Funds are currently needed for the following projects:
HOSPITAL RUNNING COSTS
Whilst seeking to provide good medical care for people who are largely poor subsistence farmers, we are unable to cover the costs without significant help from outside. Currently we are needing about £7,000 extra per month (above local income) to cover costs. Please pray for help as we seek to reduce the difference between local income and expenditure. At present about 75% of hospital running costs (salaries for Malagasy staff, purchase of medical supplies, electricity etc) are raised from fees charged to patients. The rest depends on donations. £25,000 per year is needed for this.
New Land Rover
About £25,000 is needed to purchase and ship this vehicle to replace the Land Rover that Manns took to Madagascar in 1993. The vehicle is last year's model (less dependent on electronics than the new model) and is already sitting at Unimatco in Gerards Cross. We hope to ship it from the UK in August.
BUILDING PROJECTS
Second building for Nursing School
Tower for radio antenna
Design and construction of Good News School
12 classrooms. Plans not yet completed. Land in town has been purchased for this.
Oasis Guest House
A guest house for visitors and short term workers within the current hospital property. Robert & Christine Blondeel from Belgium will run this. Robert is also working as hospital electrician / telephone engineer and doing many other maintenance jobs as well as preaching in church from time to time. Christine already looks after visitors and new arrivals. The building has the roof on – the internal walls are nearly all plastered. Plumbing, electrical installation, windows and doors, floor, painting etc remain to be done.
NEEDY PATIENTS
Funds are needed to help patients in particular categories:
- BURKITT FUND - to purchase chemotherapeutic drugs, especially for children
with cancer.
Here is a picture of a small boy with Burkitt's lymphoma who arrived at the hospital with his parents. The tumour had developed rapidly over one month. He was carried for 4 days by his father to reach the hospital, wading several rivers chest deep on the way.
The second picture shows him a month later after chemotherapy.
- VESICO-VAGINAL FISTULA FUND - to subsidise operations for women with this distressing condition.
- POOR FUND - to subsidise treatment for others unable to pay.
EVANGELISM MATERIALS
Printing of Good News Tracts - 7 tracts are due to be printed in June 2005. 5000 copies of each tract. Total cost will be around £400. Projects recently completed:
- New surgical block comprising 2 operating theatres built 2002-3 - cost £35,000
- Maintenance building - an extension to existing buildings was erected September - October 2003 by a team from New Zealand. Cost £7,000.
- Tractor - new Massey Ferguson MF440 tractor, costing £13,000 shipped to Mandritsara in August 2003. The tractor is for general haulage and building purposes, and not for agricultural use.
- Ultrasound scanner cost £6000 sent by air to Mandritsara August 2003
- Operating table, 3 patient trolleys, suction machines, drip stands, operating light, surgical instruments etc cost £6000 shipped August 2003.
- Bicycles for Community health department, portable generator, maintenance tools and much more sent by container August 2003
- Land Rover station wagon and workshop tools - sent by container from UK November 2004
Projects already funded in part but not completed
- Land Rover station wagon for Community Health project - part funded by Tear Fund UK. Due for shipment from UK July 2005 £7000 needed to complete the payment and shipping.
- Construction of Community Health Department building (offices and meeting rooms) - part funded by Tear Fund UK. Construction began in May 2005. £6000 is needed to complete this.
- Construction of Maternity Unit and equipment - funding expected from the Dutch Evangelical Broadcasting Association following the broadcast of a documentary on the need for a maternity unit at Mandritsara.
- Completion of part-built house for the smaller classes of Ecole Bonne Nouvelle - due to start in June 2005. Needs to be completed for September 2005. Funds needed £7,500
We are grateful to all who contributed to these various projects and commend current needs to your consideration.