Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Medici con l'Africa Cuamm
Tosamaganga (Agenzia Fides) - "It is possible be nice and cheerful even amid the many forms of poverty", writes Don Dante Carraro, Director of Doctors with Africa Cuamm, who has just come back from Tosamaganga, Tanzania. In the Tanzanian city, CUAMM is committed at the hospital which is located in the region of Iringa and that, along with that of Njombe, includes about one million people. Almost one out of two (44%) suffers from chronic malnutrition that easily then becomes acute, leading the child to death. "Tanzania and the areas where we work are 'minor' places", says Don Dante. "Not much is said. There are no civil wars going on, there are no religious conflict; there is a good social life, people are peaceful, hard-working, good. Schools and hospitals are fragile but they exist. This is why Tanzania is likely to be forgotten by the international community. It is not a strategic Country, it is 'minor'. As 'minor' are the problems in the Country. Malnourished children do not make noise, when they die nobody notices". Located in the central part of the Country, the hospital in Tosamaganga is an important point of reference for obstetric emergencies such as C-sections. It is currently the only point of reference for obstetric emergencies of this type. "During New Year's Eve, continues the director of Cuamm, I was together with our volunteers in the guest house next to the hospital. We had a party and had dinner together: We prayed. And thinking about the new year, we felt a strong obligation to be next to the 'minor' people. More than a duty, it was a privilege to be with them". The commitment of Doctors with Africa Cuamm have focused over the years on improving the quality of obstetric and neonatal care, in particular to respond appropriately to obstetric emergencies, with encouraging results: the most interesting data is that regarding the reduction of maternal deaths in hospitals in the 2012-2014 period. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 08/01/2016)
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