Medical Imaging Suite Improves Diagnostic Ability

Since our last report, construction of the Medical Imaging Suite has progressed rapidly. The roof has been completed and the electrical and plumbing fittings are currently being finalized. The lead doors and additional lead sheets needed for the x-ray room and for the future CT or MRI room are expected for delivery to Mwandi by the end of November. Once the lead linings are in place, the plaster work and drywalls will be done. Finally, the flooring, ceilings, HVAC, windows, and additional doors will be added to finish the building's construction and the entire facility will be painted. It is important to note, that the construction of this building, to date, has been done by local tradesmen in Mwandi. Hence, this construction is actively contributing to the Mwandi village economy.

The hospital administration anticipates that they will receive an x-ray machine from the Zambian government in late December or early January. If so, the hope is to have the new Medical Imaging Suite operational by the end of January and to have the hospital achieve Level II status early in 2024. As stated in our last report, achieving Level II status will enable the Mwandi hospital to provide specialized medical services that are accessible to Western Province Zambia and surrounding areas. 

Thank you to our donors and partners for recognizing the healthcare needs in the Mwandi District. We encourage you to make a generous contribution to this project during GivingTuesday on November 28, 2023 when we will be eligible for a share of GlobalGiving's $1.2 million USD in bonus funds. The more you give, the larger the bonus that this important project will receive!

The cement block walls of the Medical Imaging Suite are under construction. The images attached to this report which were taken on July 13, 2023. The final structure will be a 230m² facility housing an x-ray room, an ultrasound/ECG room, and a CT or MRI scanning room. It is hoped that the facility will be finished by the end of October 2023. We anticipate that the x-ray machine will arrive soon after the construction is complete. The acquisition of the new x-ray equipment will be a critical step toward the Level I Mwandi hospital's application for Level II or Referral Hospital status in Zambia. At present, the hospital in Mwandi is the only one in its District and it serves a catchment area with over 40,000 people. The closest referral hospital to the Mwandi District is in Livingstone, Zambia and transportation to this hospital takes many hours of driving over pothole covered roads. Achieving Level II status will enable the Mwandi hospital to provide specialized and accessible medical services that are not available in the surrounding areas of Western Province Zambia. 

When the hospital achieves Level II status, the number of medical staff in Mwandi will increase and specialty services will be available, including dentistry, endoscopy, ophthalmology, and oncology. In addition, Mwandi hospital will become a medical training facility, thereby increasing the number of well-trained healthcare professionals in Zambia.

Thank you to our donors and partners for recognizing the healthcare needs in the Mwandi District of Western Province Zambia. In our next report, we hope that the x-ray portion of the Medical Imaging Suite is nearing completion.