Shunga Hospital
Tanzania
Saving lives on the border to Burundi!
Living some 40 km away from the nearest small town, the people of Shunga would have to fend for themselves in times of illness were it not for Shunga Health Centre. The staff who work here are committed to providing people in the wider area with support in the following areas:
- good, reliable, basic health care services for the entire population
- saving lives during difficult births, thanks to the new operating theatre
- targeted help for the poorest of the poor, by caring for widows and orphans
- spreading the good news about Jesus Christ and discipling new Christians
Located in the poorer western region of Tanzania, Shunga offers lots of opportunities for the above. This help is just a drop in the ocean. But it helps people in need. And it saves and preserves lives. What could be better?
Big plans
In an effort to safeguard the future of the Health Centre, the management team responded to an offer made by the state to upgrade into a hospital. Once this work is complete, the state will officially recognise the centre as a hospital. This means qualified staff will be deployed here, and their salaries will be paid by the state.
The renovation work and the construction of the new buildings will take five years in total. In March 2017, building work commenced on additional staff housing so that suitable accommodation is available when employees are sent by the state.
Next, new wards will be built, medical examination facilities added and the operating theatre extended in order to comply with official Tanzanian regulations for hospitals.
RedChairity, a charity founded by the XXXLutz Group, has kindly agreed to help with funding on an annual basis.
85 Hospital Beds for Shunga Hospital
After many years of minimum investments, the Shunga Health Centre has, in the past three years, invested in new wards, a new operating theatre and a new labour ward. This is an investment in the future health care of the 10,000 or so people who live in the catchment area.
Once the new buildings are ready, the new wards will need to be furnished accordingly. A new hospital bed costs €250, and we need around 85 beds. In other words, we need around €21,500 for the new beds – on top of the funds we require for providing health care to people with no financial resources, plus the funds we need for training staff (see the Matyazo project).
You can donate to the project here. And why not tell your friends about the project?
Anglican Diocese West-Tanganyika, Kasulu, Tansania
The first missionaries from the Neukirchener Mission arrived in Shunga in 1928. At this time, the diocese still formed part of the Anglican Central Tanzanian diocese. They began to preach the gospel and provide medical care. Later, they opened the children’s home to look after babies whose mothers had died during childbirth. Over the years, many Europeans have come to work in Matyazo, Shunga, Kasulu and Kigoma. Having been requested to do so by the church leadership, we now support staff training programmes and provide medical care.
Henry Ndege
Head doctor and hospital CEO
Christine Fritz
Nurse and midwife, has been working in Tanzania since 2003; works alongside Henry Ndege on the management team of Shunga Health Centre.
D.F.M.G.B.
Christine Fritz is supported by the DFMGB
Festo Mbata
Head of office staff and personnel
Sezaria Mbata
Chaplain
Felix Reckstadt
Felix first came to Shunga to do voluntary service as a male nurse. During this time, he was heavily involved in planning the extension work. After he had finished his voluntary service, the team invited him to return and help supervise the construction work alongside Henry Ndege (head doctor) and Tito (electrician). He accepted this invitation.
Dr. Iris Schlagehan
Specialist for internal medicine
Iris was seconded to Shunga Hospital by Forum Wiedenest.
This post is also available in: German
