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Current Situation
Geographic Location
Existing surgeryYakamba
The new project
The next steps
Yakamba
The Missionary Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus Christhave been working Yakamba, in the Democratic Republic of the Congosince 1976. Yakamba is situated 3 degrees north of the Equator, to the North-West of the Country, 300km from the boarder of the Central African Republic (10km from Budjala).These missionaries are dedicated to curing the sick, which is one of the most urgent needs in this area. In Yakamba, there is a dispensary, a small hospital and a maternity ward. One of the sisters occupies the role of matron and is assisted by 7 local nurses.They face various illnesses, from the simplest kind, to Leprosy,Tuberculosis, AIDS and Sleeping Sickness.
Current Situation
The place is lacking in any type of infrastructure or qualified personnel. Emergencies or the most simple of operations involve transferring the patient to the nearest hospital which is 80km away. The path is only useable in the dry season.In 1989 a capable nurse was sent to study to become a medical surgeon. Finally, after various suspensions due to the war, he achieved his goal and can now operate as a surgeon on behalf of his people.
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Geographic Location
Existing surgeryYakamba
surgeryYakamba -Congo
Patients waitingin front of the surgery Yakamba
surgeryYakamba -CongA new project started
In September 2002
the Roberto Bazzoni Onlus decided to accept the Congregation’s requestto finance the construction workof the new surgery in Yakamba. The Mission, 3 degrees North of the Equator, could be prehistoric. The people live in huts, there is no electricity, no drinking water, shops or pharmacies.Communications of every type are extremely difficult and uncertain: difficult via land,fortuitous by plane, rare by telephone. The surveillance of satellite communications (forbidden!!) is very strict.After four years of war, the situation at the end of 2002 was disastrous.In 2003, with the signing of the umpteenth ceasefire, it seems that peace in the East might be possible and a gradual, but slow improvement of the situation can be noted.
The new project
The start up
- It was soon clear that the clock ticks much more slowly here than it does in Europe.
It took almost a month for the first payment to reach its destination.
- The first payment was sent via internal river. When it arrived, the necessary materials were bought for the preparation of the building
- Work began in May 2003. This included preparation of the blocks, preparation of the ground: uprooting trees, leveling of the ground…and all of this was done by hand.
Preparatory works
 
May 2003
The laying of the first stone
Works at the end of July 2003At the end of October the walls were 3,50 meters high
The next steps
- The next step is to achieve is: to succeed in fitting out the operation theatre with the necessary equipment.
- Doctor Spagnolli, our friend from the Guidotti Hospital of Mutoko in Zimbabwe, has been helping us to compile a list of the necessities for a hospital like his own, in a poor rural zone. It is not possible to use electronic equipment due to the lack of servicing possibilities and spare parts.
- We are exploring various ways and we are certain that we can overcome these logistic and financial difficulties.
The new surgery Yakamba
The construction work was almost completed by the end of January
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