July 2011

July 2011 Update from IHP

Den Lofstrom writing:

Another month has raced by and we celebrated the 4th of July in our back yard with long tables set up. It was a pot luck picnic with all expacts – Americans or other, invited. About 50 people came for baked beans and barbeque and much more (but no fireworks). Some of the expats (missionaries) had a tour of the hospital buildings and seemed quite impressed. They marvel at the donor support for which we thank all of you.

The cement plastering is completed on the laundry and it is an impressive looking building. Only cement work to complete is the overlay floor to be contoured for all floor drains.

We discussed and decided on a stone façade to match the other buildings. This building was built with funds from you, especially by the friends honoring the late Marie Soldo, and Atonement Lutheran Church in Overland Park, KS, and those of you giving to our undesignated general fund. It is the only building of the hospital units built so far by our 18-20 Tanzanian work crew without a construction team from overseas to help. We desperately need a laundry before we can open the Bogumil Birthing Center 24/7 and could not wait 6 months for a container to arrive with building materials from the U.S. So, we used only local materials, in other words, the core of the building is burnt brick and cement. The schools and businesses we have contracts with are pushing us to offer 24/7 services also.

So, IHP-US & Tz is pedaling as fast as possible and the projects are moving right along thanks to our donors.

Blessings and thank you. Asanta sana to all of you,

Den Lofstrom, M.D., Vice President, Chief Operations Officer

Selemani Shabani, Project Manager for IHP writing:

Dear donors and friends who care about IHP,

I just want to take this opportunity to thank all of you! Thank you very much for choosing and doing God’s work and together we are doing God’s work. Thank you for all of your time, dollars, pennies, equipment, building materials and everything you are giving to IHP.

We have built a “soak away pit” (leaching tank, septic system) 14’ x 24’ deep this month. This is connected to the Health Center and is working right now. Later this system will be connected to the x-ray department, O.R. department, and birthing center. The laundry is almost done except for the floor, plumbing, and paint. [Paula interrupting here - We will soon be ready for washing machines, dryers, a mangle, and laundry carts but these items, or the money to buy them here, have not been donated yet]. Sele continues: We have managed to do all of these things through your donations. That’s why you are so special to us. Without you there would be no building going on here and there would be no IHP – so IHP is YOU!

Like I said before, thank you for choosing God’s work. Together we are doing God’s work! Be blessed. Sele

Siri Preston writing:

I originally came into this trip thinking that I was going to make a big difference here in Mwanza, a visible, lasting impression. But now, I think it is the complete opposite…Tanzania has made a big difference and visible, lasting impression on me. I’ve been changed by the people I have met at the clinic, the children I have played with, the faces I have seen on the streets, and the lives I have seen changed by the hands of missionaries here, like Paula and Denny. God is moving through this place; there is joy and hope in the midst of sickness and poverty. I have learned to have a thankful heart and a love and passion for the beautiful and generous people of Tanzania. I feel blessed to have known this place and the people who give Tanzania its life and spirit.

Kyle Landau writing:

I’m a student from the U.S. studying accounting, finance, and economics at Kansas State University. I came to volunteer at IHP to help them evaluate the financial aspects of their facility at Nyakato. The clinic plans to operate 24/7 in the near future, up from 9:00-4:00 five days a week and 9:00-12:00 on Saturdays, and would like to have a strong idea of what it will cost to run the hospital. Over the last few weeks I have been working with Paula, Denny, Dr. Bonaventura Mezezele, Miriam Mugo, and other clinic staff to gather all the necessary information associated with the costs and procedures of providing care to the community. I have been thoroughly impressed by the people here. Everyone is friendly and eager to help you in whatever you are doing. Although there have been minor challenges, mostly as a result of language barriers, the staff at the clinic is patient and genuinely want to make sure they are doing the best job possible.

As a result of the time clinic staff and I have worked together thus far, we are close to completing the design of a program that will automatically update the costs that go into providing each unit of care, from each procedure down to the individual pharmaceuticals that are sold in the pharmacy. This cost information not only includes the cost of materials used during a procedure but will also incorporate wages, electricity, sterilization, laundry costs, and more, while allowing them to update their cost information in real time. With so many variables contributing to the cost of care, having high levels of dedication from the staff, especially noticeable in Dr. Bon who often stays at the clinic 2 or more hours after a full day of work to meet with me, is allowing the creation of such a program possible. The hope is that, once complete, this tool will provide information displaying the exact cost of each procedure, lab test, and pharmaceutical. The mission statement of the clinic is “To Provide Competent, Compassionate Care for All Who Seek It.” To meet this obligation pricing care accurately at its cost is essential to maximizing the accessibility and sustainability of the hospital and that is what they will be able to do more precisely in the future.

