Sumbawanga is a city located
in western Tanzania. It is the capital of the Rukwa Region. The
regional population is approximately 150,000 based on a 2002 census. The name of
the town translates as "throw away your witchcraft", thought to be a warning
from local spiritual "healers" to any bringing in superstitions and practices
relating to spiritual healers from other areas; there are still some healers who
practice both in town and in the surrounding smaller villages.
Kipwa
village is one of the villages in our Kasanga target area. It has a total
population of over 2500 people. Its benchmark rating is 2.8 out of 5, and with
this rating, the village has neither private nor government dispensary. The only
medical service in the village is the CNI supported kiosk pharmacy.
This
village is at the Tanzania-Zambia boarder, and there is no road to the village.
Communication with the outside world is almost dead. The only means of transport
to and from the village is by water. Kipwa village can receive medical services
in two ways: by visiting the nearby Kapele dispensary (ill equipped with
medicines and personnel) which is over 8 kilometers away or by going to the
neighboring country of Zambia at Mpulungu town, a distance of 20 kilometers
away.
The
lives of these people are put at great risk, especially during the rainy seasons
when there are great out-breaks of malaria and diarrhoea. The only available
marine transport is not reliable as the boat owners routine is not consistent,
otherwise for a quick transport one has to hire the boat which is too costly for
the poor to afford.
Compelled by those circumstances, the
Kipwa villagers decided to mobilize themselves using their hard-served resources
to build the dispensary. They managed to construct a 14-room building, which is
now 3 years old waiting to be finished, as their strength to carry on came to a
stand still. So the villagers started seeking support from some donors and other
people to finish the dispensary building.
This is a picture of the construction that the villagers had just started .
Cantwell (Community Builders PiF Coordinator), David (Community Builders intern)
and CNI staff had gone to pay a visit to the villagers.
After
a tragic deaths event in September last year, which claimed the lives of the
lives of 2 pregnant women and 13 children en route to Kapele dispensary, CNI
immediately passed on this information to Community Builders. With utmost
concern and importance, Community Builders responded by providing the financial
support with the roofing of the building. CNI received $2500 from Community
Builders which was used to purchase the roofing.
The
construction is still on underway as seen in the above picture.
The
is still a lot of work in order to complete this dispensary, the below picture
show some of the mothers of Kipwa vilalge at the local Authority offices in
Kipwa receiving medical treatment for their children. The office rooms are
being used temporarily as the dispensing rooms as seen in the picture
below.
