Saint Monica Hospital

Mother and child ward

Baraka — Fri, 03 May 2024 18:49:00 +0000

Last year, with your support, we were able to install the windows on the fourth floor. The masses of water in the rainy season now stay outside. The next step is to start the interior work on the mother and child ward. Plans have been drawn up and a cost projection made; we are currently expecting costs of € 32,000 to create a mother and child ward. To this end, after Father Macha’s 40th anniversary as a priest in November 2023, money was once again diligently collected at the Missio Sunday on March 17. During the church service, pastoral advisor Martin Wunram’s sermon gave the congregation an insight into the current construction progress. At the Lenten meal that followed, the Schmiden festival committee and Baraka worked hand in hand to feed around 70 parishioners. The collection during the church service, the donation box in the Maximilian-Kolbe-Haus and individual donations made directly to Baraka once again raised around € 5,000. A big step that is urgently needed. In recent weeks, the number of births at the hospital has increased. The expectant mothers are taking up the offer of the Kirua Children Care Foundation (KCCF) and with your support we will make progress here step by step.

Update X-ray 2024

Baraka — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 19:00:00 +0000

In the meantime, the defective electronic components have been replaced by a specialist company from Dar es Salaam. Unfortunately, further commissioning could not be completed as the computer for controlling the X-ray machine no longer worked. Subsequent analysis revealed that the computer’s power supply unit was defective. This will now be replaced in the coming weeks so that operation can continue and diagnostics at St. Monica Hospital can be raised to a new level.

Update X-ray, including DONATION CALL!!!

Baraka — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 20:09:00 +0000

After the replacement part was successfully installed by Siemens last year, we had to stop further commissioning of the device until further notice. This decision was necessary because the electricity grid in Tanzania is not stable. This causes two problems.
Firstly, there can be spontaneous power cuts and secondly, there can be fluctuations in the voltage. Neither of these is conducive to life for the sensitive electronics of the X-ray machine. We therefore had to collect donations again to buy and install a stabilizer. Thanks to the generous donation from the parish of St. Johannes Evangelist Fellbach, the stabilizer was purchased and delivered in August. It was then successfully put into operation in September.
Unfortunately, this was the last positive news from Tanzania!
During the further commissioning of the X-ray machine, the technicians discovered that two circuit boards were not supplying the required 24 V voltage. Once again, good advice was expensive, as the original spare parts will cost around €10,000!
Thanks to two generous donations, however, we are now able to procure the spare parts.
Unfortunately, however, the purchase is not the end of the story: transportation, customs and recommissioning will take up another four-figure sum.
Financial resources that we want and need to raise, as we don’t just want to deliver electronic waste to Tanzania.
We very much hope that this will be the last appeal for donations in this matter, as we will build the first school buildings of the Baraka School in 2024 in order to be able to start school operations at the beginning of 2025. We are therefore once again asking for urgent support in the form of a donation to our account:
Baraka – Kinderhilfe Kilimandscharo e.V.
Kreissparkasse Waiblingen
IBAN: DE08 6025 0010 0015 1478 24
BIC: SOLADES1WBN
Purpose: Repair of X-ray machine

Update X-ray spare part 2022

Baraka — Tue, 20 Sep 2022 19:11:00 +0000

The necessary spare part for the X-ray unit has now arrived safely at the hospital. We will now commission the local Siemens representative to install the spare part. After that, the commissioning of the X-ray unit can be continued.

Latest video from Mema School and Saint Monica Hospital

Baraka — Wed, 24 Aug 2022 19:14:00 +0000

In August, three German medical students, who are in their 12th semester, visited our hospital and the Mema primary school in Kirua. This visit was possible because the three worked for two months at KCMC in Moshi. Before the three started their trip, they had contact with Pastor Macha and could inform themselves about the two projects in Kirua. They collected donations and handed over donations in kind on site.

During their visit, a film was made, uploaded to YouTube, with current impressions of both projects. At about time 5:39 the completed X-ray room is shown. The text that there is no money for the necessary spare part is unfortunately wrong and has been corrected below the video on YouTube in the meantime.

