Newsletter 2018
VISIT TO SUMVE AND SELIAN HOSPITAL IN NORTH TANZANIA, NOVEMBER 2017
For the eight time we, Peer Poelman and Ron Onstenk , both orthopedic surgeons, visited Sumve Hospital, one hours drive from Mwanza in North Tanzania. Dirk and Tineke, the Dutch volunteers that spent a number of years in Sumve and did a lot of good work, recently retired to the Netherlands. On the brink of their departure they left us with a new operation complex. Although not completely ready and fewer patients there were sufficient children we could operate upon and who will, after their rehabilitation, walk again.
Our second destination was Arusha, again a place we frequently have visited before. The ALMC Hospital has in recent years undergone an enormous development in medical-technical areas. Unfortunately it is the more wealthy part of the population that benefits from these improvements. It is therefore that we increasingly pointed our arrows towards Selian Hospital, just outside of Arusha. Dr. Robert Maisu and Dr. Amon work there and have a considerable knowledge in orthopedic procedures. Nearly a hundred patients were seen and selected for operations that were performed with the local doctors, much to our great satisfaction. The thankfulness was heart warming, so much that we will repeat our visit next year, or maybe earlier with another team.