June 2020 Update from IHP

Paula and Denny writing:

A whopping $25,000 Christmas in July grant challenge has been presented to IHP!  

The potential donors, from Utah, are challenging the IHP family to meet this challenge throughout July in order to stimulate the funds to absolutely finish the Mary Ellen Kitundu Memorial Birthing Center so that we can start hiring staff and get the building open and serving the women of Tanzania and their families.  Are you up for it???  

A donor couple in Ohio has said if we get all of this done, they will pay for the solar power for the building including the solar hot water heaters.  

This is the largest challenge grant we have ever been issued.  If you wish to support it, please send your checks to:

IHP – Matt West, Treasurer

8016 N Everton Ave.

Kansas City, MO 64152

Or

Go to our website, www.ihptz.org and click on Donate

Or

Call Matt at 816-985-4406 and he will charge it to your credit or debit card.

The deadline is Aug. 15th, 2020.

Covid-19 is a challenge everywhere, we pray for the safety and well-being of each and every one of you. Denny and I are staying in Overland Park, KS until it is safe for us to travel again.  We are going to be making a “virtual” presentation, a 7-9 minute program that churches can use in their missional moments and that can be posted to YouTube, Facebook, and any other platform that is suitable.  

Blessings and gratitude,

Paula and Denny

Charles Powell writing:

I was able to return home after my extended stay in Zinga.  My sincere thanks go out to all of the people who made my stay, though isolated, a pleasant and safe adventure. The grounds would normally have been teaming with volunteers, medical students, nurses, and other visitors.  It is sad that the guest houses, the eatery, and especially Paula and Denny's new hostel (now ready to welcome guests) remain empty.

The IHP-US Board has been busy, planning to address several issues.  We are reviewing accounting software, and we have been working on another Rotary grant to purchase neonatal equipment for our neonatal intensive care unit.  Work continues on the wastewater disposal systems, and work in Tanzania is moving forward on several buildings, including the Maternal-Child Health building, the neonatal intensive care building, and the pediatric ward. Please remember that despite the lack of visitors, the work at Zinga is moving forward.  We depend on your support in whatever form that might arrive.

Charles W. Powell, MD - President, IHP-US

Selemani Shabani writing:

Hello everyone, 

I pray that each and every one of you is doing well, and also your families. 

I would love to share with you our six months plan of construction. We are going to be focusing on the following as money allows us. 

#1.  We are going to be working on finishing Birthing Center, that will include 

· the wastewater system, 

· electricity, 

· clean water into the building, 

· nurses station shelving, 

· final coat on painting, 

· finishing on the doors and windows, 

· cleaning. 

#2. MCH building finishing.

· Wall smoothing, 

· conduit pipework, 

· plumbing, 

· ceilings, 

· clean water, 

· wastewater

· door frames, 

· door tops, 

· windows, 

· grills, 

· sanitary fittings, 

· electricity, 

· painting, 

· terrazzo floor, 

· cleaning. 

I am attaching a picture of one of our people working in this building.

#3.  NICU building

· We are going to be smoothing the walls, 

· conduit pipes 

· plumbing in the next six months.

#4. Hospital canteen.

· Clean water installation, 

· wastewater system, 

· hand wash sinks for customers  

· ceilings.

#5. PICU building.

    We will be working on the walls for the next six months. 

#6. Garage building. 

· Roof, grills, 

· conduit pipes work, 

· plumbing, 

· doors, 

· windows, 

· wall smoothing, 

· clean water, 

· wastewater, 

· painting work, 

· cement flooring. 

When the garage is done, we are planning to hire a good mechanic (we have already picked him out and he’s attending school.  He is 21 and has sickle cell disease, but we will keep him hydrated and take good care of him) then we can repair our cars. Not only that but also we will be doing servicing the outside cars and this will be a source of income for us. 

#7. A roof over each of the containers. 

#8. The Ministry of Health requires that we build a larger incinerator, so before two more buildings come on-line, this must be done.  

This is our wish list of what we are planning to be done in the next six months. This will be able to be implemented by the following things;

Your dollar donation,

Your help and support to this project,

Your in-kind donations, and most of all, your prayer support.  

When it is safe for you to travel, it will be your time to come and help to build with our team here. And by coming here to Zinga, it will be a good thing not only to help the dream come true, but you will get a chance to see the project. 

Thank you so much for being there for this project. 

We are here where we are now because of you. 

Let me tell you, we still need you for this work ahead of us. 

God bless you. 

We love you. 

Selemani Shabani,

IHP JEMA Contractor. 

Dr. Kenny George writing:

Dear IHP Donors,

We thank GOD for keeping you all in good health in both body and mind and for showering us with more support for our employees here. We are blessed that now things are coming back to normal with good preventive measures taken. I attended a child who had severe pneumonia who presented with severe dyspnea where after initiating of IV antibiotics (Ceftriaxone) after 5 days the child was back to normal where we reviewed with our Pediatrician,  Dr. Jesse Kitundu and the child Janeston, a 10-month-old, was happy and back to playing and having fun. 

We thank you very much for making these smiles possible.

--

Paula Lofstrom Managing Director International Health Partners, US & Tz Pray, believing Act on your faith and go forward. God is always with you. Love is always the answer.