Cranbrook School Tanzania Project

The project started in 1984 with our first visit to Tabora Region. Since then the school has visited many times and has been involved in many successful projects funded by the Lenten Appeal and through other fundraising activities.

No link can be one way and at the very outset discussions were held with our Tanzanian colleagues concerning reciprocal visits. They were clear that the students in the Folk Development Colleges were not the best candidates for UK visits, instead they requested and we agreed that we would invite teachers from the Folk Development Colleges (FDC’s) and local primary schools to visit Cranbrook. We run a cycle of reciprocal visits alternate years visiting the Tabora Region with a party of students and the following year inviting two Tanzanian teachers or officials to visit the school. While they are in the UK we arrange a comprehensive programme of visits and tours for them. In return they spend time with our classes and in visiting local primary schools, talking to pupils about their country. They also visit a large number of UK schools twinned with primary and secondary schools throughout the Tabora Region.

Our expeditions would not be possible without the backing and support of a small NGO, The Friends of Urambo and Mwanhala which has been active in the Tabora Region for over 40 years. In Tanzania or visits are planned and organised by the Regional and District governments who generously deploy staff and resources to ensure our visits pass without a hitch. With their help and support we are able to stay and work in the most remote villages in the Region.

Achievements are listed below

·     Part funding of a piped water supply to Mwanhala Village, providing 2500 people with safe piped water. (Lenten Appeal & Tanzania 1984 project)

·     Provision of school and sports equipment to Mwanhala School (Christmas 1984)

·     Provision of emergency generator at Nzega District hospital (Lenten Appeal 1985)

·     Provision of a Land Rover for Mwanhala FDC. (Lenten Appeal and Tanzania Project 1987 )

·     Visit of Mr H Sosovele & Miss F Katabi to Cranbrook (Tanzania Project 1988)

·     Support of Denise and Michelle Barrows on a voluntary service gap placement, teaching at Mwanhala primary school (Tanzania Project 1988)

·     For a year the school paid for a midday meal for children of poor families at the Mwanhala kindergarten during a time when food had become scarce due to two successive poor harvests. (Tanzania Project 1989)

·     Support of Mark Allen on a voluntary service gap placement, teaching in Mwanhala Rural Crafts College 1990

·     Repair works in Mwanhala: Extension of the Mwanhala water supply,

·     Refurbishment of Mwanhala FDC kitchens, Repair of kindergarten building, construction of a latrine. (Lenten Appeal and Tanzania Project 1991)

·     Visit of Mr & Mrs A Tengia to Cranbrook (Tanzania Project 1991)

·     Support of Heather Balaam on a voluntary service gap placement, teaching in Mwanhala FDC 1992

·     Refurbishment of Mwanhala Mother and Child Health Clinic. (Lenten Appeal & Tanzania Project, 1993)

·     Support of Joe Pullen on a voluntary service gap placement, teaching in Mwanhala FDC (Tanzania Project 1994)

·     Visit of Mr E Masombo and Miss L Poupilipili to Cranbrook (Tanzania Project 1993)

·     Funding and building of Mwasala Mother & Child Health Clinic. Repair of Mwanhala primary school classroom. (Lenten Appeal & Tanzania Project, 1995)

·     Payment for a shallow well at Mwasala clinic (Tanzania Project 1995)

·     Funding and building of Maboha Mother & Child Health Clinic.

·     Repair of Urambo Rural Crafts College dormitories (Lenten Appeal & Tanzania Project, 1997)

·     Visit of Mr A Humbaro and Mrs N Malyeli to Cranbrook (Tanzania Project 1998)

·     Sending of a crate of books, clothes and computers to Urambo FDC (Tanzania Project 1998)

·     Support of Toby Valance on a voluntary service gap placement, teaching in Urambo secondary schools (Tanzania Project 1998)

·     Grant to Imeli primary school, Nzega for construction of a teacher’s house and for school desks (Tanzania Fund 1998)

·     Funding and building of Mbooga Mother & Child Health Clinic.

