Matongo valley lies between high hills in Northern Tanzania. The nearest clinic is 15 km away by steep paths over the hills- not good for a pregnant mother. The only road in is a cart track. Yet in scattered hamlets, 10,000 people live, needing health care: their own clinic. Our Trust has built a staff house and a bore hole. The Matongo people have built the clinic to lintel height. 19,354 ($26,090) was needed and has been raised. No further funds are needed for building the clinic.
MATONGO VILLAGERS have no regular immunisation for babies & children- now occasionally in Staff House. Biggest health problems: malaria, pre-natal mortality, deaths of young mothers, and the prevalence of HIV/AIDS. ANTE-NATAL CARE: Pregnant mothers have to climb the high footpaths that go over the hills and may take five hours to reach the nearest clinic. CHRONIC DISEASES occur such as TB and sometimes kwashiorkor, cholera, diarrhoea, trachoma and scabies. HEALTH EDUCATION against FGM
A FULLY STAFFED CLINIC will provide ante-natal care- no more climbing over high hills. A Maternity delivery room will provide for safe births. Regular clinic will immunise babies and children. Testing and treatment provided for HIV and Malaria and TB. Family planning to help prevent over-frequent pregnancies. Health education will reduce water-borne diseases and malnutrition and support the Government campaign against FGM, sadly practised by many families. Better care for the elderly.
This project is being led locally by the Group HAWAMAMU (Justice for Mothers and Children) in association with the Medical Officer District of Butiama District Council and the Tanzania Development Trust. The long term effects for this community of around 10,000 people will be a great improvement in health of all age groups, e.g. great reduction in maternal and peri-natal mortality; malnutrition, malaria, HIV infection and female genital mutilation. Better care and support for the elderly.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