I still have much work to do while in Tanzania. However, I am confident with the progress made to this point and have been inspired by the open-minded determination of the staff. They were able to quickly understand the science behind pricing and planning decisions using historical information incorporated into the program. As a result of their ability to improve, the clinic will continue to further its mission while the community around Mwanza benefits from adequate healthcare within their means.

I believe the remainder of my trip will largely be focused on working with Dr. Bon and implementing accounting practices that will help to evaluate the daily, monthly, and annual performance of Nyakato health Center. I am incredibly impressed by Dr. Bon’s approach to the Clinic’s accounting system to this point as it displays his intellect and resourcefulness. This also serves as a solid base of understanding on which to communicate new ideas that will save time while minimizing any minor errors. The goal is to serve the patients with maximum efficiency and to keep costs affordable, even to the very poor.

Megan writing:

I have been in Tanzania for almost seven weeks and am wrapping up my visit. In the past weeks I have worked in the clinic, visited orphanages, and observed in the local hospital. Among my experiences in Tanzania comparing Nyakato Clinic to the local hospital has been one of the more profound and influential. I shadowed a pediatrician and was invited to go on rounds. The physician did not carry a stethoscope with him (despite there being several pneumonia cases that would have warranted the use of a stethoscope), he did not discuss the status of the child with the parent and simply wrote ‘doing well,’ ‘improving’ or ‘still sick’ on the chart. In blatant contrast, Nyakato Clinic physicians evaluate each patient and discuss the care with the patients (or patients’ parents). All care is documented multiple times, e.g. with the physician and with the lab technician. After seeing both facilities it is clear why this area is in need of a quality health center. Nyakato Clinic and IHP are providing this community with much needed access to care and I am pleased to have been a part of the project for the past weeks.

Anar Patel writing:

I am a fourth year medical student at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and I spent 4 weeks working at the Nyakato Health Center in Mwanza, Tanzania. I plan to pursue a career in internal medicine and infectious diseases and hope to one day work in the arena of global healthcare and public health. Working at the Nyakato Health Center was inspiring in many ways both professionally and personally. I learned a vast amount about treating common infectious diseases in the clinic such as schistosomiasis, typhoid fever, and malaria and had a great time working with both Dr. Msengi and Dr. Bon as well as the laboratory technicians. Both physicians were amazing role models and I learned a great deal about using cost-effective lab techniques and inventive differential diagnoses to help care for our underserved population in this resource-limited setting. I was further impacted by the incredible relationships the physicians had with their patients. They would often see more than 100 patients in a single day all while the clinic’s strong-willed patients would wait hours to be able to obtain quality healthcare by the bright and ever-smiling physicians at the Nyakato Health Center. Working here was an unforgettable experience for me and would be for any medical student interested in global health. Asante Sana IHP!

Katie Diiro writing:

Mambo! Bomba! Poa! Phrases like this are what I learned and subsequently shouted as common greetings with the amazingly friendly people of Tanzania. I am here as a filmmaker, creating a documentary featuring Nyakato Clinic of International Health Partners. My experience has been one of joyful energy. The Holy Spirit has never been stronger in my life than sitting in the waiting room at Nyakato. God willed so many people into my life, for a short time, but for a powerful time. I was able to meet many patients who are so thankful for Nyakato. For many, it was their first time at the clinic. All first-time patients said they would not pick another clinic in the future. They will return to Nyakato because the doctors are so kind and the staff is so friendly. I agree. While I was here, I actually ended up becoming a patient for one day, as I got really hot and dehydrated and passed out for the first time in my life! In what could have been a panicked situation, I felt the love and comfort of the caring and considerate staff at Nyakato. If I had the choice to pass out in Tanzania at Nyakato or at a clinic in the USA, I would choose Nyakato. I have felt love and compassion in Tanzania that is more humble and pure than I have felt before.

The end result of my journey here is going to be a short documentary. However, that is certainly not all God had in store for me here. I am forever changed by my visit to Tanzania and I have good intentions to return to Tanzania and make a visit to IHP. I have been positively influenced by the smiling doctors, the witty medical students, the compassionate staff, and of course Paula and Denny’s willingness to create the atmosphere of a family. This experience has shown me the meaning of “dada and kaka in Kristo!” Which is “sisters and brothers in Christ!” I am sad to leave, but excited to return to Minnesota and share my journey with my friends and family. Thank you to Jesus for showing me a light in Tanzania through the courageous people living their lives impoverished with more joy and love than people with all the riches in the world. Continue to pray for IHP, because they need to expand and Nyakato Clinic needs to become Nyakato Hospital. In Christ, Katie Diiro, Moorhead, MN, USA

Edward Cho writing:

As the day that I go back to Iowa is drawing near, I can only be appreciative of what I have experienced in this past two months stay in Tanzania. I still remember vividly the first day I arrived in Tanzania, mysterious and new. Now, Tanzania has become my third home next to U.S.A and Korea. As a medical student, I have learned so much. I thought a few weeks in the clinic would be enough to learn. However, I was surprised that there was something new to learn each day. I could not have asked for better clinical experience. Working with skillful, confident, and, most importantly, passionate healthcare providers, I have learned not only to treat but to care for the patient.

