2007 Singida Region Medical Mission

Tanzania, March 13, 2007

The Medical Mission is like a MASH unit and all needed supplies had been collected from Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, California and Iowa. Sharon & Gary Kramer, Sharon & Mike Manion, Norma & Cal Gilson, Deb & Keith Schlitz worked over the previous 6-9 months to identify order and collect the needed supplies for 60 + people and the medical mission. The supplies are consolidated and shipped from Union, IA to Tanzania via 40’ ocean container and placed in storage at Singida until the Team arrives. This is a monumental undertaking, which was completed again this year flawlessly. Our congratulations and appreciation for all the planning and hard work goes to these families.

The advance Medical Team arrived at Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) March 12, and was met by Mike Kitwaka. Small aircraft were chartered to shuttle the Team from JRO to Singida Town. Two planes were used for the 1.5 – hour flight. Last year the team used two buses, which was a 12 – hour trip to cover the 285 km from JRO to Singida Town. The road conditions this year, due to heavy rains and flooding, would have made the trip by bus impossible. The Team arrived rested and prepared to begin preparation for the full Teams arrival on Saturday March 17. Mike brought the luggage to Singida by truck. At one river he was waiting for his turn to navigate the washed out road, when a friend on the other side was also waiting to take a person to the hospital. They carried all the luggage and passenger across the ditch, trading vehicles. Then they both proceeded on. It still took him 2 hours longer than usual!

Dr. Rwezaura, Dr Mushi, and Floyd met the two flights of Team members at the grass landing strip at Singida Town. It was a beautiful clear day. With the earlier rains the country side was green and beautiful. In the four years Outreach has been working in Tanzania this is the first trip without draught conditions. It is impossible to describe the breathtaking beauty of the seemingly endless open country.

The advance Team members were settled into the Catholic Social Center and began moving the medical supplies, equipment and provisions. The scrub down and sterilization of the hospital began. Filling the pill pouches takes 2 -3 days. The District Commissioner and Regional Commissioner along with reporters came for the “unveiling” of the Ultrasound which Dr. Paul Milloy donated. The hospital was so excited and grateful to have the new unit. It was used many times every day during the mission.

Sharon Kramer, Sharon Manion, and I went with Dr. Rwezaura to a village where the Catholic Sisters are setting up a dispensary. Dr. Rwezaura introduced us to a family with no food and hungry children, we sent KAH meals to the village. Extra items from the Medical Mission were given to the dispensary along with a birthing bed donated by Chuck Przymus. The dispensary is using Malaria Solution for their Malaria treatment, and many patients ask for it.

The advance team completed the preparations at the Social Center and Hospital in record time and was prepared for the arrival of the 45 Medical Team members on March 17. The 2007 Medical Team of 58 people, are all volunteers who cover their individual expenses for the mission and bring the meds they will use. Our Team was joined by friends from Nkungi and Singida Town making a total of 68 volunteers plus Hospital Staff members who worked along side our Team. The Mission’s are a joint learning experience for everyone. It is difficult to describe the conditions, which our Medical Professionals encounter. The facilities and equipment available in developing countries require inventiveness, compassion and flexibility. Our Team of professionals assisted by Singida and Iambi Hospital Staff Members were once again up to the challenge performing 61 surgeries, seeing over 297 dental patients and 1,197 clinical referrals during the 7-day mission.

Because of having a dental surgeon and a plastic surgeon with the team, many new surgeries were completed. Cleft palettes were fixed, tooth infections were operated on, and Juma, the man attached by the hyena last year was given a new bottom lip. A little child who had been badly burned was operated on to release the scar tissue on his hand, making his hand useable. Hernias were repaired, growths were removed, & a young mans abdomen was repaired after a serious bicycle accident. Both operating rooms were full when the Nationals came running to surgery needing help in the maternity ward. A mama was having a prolapsed birth. The very first surgery was preformed in the new obstetrics surgery theatre which the team had provided equipment for last year. Both mama and baby are doing well.

The street children were brought in for medical and dental treatment. People came from many miles away to receive specialized care by the Doctors. Lives were changed and many lives saved as a result of the 2007 Mission. Everyone who contributed and participated in this year’s mission can be proud of the accomplishments and successes of which they were all an integral part. The Medical Mission has been invited by the Regional Administration and the Government Hospital to return in 2008.

Thank you to everyone who participated in actually being there, providing equipment, meds, and supplies, and to those who waited patiently at home praying for the Team.

Love to you all!