A clinic for children and mothers in Camabatela

Background:

Camabatela, a small town situated North-East of Luanda in the province of Cuanza Norte, has been devastated by 30 years of war. Although the Local Government has made an effort to restore the infrastructures of the area, not enough attention has been given to providing basic medical and social services. In these premises the Sisters of the Good Shepherd provide this very assistance to the population in a very simple clinic. Since 1969, the Sisters continue to offer aid to the population of Camabatela: education for children in the parish school, training for women, healthcare for sick people. 

Problem:

Keeping contacts between Camabatela and the other major towns is very difficult due to the lack of telephone lines, scarcity of electricity and of viable roads. The local health care sector has serious problems in delivering services and accommodating patients.

Over the years, the Saint Maria Euphrasia clinic has become highly regarded in the area for the quality of service delivery and the humanity with which the Sisters treat the patients. However, the clinic lacks many basic necessities that would help improve its efficiency and delivery system.

Despite the very difficult conditions, the clinic is presently treating on average 35 patients a day and aiding 25 deliveries per month. In the past six months they have treated 200 children for malnutrition and 1400 cases of malaria.

The Sisters rely on funds from the Congregation and aid from benefactors to buy medicines and to keep the program going that ensures adequate nutrition for children.

Objective:

• The objective of this project is to offer adequate health care services to the population of Camabatela in a facility that meets all heath care codes and regulations.

Activities:

The sisters try to help everyone from the village who asks for medical assistance. They visit the patients every morning. They give treatment and practice small surgeries for those who need it. They treat every day many cases of malaria, meningitis, tetanus...

The sisters usually make the patients pay for the medications and with the money, they give a small salary to the 8 people who work with them at the clinic, at the end of the month. If there remains some money, they use it to buy more medications in Luanda.

Recently they acquired a new car which enables them to transport patients to the nearest hospital in Negage or Uige. 

Expected outcome a project:

• Diminish the number of local women dying because of difficult deliveries;
• Increase the number of newborns who have access to healthier sanitary services;
• Increase the number of local people who have access to proper healthcare in a safe environment. 

The Good Shepherd Sisters give special thanks to the following donors for their generosity in helping to fund this project: MEG Roper Trust (Friends of Sharing Fair, UK), Holy Rosary Justice and Peace Group - The Two Coats Justice (Ireland), Sacred Heart Sisters (UK) and all the many individual contributors (UK).