·     Funding and building of Upende kindergarten (Lenten Appeal  Tanzania Project, 1999)

·     Visit of Dr & Mrs Vinall to Tabora Region (1999)

·     Sending of a crate of books, clothes and computers to Urambo FDC (Tanzania Project + Lenten Appeal 1999)

·     Via TFSR Sponsoring of a volunteer sewing machine technician (Hans Richarts) to visit the FDC’s in Tabora Region.

·     Contribution towards the cost of a staff house at Imeli School (Tanzania Project 1999)

·     Purchase of new desks for Imeli School (Carol service collection 1999)

·     Visit of Mr E Masatu and Mrs B Mwegoha to Cranbrook (Tanzania Project 2000)

·     Payment towards the cost of a well at Maboha Clinic. (Tanzania Project 2000)

·     Reproduction and despatch of 2000 Aids education leaflets to Tabora.(Tanzania Project 2000)

·     Refurbishment of Semembele and Uhindi Mother and Child Health Clinics. (Lenten Appeal, Tanzania Project, 2001)

·     Visit of Cranbrook group to Semembele and Uhindi, August 2001

·     Visit of Mr D Hella and Mrs N Malyeli to Cranbrook (April 2002)

·     Grant of £250 to Nduguta Leprosy Village

·     Payment for and the finishing of Usimba and Wella MCH clinics (Lenten Appeal, Tanzania Project 2003)

Via TFSR Sponsoring of a volunteer sewing machine technician (Theresa Furlinger) to visit the FDC’s in Tabora Region.

·     Visit of Cranbrook group to Wella and Usimba, July/August 2003

·     With the assistance of Henry Schien plc. sending a mobile dentistry kit and consumables to Urambo District Hospital

·     Visit of Mr H Kabhaya and Mrs M Nsalamba to Cranbrook (April 2004)

·     Sending of a crate of books and computers to Urambo and Nzega

·     With Benenden Girls’ School, sending a large quantity of text books to Urambo Secondary School (Sponsored  by Edgehurst Ltd.)

·     Sending of a large quantity of school uniform to Urambo and Mwanhala. (Tanzania Project 2005)

·     Payment for the refurbishment of Maboha MCH Clinic and for the building of woodwork and masonry classrooms at Mwanhala FDC (Lenten Appeal & Tanzania Project 2005)

·     Visit of Cranbrook Group to Urambo, Maboha and Mwanhala (July/August 2005)

·     Payment for a new latrine block at Mwanhala Kindergarten (Lenten Appeal 2005)

·     Gifts of dentistry equipment, drugs and text books to Urambo District Hospital (Tanzania Project 2005)

·     With the help of The Britain Tanzania Society, the re-equipping of Maboha MCH Clinic.

·     Sponsoring the Maboha Medical Officer to attend a year’s medical retraining course (Tanzania Project 2005)

·     Visit of Mr E Masatu and Miss Joyce Lyimo to Cranbrook (April 2006)

·     Sending of computers, tools and school uniform to Mwanhala and Urambo.  (April 2006; Tanzania Project, transport sponsored by Edgehurst Ltd)

·     Support of Eleanor Davidson, Katy Dickson and Ralph Burgess on gap year placements teaching in Urambo, Mwanhala and Sikonge, (Tanzania project Spring 2006)

·     Support of Annie Ferguson and Lotte Gooseman teaching at Chunya in Mbeya district. (Spring 2007)

·     Visit of Cranbrook group to Mwanhala, Mwasala and Mboga, also Urambo and Uhindi (July/August 2007)

·     Payment of new classroom block at Iyuki Primary School, payment of staff house at Mwasala Clinic (Lenten Appeal 2007)

·     Refurbishment of Pauline Hitchings clinic at Uhindi (Tanzania Project 2007)

