Sr Barbara Armstrong LCM

20/8/32-2/10/21

It is with sadness that we heard the news that Sr Barbara had died peacefully on the 2nd of October 2021 at Milford Care Centre,  Castletroy, Limerick, Ireland. Her funeral was on 4th October 2021, at Our Lady Help of Christian’s Church, Milford .

She had been Matron of Murambinda Mission Hospital from 1980 to 2013 and was instrumental in its growth and development. She was much loved and respected for her many qualities including her warmth, drive, high standards and unwavering commitment to the poor. She is greatly missed. We send our condolences to her family and to her fellow sisters of the Little Company of Mary.

If you wish to send condolences please do so via Griffins Funeral Services:

https://rip.ie/cb.php?dn=471524

Target achieved!

We have now reached our original target of £18,800 for solar power and COVID-19 PPE at Murambinda Hospital! Thank you to everyone who ran the Lyke Wake Walk in June and to everyone who supported and donated. This now allows us to access further funding from the Alastair and Margaret Miller Trust meaning we can now give the project the go ahead.

https://www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/lykewake4murambinda

Training going well!

Training continues for the Lyke Wake Walk challenge. Last week 4 of the runners (Denise, Sal, Nina and Carolyn) were out running in the bluebells underneath Roseberry Topping on the North Yorkshire Moors. We are getting closer to our target having passed the £8000 mark and any further donations would be very welcome with less than 4 weeks to go!

www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/lykewake4murambinda

Recce completed!

Training for running the Lyke Wake Walk continues. Yesterday Carolyn Rigby, one of the trustees, Richard and Alice ran 25km to explore the end of the route. In June a group of family and friends will be running 40 miles across the North Yorkshire Moors to raise money for solar power and COVID-19 PPE at Murambinda Mission Hospital. Any donations are gratefully received via the donation link below or via the website. We’ve now passed the £2000 mark!

www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/lykewake4murambinda

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Sponsored 40 mile Challenge

Hi! Carolyn Rigby, one of our trustees, and a group of family and friends are running the Lyke Wake Walk (40 miles!) across the North York Moors in June. This is to raise money for solar power and COVID-19 PPE at Murambinda Mission Hospital. This is a significant challenge for all involved, which will take at least 12 hours. Any donations are gratefully received via the donation link below.

www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/lykewake4murambinda

Online shopping

If you are shopping online if you go to your usual store via Give as You live you can get a percentage of the price donated to FMH by the store at no cost to you via https://www.giveasyoulive.com/ eg M&S and John Lewis are currently donating 1%, Argos 1.5% and Boots upto 2.5%.

If you shop at Amazon you can get Amazon to donate 0.5% of what you spend to FMH at no cost to you by using Amazonsmile and nominating Friends of Murambinda as your chosen charity. https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1073978-0

Or you may prefer to support your local independent shop!

New Projects

At our recent meeting we agreed new projects to improve the access to digital images of x-rays within the hospital to improve doctors working efficiency, reduce reliance on x-ray films and reduce running costs. We also continued to provide support and incentives to all staff. In addition we are to provide tools and materials to improve the cleanliness and upkeep of the hospital.

We also reviewed and evaluated projects completed in the last year thanks to your donations.

Cycling for Murambinda – the end of the Road!

John Miller is delighted to report that he reached John O’Groats yesterday morning after 874 miles of hard cycling. By last night your sponsorship had reached an unbelievable total of £19,592.16 and there is more money to be paid in this week, so in the end it will be over £20,000! We could not have believed this possible at the start and on behalf of Friends of Murambinda, staff and above all patients at the Hospital, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

COVID 19 EMERGENCY APPEAL

FMH has just received a new and urgent appeal from Murambinda Hospital for help in facing the challenge of the coronavirus pandemic.

They need the capacity to create an adequate isolation ward and infection prevention stations, plus bleach, hand sanitisers, gloves, masks, gowns and eye protection for staff. They require £88,100 for 6 months supply.

As part of our response FMH is organising a sponsored cycle – see below.

 

CYCLING FOR MURAMBINDA

In 2000 John Miller cycled the 874 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats to bring in the new Millennium.

As a long-time Murambinda supporter, in 2020 he’s doing it again, to raise money to help the Hospital face the dreaded coronavirus pandemic, as well as all the usual challenges.

Because of the UK lockdown the route has now changed in that John is doing it on a static bike in the front bedroom of his Glasgow flat. He says, ‘It’s the same distance, but harder because the static bike won’t freewheel!’

By 5th May he had completed 471 miles and raised £4,905 including GiftAid, due to the astonishing generosity of FMH supporters.

To sponsor John, please use the button here

Donate now

To donate by cash or cheque e-mail mary.miller15@btinternet.com for details of how to contribute.

