Hospital Infrastructure
In 2023, we constructed an Emergency Medicine and Laboratory block with the generous support of the Lady Fatemah (a.s.) Charitable Trust and the Jaffar Family Foundation. The new laboratory hosts haematology, parasitology, clinical chemistry and microbiology departments as well as room for quality control, sterilization and a phlebotomy with dedicated waiting area on the ground floor decongesting the hospital. Through our partnership with the Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine we fully quipped the microbiology department and supply consumables for culture and sensitivity tests.
We have renovated the old laboratory to become a satellite blood centre and procured the relevant equipment. The satellite blood centre will improve the supply of blood at the hospital which is crucial for service delivery at the hospital.
Availability of essential medicines and lab supplies increased from 62.2% to 78% at the primary level.
Medical Supplies
In developed countries, we’re used to hospitals having all the medicine we need. Ordering drugs, replacing a lightbulb or topping up supplies doesn’t seem like a big ask. In Zanzibar, it’s not that simple. As well as financial barriers, their location as a small island off the coast of Africa comes with its own unique supply chain challenges.
We continue to supply essential health commodities to the Ministry of Health through our partnership with International Health Partners. We receive 2 shipments per year, worth around £20,000 each, of life-saving medications.
These consignments were delivered to the Ministry of Health and distributed to 120 health facilities in the last year.