DCMC – an Oasis

Hill behind DCMC

The last several days have been spent touring DCMC, learning more about their programs and visiting the place in Dodoma where the Community Services team conducts anti-drug education and counseling.  In the next few days, we will go out to the villages to visit the rural clinics that are so important for improving care in Tanzania.

Today, we had the honor of hosting a group of seven people from Westwood Lutheran Church in St. Louis Park as they are working on several projects in Dodoma, including work with the orphanages.  One of the members of the group commented that DCMC is like an Oasis in Dodoma.  Not just because the grounds are clean, green and well maintained, but also because you get a sense of healing, quality care and spiritual strength from the surroundings and from the people working at DCMC.

DCMC - an "Oasis" of Health and Hope

It’s hard to explain what the rest of Dodoma is like without a lot of pictures, but it is a very dry area which leads to a lot of dust.  The area is fairly flat but you will see single hills scattered around the area, like the one shown in this picture.  This gives you a glimpse of the rocky, arid conditions in and around the city.  

Today, I watched as a number of young women with babies came to have well baby checks and also to collect mosquito nets that are being given away.  This picture shows several young girls who were taking their baby sisters and brothers to the clinic for check ups and mosquito nets. 

Young Girls bringing their Siblings for Care