[afro-nets] Invitation to visit the Rural Center of Excellence in Tanzania

["Neema Mgana" <nmgana@yahoo.com>]

Invitation for a field visit of the Rural Center of Excellence project in Ipuli village, Tanzania
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15-17 September, 2006

Within the region of Singida, one of the most underserved and economically isolated areas in Tanzania, lies the rural village of Ipuli. The closest hospital to the village is more than 60 kilometers away and most residents travel on foot or on wheelbarrow through rough terrain, including a river stream, to get there. Many, especially women with complicated pregnancies, die on route.

>From this need a concept was devised to build a medical center that would provide care for local residents and also have equipment and technology linking it to other health centers around the world. Hence was born the ?Rural Center of Excellence?. 

The villagers of Ipuli donated 10 acres of land in which the medical center (providing dental, pharmacy, ophthalmologic and laboratory services) and maternity ward are currently being built. In addition, a medical training center for nursing and allied health professionals and a primary school are being constructed on another 10 acres of land. The school will incorporate formal education and ?non traditional? education to encourage technological innovation and entrepreneurship among children and youth. It is planned that the medical training center will be operational by October 2006 and the other facilities open months later.

>From September 15-17, 2006 the Rural Center of Excellence will be open for a tour for national and international development community members and all interested to view this unique project located in Tanzania. If interested to join the community of Ipuli in this tour, please send your name, title, name of organization, and contact information to mailto:nmgana@africaninitiative.org by August 15, 2005.

Thank you,
Neema

Neema Mgana
Project founder
E-mail: mailto:nmgana@africaninitiative.org
http://www.africaninitiative.org/af
Phone (in the US): 831.419.1763