·     Sending of medical equipment, sports equipment, school equipment, text books and children’s clothes to Mwanhala FDC, Urambo FDC and many primary & secondary schools. (summer 2007)

·     Sending of Children’s clothes, text books and medical equipment to Nzega – transport courtesy Edgehurst Ltd

·     Support of Leah Boullier and Annie McMillan on their medical elective placements at Nzega Hospital (Autumn 2007)

·     Visit of Francesca Santoni and James Hadrill to Muhukuru FDC, Songea Region to teach English (Spring 2009)

·     Visit of Will Dracott to Mwanhala FDC to start preliminary work on the refurbishment of Mwanhala Clinic

·     April 2009 Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the start of the Tanzania Project.  Mr Masatu and Mr Stima invited to visit Cranbrook for the event.

·     July/August 2009 47 students and 10 staff visit Tabora Region to work on projects one group visiting Mwanhala, Iyuki and Mwasala, another Urambo, Nyasa and Maboha, the third visiting Sikonge and Mole Block village.

·     Payment to refurbish Maboha, Mwasala and Mwanhala MCH clinics and to repair Semembele MCH clinic.  Payment to decorate the new MCH clinic and dispensary in Nyasa.  Payment to repair and repaint primary classrooms in Iyuki and Mole Block villages.  Complete rewiring and painting of Sikonge FDC.  Donation of 50 mattresses and mosquito nets to clinics and FDC’s

In addition to above, during their visits the school Tanzania Project has given grants of cash and equipment to many primary & secondary schools in the Tabora Region. These include:

Mwanhala, Mwasala, Mwambaha, Ishiki, Imeli, Kitongo, Iyuki, Uhindi,

Nyasa, Mwangaza, Iskike, Semembele, Miguwa, Ngukumo, Nkokoto,

Mwakinshahala, Ukombozi, Urambo, Shigamba, Nkokoto, Kaliua, Urambo, Usimba, Nyasa 1, Nyasa 2, Iyuki, Mbooga, Maboha, Mbutu, Miguwa, Isegenhe, Iyuki, Iduguta, Nyasa(Urambo) and many others.

During the years that the project has been running, more than 150 Cranbrook students and 32 staff have visited the Tabora Region while we have entertained 20 Tanzanian visitors to the school. We have generated a huge amount of goodwill at the Tanzania end of the link and now our visits are eagerly awaited. The Cranbrook/Tanzania School Link is one of this country’s longest running school links with the developing world, we think only two pre-date us (both school/school links). Throughout our existence the Cranbrook link has been supported and guided by the Friends of Urambo and Mwanhala, a small charity which has been operating successfully in the Tabora Region for over 40 years.

Cranbrook Staff Visitors to Tanzania

Miss K Myerscough, Mrs J Taylor, Miss E Loxton, Mr & Mrs L Boddy, Miss A Wöbner, Mr C Thomas, Miss Monette Montagu, Miss Nathalie da Fonseca, Miss Ulrike Brükl, Mr & Mrs G Balaam, Mr V Rose, Dr & Mrs N Vinall, Mr & Mrs R Smith, Miss A Whalley, Mr S Leach, Mrs H Rae, Mr Terry Davies, Miss J Sutcliffe, Mr R Webb, Miss M Stobbs, Mr A Mack., Mr C Moller, Mrs D Moller, Mr D Inns, Miss M Wall, Mr C Liston, Miss N Fox, Mr & Mrs Daly, Anna-Lisa johannsdottir

