Acute Hospital Water Shortage

Posted by Judy Arbique Mar 12, 2007

An article on page 5 in The Guardian newspaper on Thursday, February 22, 2007 described serious water, medicine and medical equipment shortages at the Ukerewe District Hospital in the Mwanza Region of Tanzania. The water shortage has contributed to toilet closures, and has compromised the facilities ability to wash bedsheets and facilities. Patients and staff have been forced to find alternative places to relieve themselves.

Ironically, an article on page 8 explains the progress of the PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) initiative in African countries. President Bush committed $15 billion towards an international health initiative to help reduce HIV/AIDS. There are currently 15 focus countries in Africa, the Caribbean and Asia - Tanzania is one of the African focus countries.

PEPFAR has helped provide anti-retroviral treatments for HIV/AIDS sufferers, and has helped fund HIV/AIDS outreach prevention programs; however, while these services may be available, human and physical infrastructure still requires improvement to allow adequate quality patient care.

In the medical laboratories I visited while in Tanzania, resources and availability of supplies are a major problem. Hopefully, the next U.S. government will continue support for the PEPFAR program.

Source:

PEPFAR determined to reduce effects of HIV/AIDS scourge. The Guardian. Tanzania, Thursday, February 22, 2007; page 8.

Ng'oko, J. Hospital faces acute water shortage. The Guardian. Tanzania, Thursday, February 22, 2007; page 5.