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.