The clinic in Kabanga
According to the official statistics of the Rulenge/Ngara District, there is only 1 doctor per 20,000 people. Before the construction of a clinic by Kivuko e.V., access to basic health care was difficult for people in Kabanga, a village in about 40 kilometers distance from Rulenge. In order to receive medical treatments, the residents of Kabanga had to travel 30 kilometers to the city of Ngara. Travelling by bus is expensive and hardly manageable for someone in a poor physical condition. Before the hospital was built, there was only a pharmacy in place which charges clients with high prices. Sick people consequently hesitated to go to a doctor. This leads to detoriation of the patients' health status and increasing treatment costs. In order to solve these issues, Kivuko e.V. initiated the construction of a clinic for outpatient treatment in Kabanga.
Clinic area in Kabanga
In May 2018, the clinic was officially opened. The hospital comprises a pharmacy, a laboratory, an examination room and a reception desk. The costs of about 25 000 Euros were completely covered by donations to Kivuko e.V.. People in Kabanga now receive basic medical care at fair prices. The treatment is free of charge for children under five and pregnant women.
Basic health care is essential
Examining samples in the laboratory.
Having a look into the official district statistics shows the need for such a clinic. Malaria is still the most frequent cause of death in the district. More than 40% of the people die of that disease, followed by upper respiratory infections (21%), urinary tract infections (9.5%), intestinal worms (6%) and diarrhoea (5%). Those are diseases which could be treated if people visited a doctor. Especially after the rainy season, people are exposed to a high risk of getting infected with malaria.
Mosquito nets only provide limited protection against malaria and a large proportion of the population cannot afford buying them. Every person suspected of having malaria needs to be tested as soon as possible. This applies in particular for children and elderly or weak people. Kivuko e.V. health station has facilitated access to proper malaria tests in the laboratory instead of inaccurate rapid test methods.
In case an infection has been approved, the disease can be treated immediately and efficiently with medication from the clinic’s own pharmacy. Diseases such as worm infections and typhoid fever are two other common diagnoses in the clinic. Currently, our team is working on diagnosing and treating tuberculosis. Patients with more complex clinical pictures are sent to larger hospitals in the region.
Employment creation
Apart from improvements in medical care, the region benefits from newly created jobs in the clinic. Unemployment presents a major challenge to residents in the districts of Ngara and is a hurdle to bulding up the health care system. The construction of the clinic has created seven new jobs: A doctor, two pharmacists, one of whom is also a trained nurse, a laboratory assistant, a security guard, an accountant and a manager have found a job in our clinic. A regular income improves their own well being as well as the situation of their families. The employees now finance the education of their siblings and children and thus raise educational levels in the long-term.
The pharmacy staff members
The employees now finance the education of their siblings and children and thus raise educational levels in the long-term.
Special thanks go to all sponsors and supporters who made the construction of the clinic possible and who have contributed to improving the local living conditions. Likewise, our cooperation partners of Kivuko e.V. in Rulenge have done an excellent job. The great vision of improving health care in Kabanga has been accomplished through their tireless commitment and perseverance. Asante sana!
A video with an administrative staff member of the clinic (Swahili/German) from 2018
We are happy to announce that the clinic is now connected to the central water and electricity network and a fence for improving the security has been built!
Further pictures of the construction and the first weeks at the clinic:
