The Mother Maryam Foundation Clinic Project Proposal
This is the Health Clinic Project proposal we submitted to the Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Foundation agreed to provide medical equipment, an emergency / transport vehicle, and a generator for the clinic.
Description of the community, its
assets, and its needs
Az-Zawrat is a village of 4,000 people located in the
Northern Province of Sudan, in desperate need of a health
clinic. The economy is based on subsistence agriculture,
irrigated by Nile River and groundwater. Community assets
are proximity to the Nile and the presence of ample
groundwater. A high degree of social cohesion and solidarity
is a great asset to this and surrounding communities.
The community is in need of a local source of primary
and preventive health care and health education. The
local clinic, established in 1957 and never renovated,
has one nurse. Many children are not vaccinated, even
against common childhood diseases, tetanus, polio, diptheria,
whooping cough, tuberculosis, measles. There is no maternity
or routine postpartum or well-baby care available locally.
There is no emergency service. There is no facility
for routine testing, although there is frequent need
for blood sugar, malaria, and other tests. The nearest
comprehensive health care available is in the provincial
capital, Dongola, 20 k. away, with travel difficult
and expensive.
Description of the proposed project
This project consists of the construction and equipping
of a community health center which will be staffed by
a doctor and allied health professionals paid by the
local authorities. It will provide: outpatient services;
preventive services including vaccination, maternity
and postpartum and well-baby care; common laboratory
tests; health education; emergency care and stabilization
of patients for transport to Dongola hospital; some
inpatient services. This will result in reduced infant/
child/ maternal mortality and make primary health services
available to these rural inhabitants. This project will
serve the 17,000 inhabitants of Az-Zawrat and the surrounding
villages of Binna, Jarada, Iris island, and Tura.
Project activity to date
The provincial health authority has agreed to provide
and pay staff for the clinic and to provide some basic
supplies. The local community is forming a committee
to oversee the project, following the model that the
community of Kolomiseed (which is a sub-section of Az-Zawrat)
used for its successful Rotary-sponsored drinking water
project. The community has donated and allocated land
for the project. Dr. Omda, a Dongola-based physician
who is from Zawrat, has committed himself to assist
in planning and implementation. There has been a commitment
of seed money from the private sector in Khartoum and
a commitment of labor by the local community.
Participants:
Community
The community is electing a committee of 9 members,
including 3 women, to represent the community in decision-making
in planning and implementing the project. People from
the community that live outside (Khartoum, Gulf countries,
the West) will contribute seed money. The community
will select the site, and will provide the labor and
materials to construct the outer wall and courtyard.
Khartoum Rotary Club
The Khartoum Rotary Club will handle finances and oversee
implementation of the project. A member or members will
donate time and travel in order to assess project progress
and ensure its suitability to community needs.
Others
Sudatel, the national telecommunications company, has
made a commitment of seed money of $20,000. The provinicial
branch of the Ministry of Health will provide and pay
the doctor, physician's assistant, nurse, midwife and
dentist.
Clinic building (according to model
provided by provincial health authority)
1- Physician's examining room
2- Physician's assistant examining room
3- Prenatal and pregnancy care room
4- Laboratory
5- X-Ray room
6- Dentist's room
7- Vaccination room
8- Pharmacy
9- Women and children's ward
10- Men's ward
11- Operating theater
12- Storage
13- Bathrooms
14- Residence for the physician