Dodoma Christian Medical Center Video
Dodoma Innovation and Production Company Provides Hope for DCMC’s FutureSeveral U.S. investors pooled resources in 2007 to start Dodoma Innovation and Production Company. The company is legally organized so that a portion of the profits after the investments are paid back will go to sustain future DCMC operations. The purchase of a Hydraform brick making machine launched the first business. The company found there was a big demand for the interlocking bricks in Dodoma and also by DCMC for construction of staff housing. Because DCMC will also purchase the bricks for the hospital project, a second machine has been purchased. The Bricks were used to build the A-SANTE water bottling plant, DI&PC’s second project. The entire plant operation was purchased from and installed by Norland Int’l Inc. in Lincoln Nebraska. A-SANTE has been distributed in Dodoma for the last four months and meets the Tanzanian Bureau of Standards approval rating. DI&PC provides jobs and benefits for thirty employees.
DI&PC Block Yard
Community Health Department Educational TripPictures shown here were taken during a two day trip led by the DCMC Community Health Department for the DCMC management team members and DCMC trustees for a better understanding of the challenges and needs facing rural Dodoma. The Community Health Department workers are responsible for four areas of programming: oversight of the rural dispensaries; reduction of maternal and infant death rates, HIV/AIDS, and Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health. The two DCMC Lutheran dispensaries visited were Chamkoroma and Lwihomelo. Statistics compiled for 2008 indicate that Chamkoroma saw 1,934 patients and Lwihomelo treated 1,693. The group saw the impact of the Winza ruby mines and its effect on the Mpwapwa district where the gem trade has increased prostitution and exploitation of young girls and exploded the transmission of HIV/AIDs and early pregnancies. The community health team is working to counteract this trend with training of peer education groups.
Peer Educator Trainees in Mpwapwa
What's New on CampusDCMC Staff Apartments and Dorm Nears Completion
Tanzania's Prime Minister Visits DCMC Site
In November DCMC welcomed Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda for dedication of the Reproductive and Child Health Center and for the opening of the neighboring A-SANTE water bottling plant. He also toured the Dental Clinic and reviewed the plans for DCMC hospital. Over 400 people attended the event and meal on site. Dancers from nearby Ntyuka village provided entertainment and the promotion for Asante water. The water bottling plant is a for-profit endeavor planned to provide future funds to DCMC.
Volunteers Bring Expertise for DCMC
Dr. David Flatt and Dr. Jim Herrick were recent volunteers at DCMC. Dr. Flatt, a retired cardiologist who grew up in Tanzania provided basic cardiology training for DCMC staff and neighboring medical personnel. Dr. Herrick is a retired dentist from Austin, Minnesota and was a return volunteer trainer for the Dental Clinic staff. In addition Steven Lay, a recent electrical engineering graduate of the St. Thomas Compatible Engineering program spent two months providing supportive technical services.
Reproductive and Child Health Center Open for Business
DCMC staff, patients, and visitors are celebrating the new building and the service it is providing ambulatory patients. While most patients have been young children, people of all ages are finding their way to DCMC. Originally intended to be an outpatient clinic, the center will be licensed for inpatient beds to meet the Ministry of Health criteria for a Health Center and to meet the growing need in the Dodoma area. It will keep its focus on maternal and child care and the focus of the programming and outreach will be on helping to change Central Tanzania’s grim maternal/child mortality rates. When fully operational, the center will offer a comprehensive HIV/AIDS program including antiretroviral drug therapy. The site has had many visitors. The University of Minnesota delegation made DCMC one of their stops in exploring partnership connections in Tanzania, South Africa and Uganda. They are pictured here after being greeted by the DCMC staff.
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Perezia Baliyendeza and John Obondo, DCMC Nursing Staff |
Rhonda Shango, Pharmacy Assistant, Provides Medication |
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Nurses Serving Patients |
Expanding the Vision and Building for the Next Generation
The Reason for DCMC's Capital Campaign
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Dr. Henry Ziegler Showing Hospital Plans |
As DCMC prepares for the hospital phase of the project, there is evidence that the population and the need in Dodoma is growing. This fact and DCMC’s central location caused the building committee to consider the positioning of DCMC for the future as they worked recently with architect, Ralph Gerlinger and hospital planner, Gunter Nester. The two day meeting took place on the DCMC site and produced a preliminary flexible modular plan that allows the facility to expand to one hundred fifty beds to accommodate both general and specialty patients. Dodoma Innovation and Production Company a for-profit company operates a hydra-form brick making operation on site and will provide bricks and labor for the hospital construction. Dr. Ziegler is shown here showing the plans at a DCMC trustee meeting. Three containers from Germany containing sterilization and operating room equipment, a 75 KVA electrical generator and 100 mechanical beds and stands arrive from Germany in August. This was a gift facilitated by the Isar Klinik consortium led by Prof. Alt.
