Board members travelling to Tanzania 2025
Departure – January 6, 2025
On Monday, January 6, 2025, we—Robert-Jan de Gardeyn and Jos van Bemmel, respectively secretary and chair of Stichting Njokuti—will depart for a board trip to Northern Tanzania. In Tanzania, it is no longer permitted to rent a car yourself if you are over 65 years of age. As a result, we are required to hire a car with a driver.
Since we plan to visit several projects as well as Selian Hospital in Arusha and Sumve Hospital near Mwanza, we’ve arranged a driver and vehicle for the entire duration. The two hospitals are located roughly 700 kilometers apart. The costs were higher than anticipated, and we covered most of them ourselves.
Below is a summary of our visits to the four projects and two hospitals where Stichting Njokuti is active in Northern Tanzania.
Purpose: to evaluate our ongoing work and explore whether a small contribution to several projects might be appropriate.
Kafika House – January 7
A few hours after arrival on January 7 (overnight flight), we head to Kafika House. We leave our luggage at the Equator Hotel in Arusha, where we’ll be staying for a few nights.
Kafika House is about a 30-minute drive from Arusha. We’re welcomed by Sarah Rejman, who started the project years ago, and her right-hand woman, Keira DiSpirito.
Kafika House describes itself as “a loving, affordable surgical rehabilitation program where children find a safe and nurturing home away from home.” It’s an impressive rehabilitation center for children who have undergone—or will undergo—orthopedic surgery.
Children are frequently referred to nearby Selian Hospital for surgery, often performed by Dr. Maise or Dr. Makanza. Dr. Makanza, whose education we once supported, now works partly in the private sector but also continues operating at Selian.
Orthopedic surgeries are also performed by Njokuti specialists. According to Sarah, local surgeons still have much to learn from our doctors. Knowledge sharing is, in her view, Njokuti’s most valuable contribution.
Njokuti contributes $75 per child operated on by our teams, helping ensure that children from poor families have a better future.
Kafika House has ambitious plans to build a children’s hospital, made possible by donors in Australia and the U.S. There remains a great need for our surgical teams, ideally composed of two orthopedic surgeons or one orthopedic and one plastic surgeon. Having three surgeons present at once is discouraged, as one of the three ORs must remain available for other procedures.
Olkokola – January 7, 2025
In the afternoon, we visit Father Pat Patton, whom we’ve known for many years. He has lived in Tanzania for about 50 years and used to fly us from Arusha to hospitals in Northern Tanzania, such as Haydom. Now 76, he no longer flies himself.
Father Patton founded the Olkokola project, a center where people with physical disabilities can build a better future. They receive vocational training—carpentry, for instance—and also receive healthcare support.
We agreed that Njokuti will contribute $2,000 to help produce prostheses at KCMC (Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre).
Selian Hospital – January 8, 2025
In the morning, we head to Selian Hospital, located about 10 kilometers outside of Arusha. The current director is Dr. Amon Marti, assisted by Dr. Kimaro, a general surgeon. Head of orthopedics is Dr. Robert Maise. We also meet Dr. Elibariki (general surgery) and Dr. Mmbaga, recently employed as an orthopedic surgeon.
Several volunteers also work at the hospital, including Dr. Fulvio (an Italian pediatrician) and nurse Gayle, who focuses on fundraising.
Dr. Kimaro is eager to learn more about plastic surgery. He has already performed numerous cleft lip surgeries alongside our plastic surgeon, Wouter Jurgens. As such, there is currently no need for a full-time plastic surgeon, since Dr. Kimaro is developing these skills himself.
There is also no current request for Njokuti to sponsor a general doctor to train as an orthopedic surgeon.
Selian collaborates well with Kafika House. The hospital has three operating rooms, enough nurses, and available anesthesia staff. Njokuti is warmly welcomed, ideally with a team of one orthopedic and one plastic surgeon—though two orthopedic surgeons are also possible. Three surgeons at once, however, is too much.
Selian is able to announce surgical campaigns in advance to attract large numbers of patients.
Our main contribution is knowledge. According to both Selian and Kafika, their orthopedic staff continue to learn from us. Njokuti pays $75 to Selian for each child operated on by our team. The 2024 claims have not yet been submitted.
We stressed to Dr. Amon the importance of proper post-operative care. For children referred by Kafika, this is well-organized, but for others, it remains uncertain.
Dr. Amon indicated that a typical orthopedic procedure, including aftercare, currently costs about $200 per child. Our $75 contribution therefore falls short. We also emphasized how important we believe education is, also in the context of healthcare.
Monduli – January 9, 2025
The center is now called the St. Paul II Rehabilitation Centre. After a one-hour drive, we arrive in Monduli. We’re welcomed by director Mireille Kapilima, successor to the late Anna Mollel. Later, Eva Mushi, the long-serving physiotherapist (trained with Njokuti’s support), joins the conversation.
