A helping hand in Sengerema – our visit to Tanzania

At the beginning of this year, we – Paulien, Margreet and Paco – were allowed to contribute to the hospital in Sengerema, Tanzania. For us, it was a special experience to be part of it, even if only for a short while.

During the 2.5 weeks that we were there, we committed ourselves to supporting the local healthcare professionals where possible. Paco, an anaesthetist from the Slingeland hospital, enthusiastically immersed himself in the technology: he got several ventilators working again and provided extensive training to the local anaesthesia staff. In addition, he and Margreet hung up various signs in the new operating theatre complex.

I (Paulien) installed a number of monitoring monitors, which were donated by the Slingeland hospital, and explained them to the staff. Margreet and I structured and labelled the stocks of bandages and stoma materials with great care and attention, so that everything can be found quickly and easily – something that Erik and Jiska do not have time for in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. In another storage room we did the same with a large amount of beautiful donation material that had not been properly sorted before.

And as if that wasn't special enough: Margreet also spent a day in the delivery rooms... and ended up at the birth of triplets! Everyone thought it would be twins - until suddenly another baby arrived. A moment never to be forgotten.

We look back on an intensive, heartwarming journey in which we were able to give, but certainly also received a lot. We are grateful that, on behalf of Stichting Simba, we were able to use our knowledge and hands for the beautiful work that is done there every day.