Dear All,

It is now just over a year since the first sod was cut at the end of May 2003 to begin the excavations for the foundations of Phase 1, and the completion of the finishing touches is now well in sight.  It was no mean task, given the slope of the site, to form the foundation walls and fill and compact the resulting voids ready for laying the concrete sub floor.  Final preparations were completed to make sure that  everything lined up correctly.  The door frames were installed and cast into the floor for added strength, which allowed the walls to be securely built around them.

The first course of the internal walls was then laid so as to split up the concrete floor slab to allow for natural shrinkage  during curing and to predetermine expansion / contraction joints in an otherwise large area.  The momentum of work has never ceased in building the walls up to roof height.  A reinforced concrete earth-tremor ring beam to prevent inward collapse in the unfortunate event of a major earthquake has topped these - Tremors of around 5.9 on the Richter scale are not unknown in the Dodoma Region.  Roofing works have been completed.  Work to the intersecting roof, which involved removing the old sheeting, altering the roof structure and getting it all watertight again had to be completed in just one 16-hour day, as it was the rainy season at the time.  

The building has been plastered throughout, floor screeds laid, plumbing works have been completed, the guttering is up so as to ensure that next year's rains are harvested in time for making the blocks for Phase 2, all the doors have been hung, dado rails fitted in the ward, delivery suite and corridors to protect the walls from bed and trolley movements and decorations, including tiling in the sluice and ward bathroom, have been completed, and electricity is connected.

The only remaining task is to install inspection covers for the external drains, and those are busy curing, and will be fitted in a couple of weeks time.

We continue to give praise that this has been made possible and give thanks to an increasing number of donor organisations for their generosity.

Eight months on: Phase I takes Shape

"Topping Out" Service

Phase 1 "Floor Plan"

          Drainage                         Block Cutting

The ground drainage was laid ahead of the rains - a vital piece of work to avoid substantial environmental erosion, as the old drainage run had to be taken up when the new extension foundations were dug.  

       Ring Beam                          Gable Wall

The children of the local Ving'hawe Primary School brought water twice a week to keep the water levels in the Tanks provided by St. Bede's School, Redhill topped up.

Keeping the blocks damp is a vital part of the curing process!

Phase 2 Construction Works further extended  the facilities adding a theatre to cater for all mothers, and not just those who are not expected to have complications in childbirth.

The delivery suite opened on 8th July 2005 by the District Commissioner of Mpwapwa, Col (Rtd.) Enos Mfuru will allow those with known safe deliveries to give birth in a clean safe environment – adding a theatre as planned under Phase 2 will ensure that all complications and emergencies could be given equal opportunity.

Phase 3 has added an additional ward, independent of the main building to allow those recovering from Caesareans not to take up bed space for those able to give birth normally.

Phase 4 due to open during 2007 will add an Anaesthetic & Recovery Room Suite.

Putting a building up is like conducting an orchestra; all the sections need to be brought together in harmony so that the music flows. The team has worked hard to produce a very pleasing result that will provide a valuable service for many years to come.  Now the time has come for final rehearsals to prepare everything for that first delivery!

We give thanks to God for everyone who has made this possible.

Preparing The Concrete Blocks

Yours sincerely,