Physical Health Tanzania, United Republic of Project #22642

Help us extend essential care across Tanzania

by Kupona Foundation

Help us extend essential care across Tanzania

Project Report | May 17, 2019
Celebrating Success: "She can even go to school like other children"

By Abbey Kocan | Executive Director, Kupona Foundation

Dear Friends,

As we shared in our last report, in honor of Mother’s Day and International Day to End Obstetric Fistula on May 23rd, this month we’re celebrating mothers and the healthcare workers who keep them and their newborns safe.

Today, we also want to celebrate you for partnering with us in our mission to empower children and adults living with disabilities through high-quality healthcare by sharing a recent patient story from our local partner CCBRT.

Nine-year-old Faith has cerebral palsy, or CP, a condition that limits a child’s development and mobility. She lives with her mother and grandparents in Dar es Salaam Region.

When Faith’s grandmother noticed she wasn’t developing the way her own children had, Faith’s family took her to a large, government-run hospital close to their home – but the doctors there couldn’t identify what was affecting Faith’s development. Although CP is the most common physical disability among children worldwide, it remains widely misunderstood.*

Undeterred, Faith’s family remained determined to find a diagnosis. Acting on a neighbor’s advice, they found one at CCBRT. They also found a way forward.

After CCBRT’s specialists diagnosed Faith with CP, they enrolled her and her parents in physiotherapy sessions at CCBRT and a Parent-Carer Training (PCT) at a location much closer to their home. Through five days of training, the PCT helped Faith’s caregivers understand her disability. It taught them how to wash, play, feed and communicate with Faith to manage her condition and help her integrate into everyday life. The PCT also helped Faith’s family form a support group with other families nearby, providing them with a supportive community going through similar situations and challenges.

Faith’s family’s experiences at CCBRT, the PCT and their local support group have enabled them to create a safe, healthy and loving environment for Faith. “Before the PCT, I was scared to even hold my baby,” Faith’s mother remembers. “I didn’t understand CP so I thought maybe I could cause her harm.”

But now, she continues, “We are so grateful for these trainings, which give us the confidence and courage to accept our children’s situation, take care of them, and educate others to prevent bias and discrimination. Thanks to the trainings, I understand her treatment - I am committed to her rehabilitation, and I know now that she can even go to school like other children.”

Faith’s story is a testament to the importance of supporting health workers to empower children with disabilities – as well as their caregivers - in Tanzania. Thank you for helping make this life-changing work possible.

Warmly,

Abbey Kocan

Executive Director, Kupona Foundation

*According to the World Health Organization

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May 11, 2019
"It doesn't have to be like that tomorrow"

By Dr. Brenda D'mello | OB/GYN, MHCB Project Manager & Technical Advisor

Dear Friends,

Each year in Tanzania, 11,000 women die due to complications in pregnancy and childbirth, and 3,000 more develop obstetric fistula, a debilitating birth injury. We can change this. Our greatest resource in doing so? Front line health workers.

Studies of Tanzania’s over-congested, under-resourced health facilities have blamed “personnel motivation” and staff’s “low productivity” for many of the failures of the country’s health system. In contrast, our collaborative Maternal Health Capacity Building (MHCB) program focuses on encouraging, empowering and enabling front line health workers.

Dr. Timothy is one of our expert emergency obstetric care trainers and clinical coaches. He spends at least three days a quarter at each of our 22 partner facilities, working alongside health worker to address skill gaps through coaching, mentoring and engaging health workers to identify problems and implement solutions.

In the past five years, the generosity of donors like you has enabled MHCB to train more than 5,000 maternal and newborn health workers, empowering them with the skills and confidence they need to save lives and prevent obstetric fistula. The result? A 40% reduction in maternal deaths and a stronger referral system that’s better equipped to provide timely emergency obstetric care in order to prevent new cases of fistula.

What’s more, health workers trained by MHCB have a heightened sense of ownership. As one manager put it: “If today, there were 10 maternal deaths, I know that it doesn’t have to be like that tomorrow. MHCB works hand-in-hand with us to identify problems and implement solutions.”

Your continued partnership has helped us save thousands of lives and prevent traumatic injuries like obstetric fistula. As you celebrate Mother’s Day, I invite you to also celebrate the healthcare providers in your life and the healthcare providers in Tanzania, who are working tirelessly to create a better, safer tomorrow for mothers and newborns. A gift of $50 provides the resources necessary for four safe deliveries. A gift of $100 trains two maternal health workers to save lives at birth.

Happy Mother’s Day, and thank you!

Sincerely,

Dr. Brenda D’mello

OB/GYN, CCBRT MHCB Project Manager and Technical Advisor

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Mar 14, 2019
We have one more day!

By The Kupona Foundation Team | Kupona Foundation

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