I came to Tanzania as a foreigner, but now, I feel like I became one of Tanzanian. I am glad that I was able to meet various people. They became “brothers and sisters from different mothers.” The children were always willing to give me “Nipe Tano”, and people were willing to say hello and smile at my greeting.

I have learned that I did not come prepared as much as I should have. It is my goal to return to Tanzania in the future to give back for the amazing experience it had given me. I will miss all of my brothers and sisters that I have met here.

Anna Gross writing:

Hello everyone, Salama!

I am a medical student and just finished my 4th year of studies back home in Austria, Graz. The time I started studying medicine, I knew I wanted to come to Africa one day and work here for some time and if that’s possible, help the people here a little bit. I was always interested in Public Health, that’s why I joined the Austrian Medical Student’s Association (AMSA), a nonprofit, nonpolitical organization that supports a lot of public health projects, like this here in Tanzania. That’s also how I got to know about the Nyakato Health Centre.

When I arrived here, a week ago, I did not know how it would be, because I’ve never been to Africa before. But I really felt like home here very soon. The Tanzanian people are the nicest foreign people I’ve ever met! Everybody greets you and starts to talk to you, and it does not matter to them, if you are good at Swahili or you just know a few words. They are just happy if you greet them back. All the kids love to do “nipe tano” which means “give me five”.

Working at the Clinic is also a lot of fun. Dr. Bon and Dr. Msengi, the local doctors are amazing people, as are all the nurses and Jimmy from the lab. They will always help you, if you need something, and they all laugh and smile a lot. I learned a lot from them and they treat the patients very well. Never the less we see here patients every day, which we cannot help a lot, because we don’t have the materials, which we would need (like an x-Ray or a totally equipped theatre). So I hope a lot, that the plans for the future, to get a totally equipped hospital, will work out one day.

I really “fell in love” with Tanzania and the people here. So I hope it’s possible for me to return one day (maybe with my own surgical team) and make a bigger change once I am a doctor.

Felix Laminger writing:

My name is Felix and I am an Austrian medical student from Vienna, hopefully graduating next year.

Since I have been to southern Africa some years ago and was there as an intern in a children’s hospital I really wanted to return to the African continent.

I recognized Paula and Dennis Lofstrom “Nyakato Health Care Center” through the Austrian Medical Student Association, who listed it as a public health project.

Before I came here I had no idea what would expect me. After my first week I, without any hesitation, can say that what they arranged so far is amazing. The clinic with two Tanzanian doctors, a laboratory, a pharmacy and nurses is well organized and – so they told me - financially independent. In my opinion this independency is the key for sustainable development. I am at the clinic daily to work with the doctors or to help in the lab to diagnose malaria or typhoid fever through simple but helpful blood sampling.

The need for help in the region around Mwanza next to beautiful Lake Victoria is tremendously high. The rate of HIV positive people is one of the highest on the continent and the lack of medical infrastructure is a big issue.

The Lofstroms goal to build up different departments including a dental ward, a radiology suite, a surgical suite, a birthing center, an isolation ward, an emergency trauma unit plus post-OP-ICU, an eye unit, a pediatric ward, a natal-baby clinic, physical therapy unit and a maternity home complex until 2016 is realistic although the fulfillment still relies on funds from abroad.

Besides the small hospital here in Mwanza International Health Partners Tanzania build up a nursing school in Dodoma with bachelor degree level and includes the biggest, actual nursing library in Tanzania. The nurses there are also interning at Nyakato Hospital to enlarge their practical skills.

Today we went to the main governmental hospital in Mwanza and what we saw there underlined again the need for sufficient and long lasting medical aid in this part of Tanzania.

I hope that Paula and Denny are able to fulfill their lifetime dream in good health and that both can experience how the different departments will work in the near future.

Christopher Bassett writing:

Harbari za mchana (good afternoon) from Tanzania! My name is Chris Bassett and I am a medical student from the UK. I have only been at Nyakato for about 4 days but I already feel as if I have been caught up in the life of Tanzania. Literally a few hours after arriving, I had already been greeted as if I was a long-lost friend by a Tanzanian gentlemen and then was given a Papaya for doing nothing more than listen to him talk about his land! I have never experienced this effortless friendliness and generosity (from practically every person you meet) while in the UK. It is hard to describe how important greetings are in Tanzania and also how bad I am at them. Despite this, any effort to say; hello? How are you? Is always greeted by smiles, encouragement and frequently an attempt to teach the “Mzungo” (white man) some manners. As well as the lovely people, this country is just plain beautiful and I don’t think any pictures can prepare you for the real thing, whether it’s the landscape or all the colorful roadside activities and markets.

