First Campaign in Tanzania – April 2024

Dates: April 27 - September 17

Location: Mwanzugi, Tanzania

Participants

ROC Foundation: Dr. Javier Romero, Dr. Juan Justo and Ignacio Baselga (Executive Committee FECS)

FECS Participants: Dr. Fernando García Marín (Maxillofacial Surgeon, FECS President), Belén Agustí (FECS Executive Committee Director), Dr. Shareen Pherai (Maxillofacial Surgeon, FECS volunteer), Dr. Manuel Guereñu (Gynecologist, FECS volunteer), Alicia Cortel (FECS Executive Committee).

Local Partners: Father Alex Nduwayo (Project Manager Bugando Medical Center - Archdiocesan Health Secretary), Sisters of Saint Joseph of Cluny (Mwanzugi)

Background

Health Center

In 2012, FECS started the cooperation project in Mwanzugi. Currently, the local authorities have recognized the facilities as a Health Center and this allows us to perform surgeries. At the moment we have:

  • Hospitalization wards for women, men and children
  • Delivery room
  • Operating room with recovery and sterilization room
  • Ambulance
  • Pharmacy
  • Blood Bank (not always available and not all groups)
  • Inquiries
  • Laboratory (under construction at the request of the government)

School

In 2014 we started with the educational project and today we already have an elementary school with all its classrooms and a plot of land where the secondary school will be built. FECS has met the objectives established in the 2020-25 Strategic Plan.

Work performed

Health Center

  • Facilities review to define our 2025-2030 strategic plan.
  • We carry out an inventory of maternity and operating room equipment.
  • We carry maternity equipment such as a portable ultrasound machine, a cardiograph and a fetal doppler, among other operating room equipment.
  • Training of local personnel by Dr. Manuel Guereñu, gynecologist.
  • Medical care:
    • We performed the first ultrasound in Mwanzugi to a 14 year old girl with a complicated delivery but which was successfully completed without cesarean section by Dr. Manuel Guereñu. The baby, in gratitude, will be named Manuel.
    • We assess a child with Hypospadias.
    • Pediatric case to assess surgery on next trip.
  • We found that the local team is happy with the cardiotocograph provided in previous years because it helps them make important decisions.
  • We captured needs of the center and specific needs for urology campaigns such as repair of respirator to perform general anesthesia, lack of long surgical instruments, vascular clamp and a separator for Urology, specific sutures, meshes (functional), tower and instruments for endoscopy.

Elementary School

  • We visited the plot and had a good time with the children sponsored by FECS members and friends.
  • We recorded a video for each of their godparents so they can get to know them better and see how they are doing in school.
  • Needs review

High School

  • We visited the plot
  • Completed construction plan and budgets. The school will have solar energy thanks to the support of the ACS Foundation.

Surgery campaign

  • Dr. Fernando García Marín, together with Dr. Sharren Pherai, operated on three children - 6 months, 2 years and 7 years old - with cleft palate and surgery. Their lives are forever changed after this surgery.
  • We review previous surgeries

Volunteer house

We inaugurated the volunteer house, which has been built to accommodate FECS volunteers, doctors and professionals who come to Mwanzugi to support or start FECS projects.

New agreements

ROC FOUNDATION + FECS: Mwanzugi

ROC FOUNDATION + Bugando Hospital: the Bugando hospital is very interested in improving its urology services and to be able to perform transplants. ROC clinic professionals will help them to develop a sustainable project.

Collaborate

Your collaboration is key for the Fundación ROC to continue promoting projects that improve the lives of thousands of people.

With your support, we can facilitate access to health in vulnerable communities, as well as education and research in the field of urology. Together we can make a difference.