Tanzanian Visitors to Cranbrook

Dr and Mrs L Gama, Regional Commissioner, Tabora Region Mr Elias Masatu, Regional Planning Officer, Tabora Region (four visits) Miss Lydia Poupilipili, Teacher Musoma Primary School, Miss Frida Katabi, Teacher Mwanhala Primary School, Mr Abdulrahmin Humbaro, Principal Urambo FDC, Mr Amati Tengia, Principal Mwanhala FDC, Mr Edward Masombo, Vice Principal Mwanhala FDC, Mr Hamidu Sosovele, Principal Mwanhala FDC,Mr Mayunga, Headteacher Mwakinshahala Primary School, Mr Nyerege, Headteacher Shigamba Primary School, Mrs Bertha Mwegoha, Biology Teacher, Urambo Secondary School, Mrs Elizabeth Tengia, Teacher Rombo Primary School, Mrs Neema Malyeli, Principal Mwanhala FDC ( two visits),Mrs Telesphore Tegile Education Officer Nzega District, Mr Deogratis Hella District Planning Officer, Nzega, Mr L Kabhaya Headteacher, Urambo Secondary School, Mrs Mary Nslamba, Chief Nursing Officer, Urambo District, Ms Joyce Lyimo, Geography Teacher, Urambo Girls Secondary School, Mrs Shani, Headteacher Iyui Secondary School, Tabora, Mr Thomas, Assistant Education Officer, Nzega District, Mr Hassan Stima, Assistant Education Officer, Urambo District.

Expedition Members

1984 Bridget Galpin, Julia Abbott, Catherine Sayers, Martha Brew, Keith Leslie, Nick Addyman, Charles Calder,Mark Bellingham, David Walker, Ben Boydel (Mr & Mrs R Smith)

1987 Veronica Lauerman, Caroline Chapman, Clarke, Fergus Allan, Michelle Barrows, Denise Barrows, Darryl Hobson, Caroline Warren, Nick Titley, Simon Hirtenstein, Simon Egglestone. (Mr & Mrs R Smith, Mr C Thomas)

1991 Alison Stewart, Finian Rook, Alex Shaw, Nick Reeves, Matthew Eglise, Ptolomey Mann, Geraint Jenner, Warren Evans, Mary Watkins, Lucy Fisher. (Mr R Smith, Miss K Myerscough)

1993 David Pack, Joe Pullen, Mirabelle Stobbs, Sarah Liddicoat, Simon Mycock, Caroline Clarke, Samantha Whatmore, Chris Laker, Jenny Palmer, Ben Roome (Mr & Mrs G Balaam, Mr V Rose)

1995 Zoe Young, Samantha Waller, Sarah Meehan, Jessica Leaper, Sharon Smith, Tom Sargeant, Duncan Mills, Simon Sims, Jonathan Scott, James Fraser, (Mr & Mrs R Smith, Master Stephane Vehrle- Smith, Miss A Whalley, Mr S Leach, Miss J Sutcliffe, Miss A Wöbner)

1997 Iain Carroll, Richard Cheadle, Shawn Mawhinney, Toby Hawkins, John Meehan, Sam Hart, Jeremy Nelson, Tim Shaw, Daniel Langton, Lucy Tardiff, Liz Pack, Sophie Lambert, Megan Lewis. (Mr & Mrs L Boddy, Miss E Loxton, Mr R Webb, Mr A Mack, Miss M Stobbs)

1999 Rob Critchlow, Katie Thorpe, Sally Russell, Katy Craig, Ewan Townsend, Dan Petrie, Amy Burchell, Peter Lawless, David Dixon, Alistair McKendrick, Rebecca Cole, Becky Bates. (Mrs J Taylor, Miss A Beardsmore, Mrs H Rae, Dr & Mrs N Vinall)

2001 David Roberts, Rupert Mason, George Kent, Nick Moss, David Jenkins, Ed Shattock, Kerry Brandon, Amanda Curd, Hannah Coles, Leah Bouillier, Annie McMillan, Alice Murray, Bethany Gray, Chloe Shattock. (Miss M Montagu, Mrs T Davies, Miss N.da Fonseca , Miss U Brükl )

2003 Jo Strang, Carrie Makin, Louisa Curchod, Jane Gauvain, Katy Dickson, Hannah Walker, Naomi Burrell, Pru Semler, Nick Kingsmill, Adam Petszch, Dan Ely, Ben Wickham, Matthew Porter, (Mrs D Moller, Mr C Moller, Mr D Inns, Miss M Lewis)

