Projects and Partners
Remedying Ilula's Shortage of Health Care Workers
A recent report in the New England Journal of Medicine
(2007:365:2564) highlighted the shortage of health care
workers in Africa. The African continent bears 24% of the
global burden of disease, but has only 3% of the world's
health care workforce.
The Minnesota Ilula Task Force, in conjunction with Global
Health Ministries (GHM) is attempting to remedy the shortage
of health care workers at the Ilula Hospital in Tanzania.
The Ilula Task Force has granted scholarship funds through
GHM for Yunfa Sovelo, currently completing his 3rd year of
medical school in Dar Es Salaam, and for Frank Sanga who is
undergoing Pharmacy Technician training in Tanzania. To
donate to either of these two funds, visit the GHM website (www.ghm.org).
The Ilula Task Force is also supporting continuing education
for 3 other health care workers. Faith Dewasi, the nurse
matron at Ilula, is currently receiving her Diploma in
Nursing Education. Grace Kyando is undergoing training to
receive a Diploma in Nursing Degree. Christopher Mboto is
upgrading his training from a clinical officer to an
assistant medical officer.
To contribute to these education funds please send donations
to The Saint Paul Area Synod Ilula Task Force Fund. All
three are committed to returning to work at Ilula once their
training is completed.
Comprehensive HIV/AIDS testing and treatment begins
In January of 2006, the Ilula Health Center opened a
voluntary counseling, testing and comprehensive HIV
treatment center.
By Dr. Randy Hurley
In January of 2006, the Ilula Health Center opened a
voluntary counseling, testing and comprehensive HIV
treatment center. The program, which is funded by the
Clinton Foundation, provides free HIV testing, free clinic
visits and free anti-retroviral drugs to patients. The
Foundation has paid for training of personnel and for the
acquisition of appropriate laboratory equipment at Ilula.
Patients are identified for testing and treatment in various
ways. All pregnant mothers and patients admitted to the
hospital are offered HIV testing. To help overcome the
stigmatism of HIV in the community, a Community-Based Health
Worker has been identified from each surrounding village.
They can identify people in the villages who have been
chronically ill and encourage them to come in for testing
and treatment. Older parents may bring in their ill young
adult children. Mothers with sick children come to be
tested. Testing is voluntary: patients undergo both
pre-test and post-test counseling in a confidential manner.
The HIV prevalence in the Iringa-Ilula area is estimated at
10-12% but nearly 50% of patients admitted to the hospital
have been found to be HIV positive. Patients that test
positive are offered a triple-drug combination of
anti-retroviral drugs. They are provided with free bactrim,
a sulfa drug used to prevent pneumocystits pneumonia, and
are provided with free fluconazole, if needed, to treat oral
yeast infections. Multivitamins, which have generously been
supplied by St Paul groups traveling to Ilula, are also
provided free-of-charge. Patients are seen at the clinic at
least once per month while on treatment. All patients need
to have a “treatment partner:” a friend or relative who is
aware of their HIV status, will accompany them to clinic
visits, and will help ensure compliance with drug therapy.
By suppressing the HIV
virus, antiretroviral drug therapy can lead to
reconstitution of patient’s immune function. Improvement of
immune function results in recovery from chronic infections,
resolution of chronic diarrhea and weight gain. Suppressing
the HIV virus in pregnant mothers reduces the chance of
maternal-to-child transmission of HIV. Patients often feel
better and can return to productive lives.
Hope is now available to stem the tide of HIV in the
Iringa-Ilula area. Access to testing and treatment will help
break the cultural barriers and stigmatism attached to an
AIDS diagnosis. Coupled with Diocese-developed educational
programs, important gains will be made in the prevalence and
transmission of this deadly disease.
Partnership with Global Health Ministries Expands
Shipping medical equipment and
supplies, providing existing staff with ongoing training,
and supporting medical students with scholarships are all a
part of the growing partnership between the Ilula Health
Center Task Force and Global Health Ministries.
By Dr. Randy
Hurley
The Ilula Health Center Task Force and Global Health
Ministries (GHM) recently collaborated to fund a $1500
scholarship for Dr Mufwimi Saga to attend ultrasound
training at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center in Moshi,
Tanzania. This is just one of several projects illustrating
a growing connection between these two organizations.
The vision for a hospital upgrade at the Ilula Lutheran
Health Center originated at Ilula and was communicated to
Global Health in 2002. Global Health, in turn, communicated
this request to a group of health care professionals that
were traveling to Iringa in August of 2002 for companion
congregation visits. Subsequently, the Ilula Health Center
Task Force was organized to foster these goals. Global
Health provided that initial spark, and continues to serve
an advisory role with the Task Force. Global Health
Ministries, a Minneapolis based organization assists
Lutheran-based medical mission in 21 developing nations.
Their expertise includes funding of health care-related
projects and shipping of medical supplies. You can learn
more about GHM by visiting their website (www.ghm.org) or
attending the annual Global Health Fall Conference in
October.
One of the initial collaborations between GHM and the Ilula
Health Center Task Force was the completion of a hospital
lab facility in 2003. GHM is currently providing educational
support for Yunfa Sovelo, a medical student who will be
returning to Ilula after completion of his education.
Relying on GHM expertise, the Task Force provided the funds
for Ilula to break ground on a new surgical suite at Ilula
in August 2004. Construction of the operating room will be
complete by early June 2005. In February of this year,
Ilula received a 40 foot container from GHM. The contents
included supplies for the completed lab, and supplies for
the new surgical theater: an operating room table, lights
and surgical equipment. The container also contained a
donated ultrasound machine. Now, with the completion of Dr
Saga’s ultrasound training, Ilula will have much needed
imaging capability.
With a shared mission, the expertise of GHM, and the
strength of the Bega Kwa Bega program and St Paul Partners
well drilling project, a real difference will be evident in
the health of our fellow Lutherans in Tanzania. GHM
anticipates another container shipment to Ilula departing
from their warehouse in October 2005. Those with access to
medical supplies should contact GHM or contact Gary Moody (gsmoody@att.net)
or Randy Hurley (hurley@pclink.com). In addition, GHM is
undergoing an expansion of their warehouse facilities to
better allow them to serve our Lutheran medical missions.
Please consider assisting your congregation in donating to
their capital fund
campaign—details will be available on their website,
www.ghm.org.
