Medical Testing Unit

Target: £20000

Why is this so important? Most people treated in the Chidamoyo Christian Hospital are suffering from AIDS related diseases. In order to diagnose HIV and tuberculosis it is essential that patients be tested. In order to ascertain whether a young woman, particularly an HIV positive patient, is pregnant it is essentially that a pregnancy test be carried out. Then measures can be taken to try to protect the unborn infant. Diagnosis is the first step in treatment. Diagnosis saves lives!

As the facilities available at government hospitals continue to deteriorate, it is even more important that testing can be done at Chidamoyo. At the moment testing is carried out but the facilities are very outdated and over-crowded. Blood samples are taken in the actual laboratory at present. The machines used need technicians with experience and training. Unfortunately because of AIDS related deaths and other factors, it is almost impossible to find and keep such people. Better, more modern equipment would mean that it would be much easier to carry out the tests.

The laboratory is also used to store vaccines which those of us living in the first world take for granted, but which are only available to people living in this rural area of Zimbabwe through work done by the Chidamoyo Christian Hospital. Vaccinations save lives!

The unit has now been completed and is in use.

A great deal of thanks must go to Reading Roadrunners whose fund raising activities provided a large chunk of the money for this project!