2005 Amy Baigent, Brittany Dunstan, Katy Lewis, Emily Cragg, Lucinda Yau, Emily Metcalfe, Elena Metcalfe, Juliette Keyte, Annie Ferguson, Fenella Corrick, Erika Kedwell, Georgina Holme, Sebastian Graham, Alex Graham, Matthew Beaton, Stephane Vehrle-Smith. (Mr & Mrs R Smith, Mr C Liston, Miss N Fox)

2007  Stephane Vehrle-Smith, Erika Kedwell, Ella Corrick, Georgina Holme, Tom Baigent, Mary Thornton, Sophie Hulse, Camille Hanish-Oakes, Julia Ashdown, Holly Vear, Emily Stevens, Nathan Beebe, Rosie Flutter, Gabbi Comet, Dominic Mc Donagh, Georgia Coxhead, Robert Blundell, Frances Cragg, William Garnier, Duncan Gilbert, James Haddrill, Alexander Mac Eachin, Jenny Mcmillan, Benjamin Miles, Finnian Sturdy, (Mr C Liston, Mr G Daly, Mrs A Daly, Anna-Lisa)

2009  Yawande Adeleke, Beau Archer, Angus Backhouse, Gemma Bickerton, Richard Blundell, Georgia Brown, Anna Cragg, Emma Cobbold, Henry Comet, Jessica Croucher, Emma Drabble, Lara Ferris, Pearl Fok, Helen Foster, Millie Gower, Ria Hanish-Oakes, James Hewitt, Caroline Huxley, Simon James, Savannah James-Bayley, Benji Jones, Gemma Ludley, Alice Marshall, Charlotte McColl, Hamish Munro-Faure, Rupert Munro Faure, Mary Nelson, Olaolu Olorunnimbe, , Emily Parkin, Charles Partickson, Tom Perry, Harry Plummer, Millie Presnell, Charlie Reeve, Fraser Rogers, Jack Rutherford, Reuben Santer, Roland Sims, Tom Smith, Pollyanna Startin, Erica Wilkes, Lucy Waddicor-Hnizdur, Ciara Walker, Caiti Walter, John Warmington, Jack Wyatt, Mike Wynne-Roberts.  (Mr & Mrs R Smith, Mrs I Mac Eachin, Mr R Venner, Mr A Crews, Mr A Hamilton, Mr & Mrs P Davies, Mr & Mrs P Salzer, Mrs H Bland, Miss G Holme)

Independent student visits to Mwanhala and Urambo

Heather Balaam, Mark Allen, Toby Valance, Geoffrey Jago, Joe Pullen, Michelle Barrows, Denise Barrows, Katy Dixon, Eleanor Davidson, Ralph Burgess, Annie Ferguson, Lotte Gooseman, Francesca Santoni, Will Dracott, James Hadrill

Ex Cranbrookians visiting Tanzania for their medical elective

Leah Boullier, Annie Macmillan

Extracts from Student Diaries.

 Today, the 15th July, we met the Regional Commissioner and although it was a very tight schedule some of us were able to have our kangas translated so we could understand the motto at the bottom of our kangas. 
We then moved on to Iyui secondary school which was mixed and in the centre of Tabora.  I was paired with a boy called Zuberi, it took a while for me to pronounce his name correctly then after our awful singing together of the national anthems we were able to speak to the students and meet their friends. It was easy to see who ruled the classroom, it was quite insecure due to every one laughing at me when I didn’t know why but it made it slightly better because I didn’t know what they were saying. Our next school was Tabora Girls’ Secondary just on the boarder of the town and there I was partnered with a girl called Edna, she was 18 years old and she wanted to become a doctor and wanted me pray for her which showed me how important her education was to her and that she believed her faith was to help her through. I enjoyed today  as it was really good to meet other students and share our experiences with them and theirs with us. Tomorrow we leave for Sikonge, I am unsure what to expect.

