February 2009

February Update from IHP

Dear IHP supporters and followers,

Hello from Nyakato, Tanzania! We are so, so happy to be home again. We love being in the U.S. We love seeing all of our friends and making new ones. We love being enfolded in the love of the churches and groups where we speak, but there is no place, no place like home. And for us, home is Nyakato. Our own bed, and our own closets. My own kitchen!

Mary Ellen writes:

We welcome the Lofstroms back to Mwanza after months fundraising in the bitter cold. When they are gone, things are a bit calmer with time to do finishing on projects and all those things we don't have time for when major construction is taking place. As soon as they arrive the whole place comes alive with guests, volunteers, building teams and activity from 6 am till late at night. You will hear about all the construction and volunteers as it occurs during the next 6 months.

The clinic continues to grow as we are seeing 60 - 100 patients a day. We see more when special teams come. Our goal is to give quality efficient care and it means being involved with every part of the process of seeing patients from chairs, water, charts, labs etc. It is a complex process but our reputation is growing every day. People are starting to come from far away as well as our own neighborhood. And we still strive to provide this care at low cost. To see the doctor is the equivalent of about $1.30, and we help out those who cannot afford that.

We are looking forward to starting the Maternal Child Health Unit...seeing moms to be, new moms and babies. We will start out slowly but everyone tells us we will be flooded as soon as our Birthing center is finished.

We appreciate your assistance, your good will and prayers as we try to improve the health care in this delightful country. Please be aware that you are making a difference. Without you, this would not be accomplished. Sincerely Mary Kitundu

Den writing:

We are enjoying the sunshine and the rainy weather. That may seem a contradiction, but you who have visited us here at Nyakato, near the southern shores of Lake Victoria, know that it seldom rains all day long. There may be a serious downpour for 2-3 hours, but then the clouds break up and a blue and sunny sky appears for the remainder of the day. Beautiful weather this rainy season and crops in this area are flourishing.

Selemani Shabani ("Sele" to you who have met him) our Tanzanian project manager and long-time friend, has kept the progress of the hospital moving forward while we were in the U.S. fund raising. The Patricia Ward, with its new stone facing front and back to match that of the main clinic building is very impressive.

Not quite as impressive, but very essential to the operation of the Patricia Ward has been the completion of outside plumbing and stations for the septic-leeching system. There remains only the interior plumbing for about half of the sinks. As I write this, Sele has just departed with Paula to go into town to purchase the additional 1 ½" PVC pipe and fittings required. Our standard American PVC 1 ½" doesn't quite coincide with the Tanzanian 1 ½" PVC, we discovered after we had installed some of the sinks from the U.S.A. We are always prepared for surprises.

This morning Sele and I measured and laid out the few remaining interior walls of the Bogumil Birthing Center. This essential unit of the hospital has truly been an amazing cooperative venture. When the BBC's container was held up by a change in legislated rules and regulations in Dar es Salaam, the St. Matthew's crew from Walnut Creek did a tremendous job during the remaining 3-4 days of their stay in erecting the exterior walls and laying out the 3 big main support trusses. When the group from First Lutheran in Newton, Iowa's container was held up in a dock strike in Mombasa, they stepped in, as we have written before, and made great progress on the birthing center. Now our Tanzanian workers are completing the interior walls in anticipation of the Christ Church Unity of Kansas City's arrival this coming June to finish up. A hearty thank you and God bless you all for your hard work and support.

Paula Writing again:

We had visitors from Gunderson Lutheran in Wisconsin. Two had been here before, Dr. Jeff and Sally Hillsland. She's a nurse and, as you can see from the attached photo, she can't keep her hands off of one of the adorable patients presenting daily. Joining the Hillsland's was Rose Nexter and her son, Ned.

We met with the new bishop, Andrew Gulle, and the new assistant, Emmanuel Makala and their wives. Pastor Gunda and his wife also joined us. Den went over the plans with them for the whole project; reviewed what has been done and how we do it, and showed them the master plan for the whole hospital.

This week will see the beginning of the building of the eye center. Sele and Denny are marking out where the walls will go on the slab. The crew is starting to finish the inside walls of the birthing center with the rough concrete. Plastering will come next, and then finishing when the team from One Community Spiritual Center (formerly Christ Church Unity) in Kansas City is here in June. There will be a LOT of "finishing" to do.

Dr. Christine Petersen is here on her annual visit helping with the medical administrative side of things. We have three full-time clinicians on staff now seeing 70-100 patients a day. Dr. Denise Webb will be joining us tomorrow from Mayo Clinic for a month. Michael Goetting, a German medical student is with us for a month. His comments:

My name is Michael Goetting, I am 24 years old and a fourth-year medical student at the Charite University of Berlin in Germany.

I came to Nyakato for one month to learn more about medicine in the tropics, health care projects in third world countries and especially the African culture.

When I arrived here some days ago Paula and Denny welcomed me with open arms and really made me feel that I am at the right place. My first days at the clinic have been from a medical point of view very interesting and instructive for me that was supported by Dr. Christine and Dr. Bon who are very engaged physicians and the friendly staff here.

In addition, I am deeply impressed by the efforts of Paula and Denny who are getting things done here although the prerequisites are anything but easy- but it is really something growing here. I think that this project actually can be sustainable and strongly help to improve the healthcare in this area.

Tanzania gives me the impression from a beautiful country with People who get along with very little but nevertheless keep a warm and friendly attitude of living. I am looking forward to getting to know the country and the people who are running this project better.

Paula writing again:

It has been a busy week since we returned, guests coming and going and visiting with our staff and colleagues as well as friends in the community. Everything takes more time than we allot. But there have been those precious moments snatched from a busy day of finding peace, like in my prayer garden, and even in a delicious dip or two in my tiny little pool. There is much, so much, to be thankful for.

When we left for the U.S. and listened to the high cost of gasoline and the dire financial reports, we wondered what God had in mind. We persevered. God has spoken to so many who have given their support. Surely, this project comes from God, and God is directing those who can to help us. We say thank you. Thank you.

As always, if you'd like to help or help some more, please send contributions to:

International Health Partners, US & Tz

Joyce Zemel, Treasurer

1811 So. 39^th St. #36

Mesa, AZ 85206

As is often heard here,

Be blessed,

Paula and Denny

Denny showing the new bishop and asssitant bishop the hospital plans