Where in the World is DCMC’s Shipping Container Today – May 4, 2012?

The last you heard about the shipping container, it was scheduled to land in Tanga, Tanzania on March 28. We were disappointed, yet not surprised, that many factors caused this date to go far beyond March 28. The shipping container is now scheduled to arrive in Tanga on May 15!

Building a quality medical center in a far-flung place has many challenges as one can tell just by the journey of this container. The shipment has been delayed by weather, strikes, and congested ports. And yet, through the perseverance of many and the power of prayer, the container is on its way to reach Tanga fully intact. The long journey for this container will continue past Tanga, as it will travel over land to Dodoma, but we are hopeful that the contents of this container will help many in Dodoma over the coming months and years.

Thank you for taking this journey with us and for your ongoing prayers!

Where in the World is DCMC’s Shipping Container Today – March 21, 2012?

The journey over the sea for DCMC’s shipping container  is almost complete as the ship is scheduled to arrive at the  port of Tanga, Tanzania as planned on March 28. The container has been successfully crossing the Atlantic Ocean since February 8. It landed safely at  the Port of Durban, South Africa on March 6 and departed the port on March 11.

Please offer your prayers for a continued safe journey of this important shipment.

Where in the World is DCMC’s Shipping container?

DCMC’s shipping container has been successfully crossing the Atlantic Ocean since February 8. It is now very close to its first stop;  the Port of Durban, South Africa on March 6. The next and final stop for the container will be the port of Tanga, Tanzania on March 28.  Please continue to offer your prayers for a safe journey.

The Nanjin Dragon almost to South Africa

Thank you again for all the volunteers that made this shipment possible.

DCMC Medical Equipment Container: Traveling Across the Atlantic Ocean

Last week, DCMC’s shipping container left the port of New York City for the trip across the Atlantic Ocean.  Our container is one of many on a very large ship, the Nanjing Dragon. It is scheduled to arrive sometime the second half of March in the port of Tanga, Tanzania. Watch the blog for an update on the ship’s location as it makes this long trip and please offer your prayers for a safe journey.

Sailing the Atlantic

Your Hands for Health: DCMC’s Shipping Container on its way to Africa!

On January 21, almost 50 people helped pack a 40 foot shipping container with medical equipment and supplies of all sizes and shapes.  The container made its way by truck to New York and is scheduled  sail out on February 8.

We will continue to update this blog with the status of the shipping container in the coming month so please click the “Sign me up” button to the right for the update notices.

As you can see from this picture, every inch of space was used.  Note the posters on the container door with the hand prints of the participants from the packing day as well as the poster at the end of the truck with the signatures from the children of Calvary Lutheran in Golden Valley.

Shipping Container on Truck

Thank You!

• For all of you that made this day possible through your donations of equipment, contributions and prayers
• For all of you that volunteered to help that day. It was a day of hard work with packing, preparing newborn kits, stamping gowns, preparing food, moving items in the warehouse, and preparing posters.
• To our Church partners: Calvary Lutheran, Westwood Lutheran, St. Mark’s Lutheran Home, St. John’s Le Mars Iowa, St. Olaf Austin Minnesota and many more!

Thank You!  Shipping Container Volunteers

Your Hands for Health in Dodoma – Join Us!

Saturday, January 21, will be a time to Work and a time to Celebrate as we pack our shipping container for Dodoma Christian Medical Center at Global Health Ministries in Fridley.

We can use your help and hands whatever your age.  Our goal is 43 people over two shifts; one at 8:30, one at noon.

We could use more help! 

• 8:30 to noon- A few more Hands and strong arms to pack container
• 8:30 to noon -  Hands to stamp gowns, stickers & to create Posters
• Noon to 2:30 – Hands and strong arms to finish packing container

If you would like to join the work or celebration, please contact Noreen Thompson at noreen.thompson@dthd.org or 651 432 6589.

Some of the needs are:

Packing a Container for Shipment 2008

• Newborn Kits (Bringing supplies & Assembling, see below)
• Hospice Kits (Bringing supplies & Assembling, see below)
• Packers
• “Gate Keepers” for the container
• Equipment Movers
• Poster Makers (for the inside of the container)

If you are interested in joining the work and/or the celebration, the details are as follows:

8:30 – 9:00	Gathering	Shift 1
9:00 – 10:30	Packing	Shift 1 5 – Front of Container packing2 -  Scanners/Gate Keepers 5 – Movers 2 – Fillers
	Videotaping & Still Photography	1 – Videographer 1 – Still Photographer
	Kit Assemblers	4 – 10 people - Sign “Blessed by Stickers”- Stamp DCMC on Patient Gowns - Create newborn kits (bring supplies) - Create Hospice kits (bring supplies)
10:30 – 10:50	Coffee Break	3 people- Make Coffee, set out donuts
10:50 – 12:00	Continue Packing, Videotaping, Kits	As above
12:00 – 12:45	Pot Luck Lunch;Celebration!	Shift 1 & 2 3 People – From the Coffee Break
12:45 – 2:30	Packing	Shift 2 5 – Front of Container packing2 -  Scanners/Gate Keepers 5 – Movers 2 – Fillers
	Videotaping	1 Videographer as above

Preparing a Shipping Container with Medical Equipment and Supplies

On January 21, 2012 we will be filling a shipping container with as many pieces of medical equipment and supplies as we can afford and can fit.  This will be a day of celebration for us at DTHD as we will be able to see, feel and touch medical equipment that will provide needed care for people at DCMC.