Gift of Hospital Equipment Arrives from Munich
Being a Good Neighbor
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Ntyuka Village Chairmen |
Ntyuka Villagers |
The gentlemen shown here are the village elders of Ntyuka (population 5000) and they have been involved in the ongoing relationship with DCMC personnel. Many of the workers in the construction that has taken place since the beginning of the campus came from this village. Jobs. In addition DCMC facilitated piping of DUWASA city water to the village now enabling children to collect the water like the ones in the picture rather than their mothers to travel long distance to dirty sources. The DCMC Dental Prevention Program continues to reinforce the teaching about care and nutrition done in the school by reserving each Wednesday for seeing a group of children at the Dental Clinic for cleaning, examination and fluoride application. DCMC has conducted workshops for community health workers and traditional birth attendants. Recently DCMC and the University of Minnesota delegation visiting the village donated a hospital bed to their newly begun dispensary. Ntyuka has asked DCMC to provide oversight in the running of the dispensary.
Village Children, Right with water buckets |
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Surprise Gifts Proclaim a Promise
DTHD received a donation of a historic church bell that had been erected in 1914 at Emmanuel Church in Avoca, Minnesota. Global Health Ministries became the transporting agent as it was loaded on the DCMC container last February. As the bell was making its voyage, DTHD received a surprise gift of $100,000 for a chapel on the DCMC site. Now the bell sits on the DCMC site as a reminder of the chapel to come and the extraordinary circumstances that God uses for His purposes.
From Global Health Ministries Fridley, Minnesota to Dodoma, Tanzania |
DODOMA CHRISTIAN MEDICAL CENTER MEMORIES |
Dental Clinic Opens for Business January 2007
DCMC received the Ministry of Health registration certificate in January 2007 and opened its doors for business. The clinic has four operatories, a training room, and preparation center and is equipped with x-ray units, a panorex and a vacuum system.
Left: Dr. Mdoe consults with amputee from neighboring village. Right: Dr. James Herrick, Austin Minnesota, spent two weeks last March teaching endodontic techniques to Dr. Rabemahefa and Dr. Francis Mdoe.
Dental Clinic Prevention Program
Prevention is a key focus of DCMC Dental Clinic. Education programs have been established in three Dodoma schools. Teachers, parents and students all benefit from this dental health promotion and gain understanding of their oral health and the choices they have to improve it. Right: Students from the Canon Andreas Mwaka School toured the new dental clinic and received an oral health lesson from Dr. Francis Mdoe. Below: students from Ntyuka village school get introduction to oral health and dental hygienest introduces school children to brushing techniques.
Reproductive and Child Health Building Progressing
The construction of the Reproductive Child Health Building started in July 2006.
Views of DCMC Compound
Aerial Views: Left: The dental building is on the far right; the reproductive child health facility is in the foreground. Generators are housed is the small building and "Container City" is the long narrow structure. It is being designed to hold sea containers which will be turned into shop and storage space. Right: Note the eight staff houses east of the road. Below: The staff house compound.
The Essentials: Water and Power
Ntyuka Villagers gathering water from new DCMC Well |
As part of the site infrastructure and in addition to piping in City water, DCMC dug a178 meter well and constructed a 160,000 liter reservoir storage tank. Reliable, consistent power is one of Tanzania's biggest challenges. The transformer (right) intercepts TANESCO's supply.
COMMUNITY HEALTH: RURAL
DCMC manages three Lutheran dispensaries in rural Dodoma. Programs carried out at these locations have an impact on rural health; they are naturally challenged by their isolation. DCMC works to staff and supervise the workers at these sites as well as interface with the village for involvement and public health education. DCMC's community health team, travel regularly to each dispensary to meet with village committees, review records, bring supplies and mentor staff. The staff and DCMC Community team are pictured on the porch of the Kondoa dispensary.
Dr. Eunice Kentang'enyi and Lwihomelo Clinical Officer, Anthony Matal |
Food Distribution
The dispensaries distributed donated Kids Against Hunger supplemental food packets to families in order to intervene in the effects of the three year drought.
Public Health Education: HIV/AIDS Awareness
Community involvement is key to easing the HIV/AIDS stigma and promoting awareness among the village young people. Bicha village near the Kondoa dispensary is example of community involvement. Youth actors presented a series of skits with real life themes to educate about HIV/AIDS.
Picture: Bicha village watches a scene from an HIV/AIDS awareness skit. Scene here warns against phony and unreliable testing.
A SIGNIFICANT EVENT: DCMC COMES OF AGE
Jakaya M. Kikwete, President of Tanzania Officiates in Foundation Stone Ceremony
On June 29, 2006 President Kikwete officiated at the the foundation stone laying ceremony for Dodoma Christian Medical Center, marking the near completion of phase one of the DCMC complex.
Receiving line for President Kikwete
DCMC neighbors-Ntyuka Villagers watching event
Left: President Kikwete, with Bishop Peter Mwamasika at his side, accepts a gift from Dr. Maria Kamm, Chairman of the DCMC Board of Trustees. Right: He reviews the the DCMC Complex plans with project Director, John Toso and Aloyse Mushi of Co-Architecture. Trustees, DTHD president, church and government officials were present at the event.
Dodoma Tanzania Health Development
Sharing God's Gifts to Bring Health and Hope to the People of Central Tanzania
ISAIAH 58:6-12
