July 2008
An urgent appeal for Murambinda TB Service - a TB Alert project in desperate need in Zimbabwe.
You will have heard much in the news about Zimbabwe at the moment and many people presume that charities like TB Alert are finding it impossible to work in the country. But that is not the case - though it isn’t by any means easy – and I’d like to tell you about Murambinda Hospital, a TB Alert project since 2002 which is in desperate need. Murambinda’s work is threatened as funding from overseas dries up because of the political turmoil in Zimbabwe. At the same time the poverty and malnutrition resulting from that turmoil is fertile ground for TB and the call on their TB services is higher than ever.
Click here to read our appeal insert - Murambinda Life in Pictures |
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Murambinda Hospital has been providing healthcare for the 250,000 population of Buhera District, eastern Zimbabwe for over thirty years. However by the 1990’s the economic collapse, compounded by drought and increasing levels of HIV had led to an upsurge in the already high rates of TB. When TB Alert first got involved, we found a situation with patients arriving at the hospital so ill they had little chance of survival, and because of staff shortages and lack of fuel for transport it was difficult to keep track of patients who stopped their treatment. Consequently death rates and defaulter rates were high, and staff were increasingly demoralised and frustrated. |
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One step at a time, we are making a difference |
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TB Alert provides funds for staff salaries, outreach clinics, training, fuel for transport and generators, computers and medical equipment. We formed a team of doctors who monitor the hospital on a voluntary basis, and in the five years I have been visiting I have seen improvements in accuracy of diagnosis, more patients treated year on year, and improved access to HIV testing and treatment.
Image shown right - Dr Jack Barker - one of the volunteer doctors training the TB Clerk in a new monitoring system
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Monica Glenshawe (left) , Murambinda’s Chief Medical Officer, puts it simply:
‘Un-combated, TB will accelerate the devastation of the AIDS epidemic. But you can treat it. There’s no substitute for just going on, patiently, doggedly, doing it properly. And with TB Alert’s support we are still doing it, even among the chaos and violence. This year we will treat over 1,000 people with TB and prevent them from spreading the disease for others. Every life we save makes it all worthwhile.’ |
Please help us keep supporting Murambinda
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Click here
to
Donate
on-line
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Many funders are keeping away from Zimbabwe at the moment, so we are turning to loyal supporters like you, who understand the importance of good TB services, for help. Murambinda has been, over the past few years, a ray of hope in the gloomy story of Zimbabwe. Now the achievements of recent years are at risk, just when the ordinary people of the country need us now more than ever. TB Alert is committed to Murambinda and we need to ask for your commitment too.
I will continue to donate my time and money to Murambinda. I know it will save lives. Please can you help also? Click here to donate. I can assure you that despite all the difficulties in present-day Zimbabwe, our money will go directly to support the vital TB work of Murambinda.
Yours sincerely,
Dr John Millard MD, FCRP
TB Alert Programme Advisor (Volunteer)
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Click on the pages below to download in pdf format
 
A message from a friend of Murambinda
"Murambinda Hospital is characterised by selfless care, strengthened by the pattern of shared daily prayers and the personal Christian faith of the staff. Wherever I go in Scotland I commend the work of Murambinda Hospital, and no hospital of my acquaintance is more worthy to be supported by the churches. "
The Very Rev John Miller - Past Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland
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