The main news: Caritas Germany has recently decided to end its annual financial support of $300,000, which has already led to the dismissal of 9 out of 27 staff. The future of the center is uncertain. Outreach activities (preventive care in the region) have been greatly reduced.
Children with orthopedic conditions are now referred to Selian Hospital, with Kafika covering the surgical costs. We reiterated that Njokuti pays $75 per child operated on by our teams.
The collaboration with Kafika House is going well. Many patients at the center are children with cerebral palsy, often caused by birth-related oxygen deprivation. The playground, previously funded by Njokuti, has been completely renovated.
The center has two cows for milk production but no pigs – possibly a future sponsorship idea. There is also an on-site prosthetics workshop, though they face a shortage of plastic, where Njokuti might help.
Sponsoring the training of an outreach nurse is another potential goal. We committed to contribute up to $2,000 for now.
Sumve – January 11–12, 2025
After a long 700-kilometer journey over rough roads, we finally arrive at Sumve Hospital, near Mwanza. The previous night we stayed at a beautiful lodge in Serengeti National Park – a tiring but stunning journey, rich in wildlife.
Upon arrival in Sumve, we’re warmly welcomed by Sister Adelaida and Dr. Charles Petro, the hospital’s medical director. Dr. Charles, who is from nearby Mwanza, lives on the hospital grounds with his family. Sister Adelaida, the head nurse, lives in the adjoining convent with nine Tanzanian nuns.
We discussed how to improve collaboration. If feasible, Njokuti could send two orthopedic surgeons twice a year. There is little need for plastic surgeons.
The hospital has two operating rooms, both available. They also have X-ray equipment, wound dressings, casting materials, surgical instruments, and enough nurses and anesthesia staff – although there is only one anesthesia machine.
Sumve aspires to become a referral hospital with four specialists, though this seems unrealistic. The government is focusing instead on strengthening smaller health centers to handle basic surgeries. Besides our orthopedists, a gynecologist visits once or twice per year.
Dr. Charles asked for funding for his own orthopedic training, but we unfortunately had to decline due to our limited resources and the lack of proper orthopedic aftercare. Additionally, it would be a loss if he left his leadership role.
Our priority remains: orthopedic care for children, including hands-on guidance and post-op support.
We are open to funding instrument requests up to €2,000.
A Japanese organization is a major sponsor of Sumve, having funded the OR building and currently renovating another ward. There’s no dedicated clubfoot program yet – a potential opportunity for Njokuti. Outreach is limited due to lack of funding.
Hospital income comes one-third from the government, one-third from the church, and one-third from patient fees. Earlier support foundations have ceased operation. Only the Stichting Sumve Hospital remains, which raises funds to bring a gynecologist to Sumve. It is unclear whether this can be sustained long-term.
After a spartan overnight stay, we have chapati and Tanzanian instant coffee, followed by a hospital tour led by Dr. Charles. Later, Sr. Adelaida and Dr. Gidion Chacha (clinical coordinator) join.
Sumve has about 260 beds and is well-organized, though it suffers from rusted, leaky roofs, ceiling mold, and general disrepair. A digital X-ray system is in place, allowing immediate access in the OR. Care for pregnant women and children is entirely free, including deliveries and C-sections.
We reminded Dr. Charles he can claim $75 per child operated on by Njokuti – also retroactively for 2024. We invited him to share support requests, as long as costs remain limited.
Sibusiso – January 15, 2025
After an extra overnight in Serengeti, we return to our hotel in Arusha on January 14. On our final day, we visit Sibusiso. It has been at least 10 years since our last visit.
We find a well-maintained, expansive site, including a brand-new Knowledge Centre, funded by wealthy Dutch donors.
Sibusiso is a Lutheran center for children and young adults with intellectual disabilities (up to age 27). We see many children with cerebral palsy (often due to birth complications), as well as children with Down syndrome, hydrocephalus, and other conditions.
The center employs about 50 staff members, including a physiotherapist and four social workers.
The main goal is to train parents: helping them accept their child’s condition and teaching them how to cope.
There are two target groups:
-
Children aged 0–5, who stay up to six months with their parents. They attend on weekdays and go home for weekends.
-
“Students” aged 12–27, who live on-site without their parents and typically stay for six months.
There are also short-term and day programs for children living elsewhere.
There are three dormitories with ten beds each, designed for parent–child pairs.
Some students can fully integrate into the community and learn practical skills like gardening or woodworking.
Kafika House works closely with Sibusiso, helping to fund necessary surgeries. Referrals also go to Mt. Meru Hospital and Usa River rehab center, e.g., for clubfoot treatment.
Sibusiso’s weekly outreach program identifies children with special needs by visiting markets and broadcasting on local radio.
There is a need for wheelchairs, produced by KCMC in Moshi at €200 each. Njokuti will sponsor 10 wheelchairs (€2,000), as we’ve done in the past.
Sports is part of the program: football, volleyball, hockey. A few years ago, a team even competed in the Paralympics!
There is a guesthouse for up to six volunteers, although it is currently underutilized.
In short: an inspiring and beautiful program!