters.  Patients are served, students learn, local people are employed as care givers, cleaners in the clinic, construction workers, and watchmen.  Thank you. Next month will be a “squeaker.”  We don’t know if we’ll be able to keep on at the pace we’ve set.  If you can give even a little, it will help.  If you can give more, we’ll put it to good use, too.  Every bit helps.

 

To donate to International Health Partners, please go to our website, www.ihptz.org and push “Just Give”, or send checks to:

 

International Health Partners, US & TZ

Joyce Zemel, Treasurer

1811 So. 39^th St. #36

Mesa, AZ  85206

 

If you would like for us to speak to you, a group, a church, a service club, we are putting together our schedule for the upper Midwest and pacific Northwest U.S. for Oct., Nov., and Dec., and possibly January.

 

So far:

Sept. 26 – Atonement Lutheran Church, Overland Park, KS

Oct. 3rd - First Lutheran Church, Newton, Iowa

Oct. 5-6 – Nobel Conference, St. Peter, MN (attending, not speaking)

Oct. 10 – Sayner, Wisconsin

Oct 24th – Bethlehem Lutheran, Lakefield, MN

Oct. 25-26-27 – Family Practice Clinical Reviews, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN (attending).

Nov. 7th - Holy Shepherd Lutheran Church, Orinda, CA

Every day we are aware that God is present in everything we do. God is working through each of us, and we thank you for saying, “Yes.”

 

Blessings and gratitude,

 

Paula and Den Lofstrom

 

Please note: The attached pictures are viewable on the normal monthly update page.