We have many items already through our work at Global Health Ministries but we will need to supply more items for the upcoming shipment.   There are many needs at DCMC for the Hospital buildings being furnished in 2012 as well as for the ongoing care of the people of Dodoma.   Some of the examples of needs at DCMC are:

Service Needs

$250 for a safe labor and delivery
$65 for pre-natal care for mothers
$5 for well baby checks up to age five

Equipment Needs

$1500 each for surgical tables for the surgical suites
$950 for equipment to monitor the vital signs of patients
$74 to buy one used surgical table
$33 to buy tools to prepare casts for broken bones
$20 for fetoscopes for obstetric care

Thank You for considering these needs.  By your gift and prayers for the work of DCMC, you’re allowing more people to receive care for treatable diseases .

DCMC – Delivering High Quality Health Care in Dodoma

 By Dr. Nikolas Chotta,  Chief of Medical Services

Dr. Eunice with Patient

Reception/Registration and Triage Section:  

All outpatients are warmly welcomed, without impairing their dignity, without favor; services are given promptly. This is one reason why DCMC is standing out differently from other centers.  We have consultation rooms, where patients are comfortable to give their medical history maintaining their privacy.

Laboratory, Pharmacy and Diagnostic Services.: 

DCMC's Laboratory

At DCMC we have one of the best labs in the region; patients come to confirm diagnosis from other small labs.  They are convinced that making a profit from patient care is not our mission. In most other clinics patients are given prescriptions to go find their own medicines.  Having a continuous supply of medicines, working tools and availability of reagents and well trained and committed staff are key to fulfilling the mission of DCMC.  Ultrasound and echocardiography diagnostic services are provided by consultants. Good quality machines and qualified staff attract many patients.

Dr. Chotta with young patient

Antenatal Services and Pediatric Services:

The cheerfulness and the Christian love have attracted families to come for screening and monitoring during pregnancy.  Sensitive issues like HIV testing are being handled very well. Pediatric services provide growth monitoring, immunizations, nutritional education and treatment of acute illnesses and consultation for chronic conditions.

Inpatient Section: 

A Patient & their Family

As a health center we are limited in the length of stay for patients.  Patients admitted at our center have been amazed by the clean bedding and sheets in our facility.  The Center ensures that the working areas are clean, disinfected, and the infection prevention protocol is followed.

Creating Jobs in Dodoma: The Stories of Lives Changed

by Bobby Griffin, Founder of DCMC

President Clinton accurately described the people of poor countries as having “Equal ability but not equal opportunity”.  Specifically I heard this from  the mouths of twenty young adults gathered in Dodoma  ten years ago. When they were asked what they saw as their biggest need, their answer was  “jobs and health care”.  This  statement planted the seed that blossomed into DCMC and later the concept of Compassionate Entrepreneurship and the development of Dodoma Innovation and Production Company( DI&PC).  DI&PC, in addition to being key in the future sustainability of DCMC  is about balancing  the equation of ability and opportunity through investing and developing employees’  potential.

Winnie

Winnie, pictured here, answered an ad in 2007 for a receptionist/secretary position.   She indeed was hired on her potential.  She walked to the interview from the nearby village wearing an ill-fitting business suit; she had no resume, work experience or computer skills.   Yet she was chosen from a number of others because of her ambitions demonstrated by trying to answer the interview questions in English. Her start was rocky; but today she flourishes as an administrative secretary and assistant bookkeeper handling multiple details of the  business.  Her abilities are  enhanced by  evening  business college  classes. DI&PC  has invested in Winnie and continues to benefit from her maturing skills.

Grayson

Grayson,   DI&PC’s chief engineer, tells a different kind of story of Tanzania’s work environment when jobs are scarce.   He  graduated from University of Dar es salaam with a degree in civil engineering.  Previous to coming to DI& PC he was the maintenance engineer for a Ngorongoro Crater tourist resort.  In order to keep his job he was requested to assume a new identity each year to enable the employer to avoid paying  mandated benefits.  As chief engineer at DI&PC he receives praise for his leadership  and flourishing skills.

A temporary woman  worker in the brick yard demonstrated the survival reality for poor women.  Prostitution  supported her and her children when she came to DI&PC  on that quest. Instead she was offered day work in the  brick yard.  She was encouraged to be tested for HIV/AIDs and  started on medication.  Her health and life improved.

Woman at work at DI&PC

Constantin Boehl, DI&PC’s Managing Director, will tell you it is necessary and important  to develop the abilities of  the Tanzanian employees; however, there are sometimes disappointments along the way because poor people are lured to equal opportunity in the wrong way.   A trusted and capable brick yard foreman was tempted to enter into a cement stealing scheme.  A bookkeeper devised a plan to steal a safe.   The police jailed all the office employees until the thief was identified.  Although the money was recovered, that event  was not the kind of opportunity  Winnie  imagined when she applied for her first office job.

DCMC – Making a Difference in the Dodoma Slums

Can DCMC really help the poorest people in the Dodoma slums?  After our visit in June, I would say “yes, they can”.

In the quiet evenings, members of DCMC’s Community Health Team pack up their HIV testing supplies,  load up their small truck with a two large speakers and a sound system and head into the poorest areas of Dodoma.  Why the speakers and sound system?  Once the Team gets to the slum, they set up the speakers outside the small testing room and play loud, upbeat music.   The crowds gather, they find out that HIV testing is being done and they line up to have the test.

The DCMC team is well trained as they counsel each individual before the test is done – the test is a simple finger stick.  And, they act very professionally, keeping the test results private, for obvious reasons.

Some progress is being made against HIV/AIDS in Tanzania.  There are drugs available to HIV infected people to keep the disease at bay and to keep it from spreading.  However, you must have an official, HIV positive test to get the medications.  Thus, the simple testing done by DCMC can make a huge difference in one person’s life and potentially in the lives of many others.

The children come in droves to the testing center to see what is going on.   We can’t say exactly what these connections with the children will mean, but at least they become aware of the work of DCMC and are happy to have us there.