During their visit, they could also participate in a childbirth.

Expansion of X-ray station – status end of june 2022

Baraka — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 19:16:00 +0000

Now it is done, the X-ray machine has been installed in his room by Siemens technicians. The workstation including PC has also been set up. Furthermore, a new power line was laid to the hospital, which was necessary to ensure the reliable operation of the X-ray machine.

Now it could be called all’s well that ends well, but unfortunately this is not the case. During commissioning and inspection of the electronic components, the Siemens technicians unfortunately noticed a defect in an electronic component. Before the X-ray machine can be switched on, this component must be replaced.

Unfortunately, this component is quite expensive with about 7,000 €. We therefore ask for donations to our account:
Baraka – Kinderhilfe Kilimandscharo e.V.
Kreissparkasse Waiblingen
IBAN: DE08 6025 0010 0015 1478 24
BIC: SOLADES1WBN
Purpose: Reparatur Röntgengerät

Expansion of X-ray station – status mid-April 2022

Baraka — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 19:18:00 +0000

In March 2022, the structural work was still in full swing. Just under a month later, we can present here the current very attractive condition of the X-ray station.
The next step is to mount the X-ray device to the ceiling construction.
The next update will follow as soon as possible…

Work on the room for the X-ray device – status March 2022

Baraka — Thu, 31 Mar 2022 19:20:00 +0000

There is still some work to be done before the X-ray device from Ulm, which arrived at the hospital at the end of 2021, can put into operation.

First of all, the large windows had to be bricked up. Then, a floor had to be installed in the room. After that, a ceiling structure had to be created, on which the heavy X-ray equipment would be suspended. So that it can be moved later.
Next, cables for a proper power supply had to be laid.

Hospital impressions – October 2021

Baraka — Sun, 31 Oct 2021 20:21:00 +0000

In October, Father Macha is on “home leave” in Tanzania of course he also visited the Saint Monica Hospital in Kirua. The pictures show a small current impression of the exterior of the hospital and its beautiful surroundings.

Extraordinary Mission Sunday 2021

Baraka — Sun, 28 Feb 2021 20:23:00 +0000

Extraordinary Mission Sunday with the title “Come and see” was held under Corona conditions.
The services were enriched with a selection of pictures. Some of them are already here on the homepage, others we would like to show on this occasion.
In the beginning there was a dream. Then there were people who believed in it. People from Verein Rev. Macha, our pastor – people from Tanzania – many people from Fellbach, Schmiden and Oeffingen.

We are all so happy that this dream could be opened and put into operation before Corona.
Now treatments under these conditions are also possible.

Isolation ward exterior view

But normal hospital operations continue as well.

Many people have been involved so that the dream could become reality, but the necessary support is not yet at an end.
Now an X-ray machine, which is provided by the University Hospital Ulm fully functional, is to be transported to Tanzania. Currently, the device is being packed for transport, just now the necessary container is standing on a yard near us in Oeffingen and is being packed to set off on its journey. There is still a little room for more medical equipment.

Please help with monetary donations and, if necessary, donations in kind! Currently, another aid container can go on the road, if the freight costs can be paid. In addition to the large X-ray machine in mint condition, there would be room for

further well preserved and functional medical equipment
medical supplies such as bandages, gloves
Assistive devices such as wheelchairs, walkers, etc.

We would like to point out that donations of clothing and linen may no longer be sent.
Monetary donations, also for sponsorships, can be transferred to the account of the Fellbach-based sponsoring association Baraka e. V..
A donation receipt will be issued by the association.
A sponsoring membership with the association can be subscribed (20 € annually).
The bank details are:
Baraka – Kinderhilfe Kilimandscharo e. V.
IBAN: DE08 6025 0010 0015 1478 24
BIC: SOLADES1WBN (Kreissparkasse Waiblingen).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Father Macha or the parish office.
We thank you in advance for your helping gift!