« Today we went to the world famous Ngorongoro Crater, it was an amazing experience. We crammed into three Landrovers and travelled along a very dusty road with a record amount of potholes. We arrived at the game reserve while it was still very early morning and misty and cold. As we were driving up the side of the crater we saw a large antelope and three beautiful elephants. It was strange seeing such majestic creatures so close. The mist cleared and we could see the crater for the first time in full; it was stunning. Seeing wild animals in the flesh was much better than any wildlife programme.

At this school we took part in a debate, which we had prepared beforehand, about whether or not Tanzanian girls should be allowed to return to school to be educated after giving birth. This was very interesting and totally different to other activities we had taken part in. Speeches were also given comparing English and Tanzanian education systems. We spent time talking with the students from the school, whose English was very good, some almost fluent. This was quite surprising to us. They were keen to chat, and all seemed happy in their school environment.

Last night I decided to do something about my frustration at rarely mingling with the people here… as a result I had my best night here yet! The ‘Master of Ceremonies’ announced the disco was about to begin… no flashing lights of course but all the youngsters came pouring in and within minutes were all going wild. Even five year olds were the coolest dancers ever – they all have the most amazing sense of rhythm and this crazy way of shaking their bums! Usually I find the distance between our group and the Tanzanians uncomfortably obvious, but at last I felt I could relax and simply dance amongst them, which will be an unforgettable memory.

As we drove into Usimba Village, we saw children in the trees above the road laughing and waving. They had rarely seen Europeans before. As we began to paint the health clinic, hundreds of eyes watched our every move.  When we’d fixed the taps in the kitchen, we watched one of the girls fill a bowl from the tap and then empty it into the urns used for storing water - things will take a long time to change.

A way behind the hut there was a huge bush-fire - it was terrifying huge flames - there were hardly any other people there - Tengia and I were left to put out one bit of the fire with our palm leaves for ages, until the others came; pity I was wearing only sandals.

We were up and bright-eyed at 5:45 - stumbled outside and went for a jog, in the pitch black, chanting, "Umm chukka chukka chinjarre" (jog jog kill) loud enough to make damn sure we woke up Rod!!

At the entrance to the Lake Manyara National Park we looked a real sight, piling off the lorry; fetid savages amongst these docile foreigners eating sandwiches from plastic containers, who looked at us in horror as we shrieked "flush toilets AND mirrors" and sloped off to the toilets ignoring all the beautiful scenery they'd paid so much to see - although we did look later.

Articles written by group members

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN TANZANIAN SOCIETY by Mary Watkins

The role of the Tanzanian woman in society is vital. For in Mwanhala, as with the rest of Tanzania, she holds the role of worker, meal provider, home maker, wife and mother.  Her role, therefore, seems not too dissimilar from that of the western woman and yet in many respects it is the role of a woman as it was in 19th century England. Her role is often in the background, very understated and very difficult.

In Mwanhala a girl can probably be said to have reached womanhood by about the age of sixteen. Girls marry from between sixteen and twenty-four and can expect have children almost immediately. It seems that embedded into the African culture and tradition is the unwritten rule that women should have at least six children. Thus many women are continuously burdened by the pregnancy. For many this role is one that they accept as their responsibility and seem not to question. The African view, after all, sees another child as another person to help, to support them in old age and even as a status symbol.

One man I talked to said that he 'only' had four children. When I told him that this was considered a lot in England, he told me that he was very sad he could not have more but that he could not afford any more. However, tradition or wealth aside, women can often find themselves with little choice. A visit to the local clinic demonstrated to us the inadequate supplies of contraception available. National campaigns to reduce the birth rate have also failed. Whilst the high percentage of Catholics serves to increase the problem.

