When an international team of doctors set off for Ifunda in southwestern Tanzania in February 2017, the news had already spread throughout the surrounding area – not via social media, but from the pulpit of the village church. At the Sunday service, the pastor had announced the doctors' arrival. For many families, it is their only chance for medical help.
When Prof. Dr. med. Martin Lacher, together with Dr. Gabriel Tewes and a six-person team, arrived on February 4th, numerous parents and their children were already waiting outside the small hospital. Some of them had traveled up to 800 kilometers – in the hope that their children could be helped.
The clinic in Ifunda has two operating theaters, 18 beds, and dedicated nurses and midwives. However, there is a lack of sufficiently specialized doctors. The need is all the greater when the team begins its work.
The days start early and end late. Within two weeks, the doctors examine a total of 363 children, 64 of whom undergo surgery. Every procedure means a new chance – often under simple conditions, but with the highest medical care.
In addition to the intensive work, it is above all the encounters that characterize this mission. Again and again, the families want to thank them for the help – with what they have. Four chickens, a fish, and numerous eggs are handed over to the team. What at first glance seems simple is in reality a precious gift: a chicken means food, income, and a piece of security for a family.
For Prof. Lacher and his colleagues, these gestures are an expression of deep gratitude – and a vivid reminder of how much their work can achieve on site.
