Advance the hospital & school work @Katoka,DRCongo

Thank you very much for our support for the hospital and school work in Katoka.

Mary and Sandy report an encouraging year. In particular, they give praise for - 

• the completion of solar power at the hospital and being able to extend the battery storage at the Secondary school for the using of the computers
• the provision of funds from MMN in England and our many friends to be able to buy medicines locally to stock the hospital. We are able to get good supplies in both Kolwezi and Lubumbashi.
• the abundant water supply at the hospital, schools, our houses and even the addition of hot water at our house. Typhoid fever is still one of the deadliest causes of death [along with malaria] so having good water supplies is so important. 
• good supplies of mosquito nets to distribute.

Thank you for your financial support for the hospital and school work in Katoka. This is very much appreciated.

Ian Harvey's aunt  and her colleagues have been very busy at the hospital in Katoka, particularly helping local families with very sick children. Most of the time, they are able to provide the appropriate treatment but sometimes a referral to a bigger hospital in Lubumbashi or Lusaka may be required. They work in a very rural area of the Congo, near the border with Angola, and the hospital and school play a vital role in supporting the local community.

The latest project at the hospital has been the installation of new lights in the Dispensary so that they can have 24 hour power. The secondary school and our two guest houses have also received new lights. All this has been possible through the gifts that you have given.

Thank you for your generous giving to the school and hospital work in Katoka.

I am pleased to be able to report that that we are getting towards the end of the building work on the new school in Katoka and the official opening will be 4 June 2022.

The British builder and designer who designed both the Katoka and the Lubumbashi school buildings has been over to Katoka to assist with the completion of the building.

This is so exciting and we hope that the new Katoka school will have as positive effect on the lives oof street children in Katoka as the new Kimbilio school in Lubumbashi which openerd last year.

Mary reports that solar lights and water pumps have been installed and are working well. Her new ultrasound scanner has arrived at the Sakeji school, which will be a great help. Mary notes that the floor of the laundry has been tiled and outside, the first lot of maize has been planted. There have even been improvements to the roads in the area!

Mary celebrated her eightieth birthday last year but she still has the energy and focus to continue her work in Katoka. Let us pray for her continued good health and for protection for the staff and the local families from Covid.

Katoka Hospital has seen it's first case of covid this week.  Thankfully the lady concerned is responding to treatement and making a good recovery. However, it is an indication that covid is making it's way to some of the most remote areas of Congo, having previously been mainly concentrated in the cities and urban areas. Thankfully test kits are now readily available in the area which will enable cases to be quickly identified and treated.  Mary is pleased to be back from her visit to the UK where she was able to get her two covid vaccines. She assisted in the birth of a very healthly baby boy earlier this week, both parents were delighted! The schools in the area didn't start as planned last week as the teachers were on strike due issues of pay. It is hoped this can be quickly resolved so pupils can start their studies again. Like many parts of the world school was disrupted during the last academic year due to covid.