The Tanzanian woman in the rural areas will rise early every morning to begin to prepare and cook the breakfast for her family. In Mwanhala this should have been made much easier by our repairs to the water supply. Now at least they have running water from taps. However, the fact remains that preparing food from scratch, by pounding maize, sifting it - and then heating it on a fire is time consuming and laborious. It means that throughout the day the woman must spend a high proportion of her time cooking. Perhaps this is something in the west that we overlook in our world of dishwashers, cookers, ovens, fridges, freezers and convenience food. What is more with the average family earning a minimal wage the amount that can go on food is negligible. Basic diet is lacking in nutrients, protein necessary for a balanced diet.

Within the family the woman bonds the family together. Men as the dominant and more respected act as the hosts for the family. Their wives seem to feel it their responsibility and duty to support and care for their husband. It would be very rare for a man to cook for the woman. It is something she has a strange pride in. She takes pleasure in fulfilling her responsibilities. Indeed would probably find it offensive to be deprived of this her traditional role although she would certainly benefit from the modern commodities of the west.

In Mwanhala we found evidence of a kind of WI or Women’s Group. A highly respected woman alliance had undertaken the role as leader. However, through lack of money and support the venture had failed to take off the ground. Cranbrook School felt they needed aid. Money has been provided to allow this group of highly independent innovative women to begin their venture. Money provided will go towards fixing the women's centre as well as for providing materials for threads, crops and brewing equipment so that the women can sell some products and perhaps supplement their incomes. Money from the local maize mill may help to provide for this group. It does after all seem not unreasonable that these women should have more of a chance.

In the village women may spend several months of the year doing the bulk of the harvesting. In towns or areas where the woman is able to continue in education she can perhaps hope to enter a primary school as a teacher, usually of home economics. Many work in FDC in similar roles. Few can hope to obtain any very academic qualifications beyond basic training in nursing, sewing and crafts. It is fairly limited.  Clearly the Tanzanian woman performs a variety of tasks. However, when looking at her lifestyle and seeing the problems it is important not to view it through western eyes. They do not need western ideals and innovations. New roles are welcomed. They need help but help that can be applied to a very different society.

HEALTH IN TANZANIA by Nick Reeve September 1991

Keeping everybody healthy and disease free is a mammoth task even for our country. In Tanzania this task is tackled admirably, with very few basic drugs by intelligent, dedicated hard-working people. However, the task is becoming harder and harder due to the population increasing at a rate of 2.6 per cent per annum.

The members of our group staying in Mwanhala village would have been taken to the district hospital for treatment had the need arisen. Nzega District Hospital is surprisingly small when it is considered that the population of the entire district is dependant on this one hospital. This alone is an alarming statistic.

The hospital consists of an outpatients' centre, a casualty department, a dental surgery, many types of ward (nine in total) including maternity and children's, and, of course, an operating theatre. I was lucky enough to have the chance of being shown around the hospital grounds by one of the staff and it was an experience I shall not forget!

Firstly I saw the outpatients' department which consisted of a large office/surgery with a spacious waiting room and a reasonable number of sick children, and many adults with broken limbs. The room was beautifully kept and would have been a credit to any hospital, with many health-education posters on the walls outlining the danger and immediate treatment of diarrhoea and a few ways to avoid this potentially fatal condition.  A short walk along a path in the sun showed many people queuing up for attention from the specialists of the other departments. We stopped at the children's ward. A large room with thirty or so beds with old foam mattresses and paint flaking from the walls.  Here children lay, most of them quiet, some with their mothers comforting them, others without. I shall always remember their large, round eyes and faces showing little emotion. We were warmly greeted by a nurse who explained that many of the children were malnourished and hence were more prone to the infectious diseases such as  measles, whooping cough, chicken pox etc. In a third world country these diseases are killers.