I am already extremely impressed by the work being done at Nyakato Health Center. Each day crowds of people are seen and treated by the two resident Doctors, with the help of many support staff and under the organization of Paula and Denny. This entire project is amazing and the plans for the future are even more exciting, with a birthing center, new buildings and visits from international medical teams. I personally feel very privileged that I can offer anything to the daily running and so far have done what little I can to help Dr. Msengi do his work. This afternoon we visited Bugando, a government hospital in Mwanza. Certainly a different feel to the clinic and very difficult not to feel both powerless and upset by some of the scenes inside. Despite this it was encouraging to see the Doctor’s doing what they can with little resources and the humbling nature with which the Tanzanian people shoulder these difficulties.

Paula writing:

You know, I ask our guests to write whatever they feel called write, then I tell them, “The more you write, the less I have to!” It certainly worked this month!

We especially want to thank Bob and Shirley Newberry of Winona, MN for the outstanding work they did to host the golf outing for IHP. The money they collected, about $7,000 will go to buy an incubator for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This will save lives. We are so very, very grateful. Thank you, Bob and Shirley.

Katie Diiro has agreed to be our official Facebook Updating Person. So, please start looking for the Facebook page for International Health Partners - Tanzania (IHP-TZ) http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22658747612

We are preparing our schedule for fund raising in the U.S. when we return in October. We will be traveling north from Kansas City, then to Minnesota and Iowa, then to Chicago, Ft. Wayne, IN, and then east as you’ll see below. We’ll work our way to New England, New York, down to Washington, D.C., and then back to Kansas City for Christmas. Sele will be with us up to that point. Then he’ll come back to Tanzania. Den and I will then go west to Salt Lake and then Oregon, to Hawaii and back to Oregon then California, and then back to Kansas City. We are open and frankly asking for invitations anywhere along these routes. We will speak to 2 people or 200 or more. We want to reach all who are ready to listen and may be interested in helping to do God’s work here at Nyakato. We’ll have a PowerPoint presentation that can be of any length depending on the venue. We will speak with Rotary clubs, other service clubs, dinners or fund raisers in people’s homes, etc. We’ll then return to Kansas City before flying back to Tanzania.

The schedule so far:

Sept., 2011

Sept. 25, leave Mwanza

Sept. 28th leave Arusha to fly to Kansas City

Sept. 29th, land in Kansas City

Oct. 2011

Oct. 1st, Golf outing for Atonement Lutheran to help finance their mission trip out here to finish the eye center.

Oct. 4-5, Nobel Conference, St. Peter, MN.

Oct. 12, Grace Lutheran, Fargo, ND., Potluck, 6:00 P.M.

Oct. 16, First Presbyterian, Foley, MN

Oct. 20th, University of Iowa Medical School, Iowa City, Iowa

Oct. 22nd, - IHP-US Board Meeting, Newton, Iowa

Oct. 23rd, First Lutheran, Newton, Iowa then take Sele to LaCrosse, WI to spend the week at Gunderson Lutheran learning building techniques and equipment repair

Oct. 24-26, Family Practice Reviews, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Oct. 27, 28 -, A Taste of Tropical Medicine, Mayo, Rochester, MN

Oct. 29th – go pick up Sele in LaCrosse, WI and head for Chicago

November, 2011

Nov. 5th, Women’s event, St. John’s Lutheran, Ft. Wayne, IN

Nov. 6th – St. John’s Lutheran, Ft. Wayne, IN

Nov. 8th ?? Case Western Reserve, medical school presentation, Cleveland, OH

Nov. 15th, Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, Utica, NY

Nov. 20th St. Paul Lutheran Church, Annapolis, MD

December, 2011

Dec. 4th – Lutheran Church, Jackson Center, OH

Dec. 18th, Atonement Lutheran, Overland Park, KS

January, 2012

Jan. 22, Unity Church, Maui

Jan. 29, Holy Shepherd Lutheran, Orinda, CA

Now is the hardest part to write. IHP’s bank account other than designated funds is about $6,000. This is not enough to get us through another month. It will not cover salaries for our construction workers, nor their food and other benefits. It will not pay for any additional building materials. It will not cover gas and car repairs to get us to and from Mwanza. Without your help, it all comes to a halt. Now. For the progress to continue, we need your help. If you are able, please send what you can to:

International Health Partners, US & TZ

Joyce Zemel, Treasurer

1811 So. 39^th St. #36

Mesa, AZ 85206

Or, go to our website, www.ihptz.org and click on Just Give!

Blessings and gratitude,

Paula, Den, and Mary Ellen

4th of July Celebration