Words from Tanzania

In this and other developing countries, electricity is not a right, and to have it in your facility or home means you are fortunate. That is, until the electricity damages your TV, computer or an expensive piece of medical equipment. The leaders of the ELCT Health Care (HCTS) Technical Services and Global Health Ministries (GHM) used their wits and came up with a joint plan to install appropriate power protection in all of the 20 ELCT hospitals before any new equipment is shipped or installed. History and experience have proven that expensive equipment does not stand a chance against very low, high or damaging voltages.

Loyal and generous supporters from the ELCA SEIA Synod immediately took action last year when hearing of this plan, and raised the funds for the protective equipment needed for Gonja Lutheran Hospital in the South Pare Mountains. The manager/director/technician of HCTS, Henry Sommerfeld and I (Todd) made a few trips to Gonja Hospital together to engineer a power protection solution. The equipment chosen (Sollatek SVS) is installed in line at the electrical distribution area and monitors and stabilizes the incoming voltage from the utility, and a lighting protection device snuffs out huge strikes.

Gonja Hospital is the first ELCT hospital to take part in the implementation of this program, and we are very pleased that the folks in Iowa supported it. Henry and I installed the protection equipment just before Easter. Gonja, with some very good and expensive equipment suffers many power dips, surges, brownouts and cuts weekly. We figure the strain (load) on the old lines, transformers and distribution equipment produce the poor power quality, and being 1350 meters up on a mountain, far away from the electrical source adds to this issue.

For now, we feel relatively secure in knowing the critical equipment such as two portable x-ray machines, an ultrasound machine, oxygen concentrators, suction machines, operating light, sterilizers, hematology and chemistry analyzers, CD4 counters and other equipment are protected. Thanks be to God for God’s people responding!