Community Health Services

Community Health

District-Wide Anaemia Testing for Pregnant Women

Through a generous on-going Rotary International grant, provided the Godalming, UK Rotary, we have established anaemia-testing at the Longido District Hospital and the Lutheran Church clinics in Ketumbeine and Gelai Lumbwa. Using easy-to-read COPAK field kits, healthcare workers can quickly determine a patient’s haemoglobin level. Ten years of testing show these levels are particularly low in pregnant women and children.  Severe anaemia leads to high mortality through post-partum haemorrhage and contributes to high morbidity and mortality in children. We are now training our network of Village Healthcare Workers and TBAs to use COPAK to red-flag and treat or refer severely anaemic children and pregnant women.

District-Wide Anemia Testing for Pregnant Women

Through an on-going Rotary International grant, we have established anemia-testing at the Longido District Hospital and the Lutheran Church clinics in Ketumbeine and Gelai Lumbwa. Using easy-to-read COPAK field kits, healthcare workers can quickly determine a patient’s haemoglobin level. Four years of testing show these levels are particularly low in pregnant women and children. We are now training our network of Village Healthcare Workers and TBAs to use COPAK to red-flag and treat or refer severely anemic children and pregnant women.

Material Support for Traditional Birth Attendants

In addition to training, we provide the following items for NHC-trained TBAs:

  • Easy to use Maternova Cradle devices for colour-coded to detect increasing blood pressure.
  • Anaemia testing kits to detect dangerously low haemoglobin
  • Plastic aprons, gloves, torches or headlamps, and soap
  • The Flying Medical Service kindly provides battery recharging for the Cradles and has replaced (for free!) well-used headlamps.



Material Support for Traditional Birth Attendants

In addition to training, we provide the following items for NHC-trained TBAs:

  • Maternova Cradle devices for color-coded to detect increasing blood pressure.
  • Anemia testing kits to detect dangerously low hemoglobin
  • Plastic aprons, gloves, torches or headlamps, and soap
  • The Flying Medical Service kindly provides battery recharging for the Cradles and has replaced (for free!) well-used headlamps.


Annual Deworming and Vitamin A Disbursement

Co-ordinating with the Longido District Health Office, we provide more than 600 children aged 2-12 with deworming medication and Vitamin A supplements, annually. Village leaders dispense and record the disbursement for government records.

Annual Deworming and Vitamin A Disbursement

Co-ordinating with the Longido District Health Office, we provide more than 600 children aged 2-12 with deworming medication and Vitamin A supplements, annually. Village leaders dispense and record the disbursement for government records.

Annual Deworming and Vitamin A Disbursement

Co-ordinating with the Longido District Health Office, we provide more than 600 children aged 2-12 with deworming medication and Vitamin A supplements, annually. Village leaders dispense and record the disbursement for government records.

Magadini School Lunch Programme

Providing more than 300 school children with at least one nutritious meal a day is a cornerstone of our remit – and has been one of our biggest challenges. Lack of reliable transport and intermittent government support have hampered efforts at sustainability. However, the community is now taking a greater role in provisioning and financing the programme – a clear indication that they value good nutrition for their children. In 2021, the community is asking families to donate livestock to the program. We are currently providing matching funds for the village, with the goal of complete local sustainability by 2023.

Magadini School Lunch Program

Providing more than 300 school children with at least one nutritious meal a day is a cornerstone of our remit – and has been one of our biggest challenges. Lack of reliable transport and intermittent government support have hampered efforts at sustainability. However, the community is now taking a greater role in provisioning and financing the program – a clear indication that they value good nutrition for their children. In 2021,

the community is asking families to donate livestock to the program. We are currently providing matching funds for the village, with the goal of complete local sustainability by 2023.

Donation of Material Support to Our Partners

Donation of Material Support to Our Partners:

With specific, earmarked funds we have provided our medical service partners with two portable ultrasounds, the Maternova Cradle Devices and Copak kits.  To Magadini Village, we have provided a solar-powered HF radio, eight years of assistance for school lunches, 40 school desks, a new classroom, a water-catchment system and significant assistance in building the runway used for FMS outreach and evacuations.  In Wosiwosi, we have partially funded the construction of the Kindergarten building, school desks, and a solar-powered HF radio. 

Donation of Maternova Cradle Devices to the District of Longido

Through a generous gift of the St. Johnsbury, VT (USA) Rotary, facilitated by the Sunrise Rotary of Arusha, Tanzania, 30 Maternova blood pressure devices were donated to the district for use in clinics and outreach services in Longido’s vast, under-resourced district. The simple devices, designed for rugged use, are quick and easy to use. With both numerical and color coded diastolic and systolic readings, they can be used by professionals and lay people.

Share by: