New pediatric ward in Maganzo ready for little patients.

In collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, the Congregation of the Sisters of St Elizabeth and with the help of private donors, the project Doctors Africa was able to fund and open the children's ward of the San Pio Hospital in Maganzo (Tanzania).

"We don't want to do a month-long landing there, examine a few hundred people and leave. We want to do something that in English is called 'make a difference'," emphasises the Foundation's President, Bartłomiej Guzik, MD. The creation of a ward dedicated to the youngest is one result of this positive change: a great success that will make a real difference to the quality of life and health of the inhabitants of a Tanzanian village.

According to the Director of San Pio Hospital - Sister Victoria of the Congregation of the Sisters of St Elizabeth:

"The people of Maganzo are very poor, working in the fields in the blazing sun, in the surrounding illegal gold mines with difficult conditions for survival. They are paid inadequate wages for this torturous work, which only allows them to provide their family with one meal a day, which is very detrimental to their health. They still believe in witchcraft, magic and the power of local shamans and healers. This brings many difficulties in caring for young patients. They often come with children in a critical, agonal state when all other known treatments have failed."

This gave rise to the idea of expanding the hospital, which previously had only seven places for children. To help them all, beds were added or small patients were moved to the adult wards, but with the construction of the new building, the quality of care has improved. The building was built last year and is now fully ready to receive patients.

"We now have one separate children's ward with assigned medical staff. The ward has 20 places for children - including two of an intensive care nature, with full apparatus, vital function monitors, oxygen cylinders, a suction machine, an infusion pump. In addition, we have 4 separate rooms on the ward with bathrooms as isolation rooms, each equipped with a medical alarm to call for help in an emergency. We have also created a treatment area where minor outpatient procedures, diagnostic tests and nursing services are provided on doctors' orders. The ward is equipped with a system healthcare , a telephone that allows people to call for quick medical assistance when needed," - says Sister Victoria, Director of Hospital Maganzo.

The previously white walls of the rooms in the new ward have been decorated with colourful paintings by Sister Izabela of the Congregation of the Sisters of St Elizabeth. In addition, mosquito nets were hung to ensure the comfort of the young patients. Signs in Swahili and English have been created with information on the ward's functioning, the correct development of children, nutrition and malaria prevention.

Last year there were 6 medical missions to Tanzania, also this year trips are planned until late autumn. A medical mission is currently underway with 4 teams of specialist doctors and medical students.