Clinic for 10,000 in Tanzania's hidden valley

We have almost done it! Matongo pregnant mothers have to walk 30km (19 miles) there and back to get to a Clinic. Just $932 (£731) will complete their own clinic! So this should be the last Report for the Clinic for 10,000 in Tanzania's Hidden Valley,

A big THANK YOU to all who have supported this project and to the generous Trusts, organisations,,churches and individuals who have got us almost to the finishing post. Now let's sign off and complete the fund-rarising.

What will it mean to the people of Matongo? The picture above tells just some of the ways the Matongo clinic will change lives:

1. Mothers will be able to give birth in comfortable and hygienic conditions with a trained midwife and assistant to help. No more births in unsanitary huts. Newborn babies will be checked and receive any necessary treatment. Complex cases will get referral to hospital.
2. Ante-natal care before birth (no more 30 mile walks) and mother and baby clinics, with a full immunisation service. Remember Samuel from the last report? He got polio because there was no immunisation. Samuel's campaign for a clinic in his valley has almost succeeded.
3. Malaria prevention for all, and free bednets. Malaria is still the biggest killer, but is also very debilitating for adults, reducing productivity and therefore also farming crops and the food supply.
4. Hygienic male circumcision.Controversial with some in Europe and the USA, in Africa it's a life-saver for men, and by consequence for women. It confers up to 60% protection against HIV infection as World Health Organisation data conclusively shows. But now boys are circumcised 'in the bush' and can get dreadful infections.
5. Prevention and treatment of intestinal worms which drain the nutrition taken into the body.
6. Clean water. The bore hole is already in operation for the community and clean water will be piped to the clinic.
7. Health Education and the campaign against FGM. It's ironic, isn't it that just as the Tanzanian Government with our support is trying to end illegal FGM, with all its harmful consequences for women, it is promoting male circumcision with many health benefits? But that really is the case, and thousands of Tanzanian Mums and Dads, Mothers and girls and sons have got the message, Girls are saying 'No' to FGM and Dads and sons are volunteering for hygienic circumcision.
8. Health Education also for good nutrition and the prevention of kwashiorkor and other problems of poor diet.
9. A laboratory to test for malaria and HIV and TB and other infections. Free anti-retroviral medication will be available for those with HIV.
10. Not shown in the picture- care for the elderly and the disabled, like Samuel..

The difference this Clinic will make of the lives of 10,000 people is immense. I've been volunteering for our Trust for 30 years. I have never before had the chance to help 10,000 people. Have you?

Let's now take those 932 $1 steps and give the Matonogo people the Clinic they have yearned for for so many years.

Down in the dumps? Depressed by the world news? Don't be! There are inspiring young people who make all fund-raising and giving worthwhile, and young Samuel who is pictured here, is one of them. I've called him Samuel to conform to Global Giving's identity protection policy, although that's not his real name. He won't mind. As you can see from the photo, he's quite severely disabled. No, we didn't make him walk over the hard stones in his bare feet- he took his shoes off, because he wanted to show us the problem, about which otherwise he makes no fuss. He might be looking a bit sad in the picture, but actually he's a very determined and successful young man of 17.

Samuel was born in a tiny village in Matongo, but when he was a toddler he contracted a disease, probably polio, which left him severely disabled, Babies and children still don't get adequate immunisations in Matongo valley because there's no clinic yet. Getting to Primary school was hard. Mostly he was on an older brother's or sister's back- just occasionally he would get a ride on a neighbour's donkey. But once at school, Samuel shone and the teachers quickly realised that he was a very bright boy. At the end of Primary School he got the highest grades which enabled him to be eligible to transfer to the best school in the Region, Musoma Technical. The Education Dept and school have been very helpful and at school , where he is a boarder, Samuel can zip around in his wheelchair- of course when he comes home to the family in Matongo, that's another matter and he has to hump around using his crutch. But not complaining! 

Samuel is quite clear that he is NOT a victim. He is ambitious and determined to make a success of his life. But he is an activist and campaigner and that's why he was determined to be at the shell of the Matongo Dispensary on the 31st January to meet my wife and me and to be part of the village group pressing their claim to have at long last their own Clinic. He knows very well that had there been a clinic when he was born, he would almost certainly not be disabled now. He's not bitter about that but determined that there WILL be a Clinic to treat other children, mothers and all needing help.You couldn't possibly put the case better. After you've read Samuel's story, please share it with family and friends, and wherever you may be raise your hand and give a High Five to Samuel.

The Villagers have done so well to get the Clinic to lintel level. When we arrived they were laying stones for the floors, over which concrete will be poured. The Assistant District Medical Officer reiterated that the Council would help with a grant and more importantly the assignment of staff to run the Clinic. I promised that as soon as possible we would raise the money.

Please help me fulfil the promise as soon as we can. The secret is to spread the word so we can reach many more generous hearted people.

Then we'll have done justice to Samuel.