July began with our first Non-Medical mission in 2018, made up of Mrs. Antonia Martínez Gosalbez (Coordinator of Non-Medical Projects), Mrs. Rosa Gadea Martinez ( Sewing Workshop Coordinator) and Mr. Santiago Botella Vivo (University Professor), who remained at the Island until July 15.

The Village project is fully consolidated. The impact in the Village has been spectacular, more and more women want to participate. During the last year, 5 more women have joined Matumaini and there is a waiting list to join him. They have been introduced in Hotels continuously, at the Airport, with new products (embroidery).

The scholarship course was about to end and it is the intention of granting another component of the group a scholarship in the 2nd course of cutting and sewing, so that both continue with the training of the rest of the group.

Santiago played a great role in teaching management, production and sales techniques.

Regarding the Orphanage, the Management has been changed again, to the “mothers”, to the midwives, … even so, we continue to go, since our commitment remains firm with the children.

They had contact with an association, Daya Foundation, which has been collaborating for a long time with our project and takes care of the children when they leave the Orphanage (formerly there was a government house where they were welcomed until they found work) and asked for collaboration to rent and prepare a home for these children to be until they are self-sufficient, given our relationship with all of them. They found it very interesting and tried to collaborate with them.

Next, one of our Neurointensive Coordinator, Dr. Plablo Extremera Navas (Intensivist) together with Dr. Carola Gutierrez Melon (Intensivist) arrived at the Mnazi Mmoja Hospital to continue with the ICU (Neurointensive) Project implemented by the Foundation in said Hospital.

During their stay, which lasted until July 17, all the material was organized and the operating rooms were “started up” on time. They held teaching sessions first thing in the morning, being of great benefit to the entire team, continuing with the theoretical-practical training program for local ICU staff, both doctors and nurses:

• The pathophysiology and treatment of patients with severe traumatic brain injury, and the concepts of mechanical ventilation were reviewed, along with reading of the head CT.
• The importance of nursing care for the healing of the patient was stressed.

Several queries from other departments of the hospital (hospitalization plants, emergencies … etc.) were attended. The database continued to be completed.

They have left us this reflection as a summary of their stay: “Important change with respect to the previous mission in terms of order. The warehouses were organized and stocked with material. The team is generally more committed to the work they do, which has a very positive effect on the care patients receive. The important advances in theoretical knowledge make the complexity of the patients ever greater, which in turn is a source of learning. The whole team improves remarkably day after day in all aspects ”

On July 1st and from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville (USA), Dr. Christopher Bonfield (Neurosurgeon), Dr. Jake Swartz (Neurosurgeon) and Mrs. Elizabeth Halley Vance (Nurse) have traveled, once again, to the Mnazi Mmoja NED Surgical Institute.

Performing: morning sessions. Neurosurgery clinic consultation. Surgical interventions – Neurosurgery. Evaluation of postsurgical patients in the Hospitalization Room.

Finally, Dr. Elsa Margarida Castro Silva (Neurosurgeon) traveled to Zanzibar, remaining on the island until August 15.

His work focused on: conducting daily rounds, medical room visits, wound dressing, surgical decisions and training. Surgical activity Monday and Wednesday. Practice consultation on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Neurological examination workshops. Follow-up of neurosurgical patients in the ICU. Hospital consultation: pediatrics, oncology, orthopedics and trauma room. Organization of surgical material, updating files, test equipment, problem solving.

Her summary translates into: “Work at the foundation is absolutely necessary for the archipelago population and foreigners; all neurosurgical medical care comes from there. It provides emergency care, consultations, surgeries, minor procedures and teaching. “