4/29/2011 Dr Sylvia and Project Congo receive the M. Bridget Wagner Humanitarian Award
Women's Livestock Project December 8, 2010 We are starting a goat and cattle raising project for the women of the Shasha refugee camp. This project will provide a source of income and food for the women and allow them to regain financial independence and care for their families.
Brother Jean Pierre purchasing goats
Br Jean Pierre, Dr Joseph and some of the Shasha women who will benefit from the project
Expansion of the Medical Center at Ngangi (fall 2010) The nutritional center at Ngangi has moved to its new building, allowing the medical center to expand into the adjacent building, formerly occupied by the nutritional center. This has doubled the square footage of the medical center and allowed us to upgrade the facility and install much of the equipment from the container. We now have a dedicated surgery and endoscopy suite, dental/ophthalmology area, X-ray and ultrasound, as well as, expanded patient care areas.
Dr Joseph in standing in the new surgery and endoscopy suite
New Ultrasound
Dr Alfred using the new ophthomology equipment
Don Bosco Lac August 26, 2010
Project Congo is pleased to announce a new clinic site at Don Bosco Lac, a Salesian Center currently under construction south of Goma. The new center will provide clean water to the surrounding area, as well as, primary and secondary schooling. Project Congo will provide health care and nutrtional support. Watch for further updates as this project grows.
Blessing of the first stone of the new center Don Bosco Lac
Water Chlorination at Don Bosco Lac
Feb 25, 2010
The Sea container with the Cat Scan and x-ray equipment arrived at Ngangi yesterday! For a complete set of picture of the unloading go to "Photo Collections"
Sea container form New Orleans arrives at Ngagni!
Fr Mario Perez over sees unloading of container
Dr Alfred and the CAt Scanner
Jan/Feb 2010 trip and Project Congo Impact
Looking over plans for the new hospital
Dr Alfred on the newly donated hospital site
Infant resuscitation A Life Saved!
Day 2 Doing Better
Day 3 Much better!
medications from Project OCngo
equipment
Oxygen concentrators
building an incubator
interior insulation and vinyl mattress
Prior to varish and finishing touches
The HF-100 X-ray machine arrives
Measuring to build mobile stand
Completed stand and HF-100
Feb 21, 2010 Trip to Goma
I have just returned from Ngangi. It was a very productive trip. I was able to deliver the new HF-100 xray machine. We build a mobile stand for it on site and are now able to take xrays for the first time. I brought a small portable EKG and the first EKG at Ngagni was done a few days later. We also build simple incubators for premature infants on site using a wood and glass structure, lined with vinyl. The heat is provides by a heating pad and the system works quite well, at a fraction of the cost of a real incubator. With an eyeglass making kit from Eyeglasses for Missions, we learned to make eyeglasses and had the capabilities to make 314 pairs from the lenses included. We were novices but with the simple instructions that came along with the supplies, and eye testing system, we were soon up and running. We had plenty of patients in need of glasses.
At least one child's life was saved entirely with equipment brought by Project Congo. A child presented in extremus, unconscious with cerebral maleria. These cases are often left to die. We were able to successfully resuscitate him with intraosseous IV needles, ambu bag, oxygen from oxygen concentrators and suction, all of which were donations from Project Congo.
The most exciting news from the trip is that our plans to build a new hospital, to better address the health needs of the indigent and refugee population made great progress forward during the trip. I am happy to report we have been deeded a 7 acre building site from the Don Bosco Alumni Association and we have several international charities stepping up to offer assistance. Preliminary work on the site is scheduled to begin soon. If all goes well the new hospital "Health Alliance Goma" will have 250 inpatient beds, modern surgical and obstetric facilities as well as the only CAT scan unit in the entire Eastern Congo.
Many Thanks to Dr Joseph and Alfred and the Salesians of Don Bosco for all your efforts on behalf of this most worthy progress!
the 40 ft Sea Container waiting to be loaded
wrapping pallets of medical equipment
loading pallets into to container for Ngangi
Oct 23, 2009 I just returned from New Orleans
After several setbacks and delays the 40 foot sea container of medical equipment began it's journey today from New Orleans to Ngangi Medical center in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It contains a full Cat Scan Unit, as well as, a regular xray machine and dental xray unit, along with xray film and darkroom equipment and supplies. An operating table , surgical lights, stainless steel cabinets and tables, as well as , monitors, endoscopy and surgical equipment will allow us to set up a small surgical suite. A variety of additional general medical equipment will put to use on a daily basis.
A Big thanks to the New Orleans VA Medical Center, Salesians Mission Services, and all of you who contributed money and medical supplies!!!
Sept 4
August has been a busy and exciting month.
In early August we sent a truck load of radiology supplies and equipment and an Ultrasound unit to New Orleans to be included in the sea container of medical equipment that will ship in end September to Ngangi.
On August 9th the Dayton Daily New, Hamilton News and Lebanon Star all featured full page articles on Project Congo. These have generated invaluable interest and support.
The Project Congo Run on August 15th was well attended and a lot of fun. It generated enough money to purchase a much need neonatal incubator for premature babies at the medical center. Many thanks to all those who turned out to help and run!
Looking to the month of September, the Cat Scan unit donated by the VA Medical Center in New Orleans should be dismanteled and crated and ready for shipment by the end of the month. A second container of medical supplies consisting of items donated to or purchased by Project Congo along with medical equipment donated by the VA Medical Center should begin it's journey to the DRC about the same time. With the contents of these container we hope to have a fully functioning Xray department in 2010 ,as well as, a small surgery and ICU. On September 13th a group of Dentist and Radiologists will arrive at Ngangi Medical Center to survey needs and see how they can help during a month long visit, tenatively scheduled for August 2010.
On a sadder note, for those suffering from deprivation, illness, injury and starvation caused by the on going warfare there is no immediate end in sight. The invasion by Rwandan forces at the begining of the year brought some temporary stability, which has since erroded. Planned resettlement of refugees have been canceled and refugees continue to stagger into the Goma area in search of refuge.
July 9, 2009
Many thanks to the West Chester Fire dept for their donations of 35 oxygen tanks, tee shirts and misc respiratory supplies. Project Congo has purchased an Invacare Oxygen tank filling unit that will allow the tanks to be filled and reused on site.
Project Update 6/9/09
I just returned from New Orleans where we selected medical equipment donated from the VA Medical Center to fill a sea container. Included in the container will be a portable Xray machine, leaded aprons, view boxes and endoscopy supplies. This really moves to Xray project along. We are working to get xray developing equipment and an ultrasound unit to include with the shipment. The dream of Xray capabilities at Ngangi is within our grasp.
March 25
Medical supply shipped by Project Congo in January and February to Ngangi Medical Center, have arrived safely. The center will now have limited oxygen delivery and supplies to set up a small intensive care unit. Plan are to build a small addition to house the unit. We will continue to provide medical equipment and supplies to fully equip this unit. If your Hospital; or organization has supplies to donation-please contact us.
2/25/09 Received a generous donation Glucometers and test strips from the Troy Free Clinic. Many thanks to Gill Hawk for making this happen.
2/24/2009 Year end statistics for Dom Bosco Ngangi Medical Center
14,150 Patients cared for 232 cases transfered (high risk obstetrics, surgical, psychiatric, medical testing) 722 severe malnutrition inpatient cases rehabilitated with an average hospital stay of 72 days