My next stop was the block containing the operating theatre which had been built and funded by the Friends of Urambo and Mwanhala. We entered the large square building and immediately removed our shoes, putting wellington boots on our feet. It must be noted that there is not a lack of education amongst the staff which, before leaving for Tanzania, I believed would be the main problem. Of course all the staff know their job and perform their various roles with sheer brilliance when I consider the lack of drugs and equipment.  I was shown the sterilising room which had three large sterilising machines which, unfortunately, were not working. Instead, in the corner, smoking away merrily was a charcoal fire with a large pot full of boiling water. This just shows how, even when faced with difficulties, problems in Tanzania are still overcome. The operating theatre itself was beautifully scrubbed and completely sterile. More than liberal quantities of antiseptic covered everything!

As I left I saw a man who had just been operated on and was recovering. As I watched he came round and the moment he opened his eyes a broad grin covered his face. Another satisfied customer!

Both the dental surgery and the x-ray room appeared to be very well equipped which was very reassuring.

Hospital Capacity - Nzega

170 beds authorised 9 wards 146 beds actual

Staff:

Hospital Secretaries 1

Assistant Medical Officers 1

Medical Officers 1

Medical Assistants 9

(x-ray)

Radiographic Assistant 1

Radiographer 1

(Laboratory)

Technologist 1

Assistant 1

Technician 1

Attendants 1

(Pharmacy)

Assistants 1

Auxiliary 1

(Dental)

Dental Officers 1

Assistant 1

Dental Auxiliary 1

(Public Health)

Senior Health Officers 2

Health Officers 1

Health Assistants 1

Health Auxiliaries 3

Health Orderlies 1

Sanitary Labourers 21

And a total of 87 Nurses, Specialists and others!

Nzega Health Facilities

Government Hospital 1

Voluntary Aided Hospital 1

Voluntary Aided Government Dispensaries 3

Government Mother-child Health Clinics 28

Voluntary Aided Mother-child Clinics 3

Government Regional Health Centre 3

Government Dispensaries 23

All these amenities/facilities cater for 128 villages! Split into four divisions.

In Mwanhala village there is a dispensary/clinic. Again I was able to visit but I was saddened by what I saw. The rooms are all unpainted since the mid 1960s, the maternity room has ten beds with neither sheets nor mattresses. It is here that many of the villagers had been born. The delivery room was barely big enough for two people let alone a difficult birth. The drug cabinet was very poorly stocked, we carried more in our First Aid Kit. (We left the kit for the clinic when we left.) The staff of the clinic were such a dedicated group, struggling to provide a sterling service and succeeding wherever possible. However, they really do need help in the form of money.

A health report on an African district sadly cannot be written without a large section on the very rapid development of AIDS.

It is becoming a problem of great magnitude:

Development of AIDS in Nzega District

1983 - none

1984 - 2

1985 - 3

1986 - 1

1987 - 53

1988 - 173

1989 - 278

1990 - 292

Total = 802

These are deaths from AIDS reported in Nzega district. (Many deaths may well go unnoticed and are unreported).The most alarming thing is that these statistics are mortalities and the number of HIV positive people in the surrounding villages may well be much larger.

In Nzega district (which I was told is one of the worst areas in Tanzania) there is a "Social junction". Miners come from far and wide to the local gold mines to dig for their fortune.  The problem occurs when they find some gold, cash it in and the quite literally blow their money on the available drink and prostitutes. Nzega is an important stopover on several main lorry routes. AIDS is thus spread.

It is very difficult to educate the village children due to the many social taboos associated with the discussion of sex. Also the Roman Catholic churches and congregation strictly believing in their religion, which is against modern forms of contraception, fail to recognise the AIDS problem. Of course ignoring it does not make it disappear and the local hospital has attempted to set up a campaign whereby a number of their staff visit the local primary schools to spread the message about safer sex etc. The project has been badly slowed down because the hospital has no means of transport and therefore is restricted to the distances it can cover. Hence the message is slow in spreading whereas the virus is reaching epidemic proportions.

Seeing the Tanzanian way of treating people has shown to all the group the dedication, perseverance, and love of the job they have.

Further Information

For more information about the Cranbrook School Tanzania Project please contact Rod Smith by email. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it