Thank you so much! John aims to finish by late June – we’ll keep you posted on his progress.

RECENT VISIT TO MURAMBINDA HOSPITAL

Two trustees of Friends of Murambinda visited the Hospital in late February to 7th March 2020.

They found the Hospital staff in good heart despite the difficulties a downturn in the economy has brought to the country. The rural population is struggling with additional challenges in terms of an unprecedented drought and an epidemic of disease among the cattle on which many depend.

The trustees learned that the urgent priorities for external funding are:

  • Incentives to retain essential staff, and support in particular for the nurse aides and general hands who are trying to survive on next to nothing (Friends of Murambinda is trying to maintain supplying a grocery package to each staff member every quarter)
  • A new service vehicle to replace the hard-used one that has to serve all the transport of hospital goods and services, refuse collection and disposal and so on
  • An upgrade to the Hospital Nutrition Garden. The Garden improves food security and is almost the only section of the Hospital that both reduces costs, by supplying the vegetables needed to feed the patients, and brings in some income by selling the surplus.
  • Extending the availability of solar power, which FMH and other donors have been funding incrementally over the last few years, to cover all areas of the Hospital.

NEW CORONAVIRUS EMERGENCY

So far the rate of coronavirus infection in rural Africa remains low. But last week FMH received an urgent request from Murambinda Hospital for the purchase of supplies to help with infection control, and for PPE for staff. The loss of even one of the dedicated staff at Murambinda would be an irrecoverable tragedy.

FMH is therefore launching a new appeal to support a sponsored cycle and any other initiatives to contribute to the funds.

 

 

 

My experience as a medical student at MMH was far better than I could have imagined……

Having been involved in raising funds for MMH throughout 3rd year I was raring to get stuck into life in the hospital. Three of us spent 4 weeks at the hospital and we honestly couldn’t have asked for a better experience. From the moment we arrived at the hospital we felt instantly at home and all the doctors and nurses couldn’t have done enough for us………..

Read more about Louise, Roisin and Rochelle’s month at Murambinda Mission Hospital in the Student Elective page.

 

Cyclone Idai

 

Thankfully Buhera District was spared the worst effects of Cyclone Idai. However some houses were destroyed and people trapped. One child brought to the Hospital had died before arrival from cyclone induced injuries. A man was admitted unconscious due to injuries but made a good recovery with hospital care. Rains have caused serious crop damage. In neighbouring Chimanimani District hundreds are feared to have died.

Cyclone Victim,Murambinda Mission Hospital
Mwerihari River in flood

Half Iron Man Emma!

Emma C

Emma Connnolly is taking part in the Cotswolds Half Iron Man on 10th June to raise money for FMH.

  • 1.9km (1.2 miles) swim
  • 90km (56 miles) bike
  • 21km (13 miles) run

She writes

On 10th June I am taking on my biggest sporting challenge yet with the Cotswolds Half Iron Man.

Having never really been interested in cycling before time on the bike has been a big part of my training. Luckily this coincided with moving to Stalybridge and being within a stone’s throw of the Pennines and the Peak District. I have become an enthusiastic cyclist and have really enjoyed exploring the hilly countryside with the Saddleworth Clarion Cycling club and getting a taste of the joys of fell running with the Saddleworth Fell Running Club.

It hasn’t all been so idyllic however and I am hoping the gruelling hours on the turbo in winter, the gym in the mornings, pounding the pavements through snow, rain and shine (and more snow and more snow!) and endless lengths in the pool will pay off and help me to survive my first half iron man!

Thanks to everyone who has supported me in my training! 

Please support this amazing effort: Click here to donate via her MyDonate page

 

Trustees visit to Murambinda

Mary Miller and Mike Thompson arrived at Murambinda Mission Hospital on April 8th for a week of observing the hospital at work, meeting old friends and making new, evaluating projects funded and sharing in the celebrations of the hospital’s 50th anniversary.

 

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Sr Rumbandora Head of Maternity Dept with Mary Miller.

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Mike Thompson giving a donation of blood pressure monitors from FMH

 

Visit of Matron and Donor Secretary of Murambinda Mission Hospital to UK

Mudzi & Silindiwe off to Zim 8-4-17Silindiwe and Mudzi with Matthew Connolly 400 30-3-17Sister Silindiwe and Mr Mudzi flew out from Edinburgh on 8th April to return home to Murambinda after a very successful trip to renew friendships and strengthen the relationship between the hospital and the Friends of Murambinda Hospital

 

 

 

FMH meeting 400 2-4-17

 

 

 

 

 

They were shown around the Emergency Care Hospital in Newcastle by Matthew Anderson a medical student who has worked at Murambinda Hospital.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sr Silindiwe Shuma and Mr Cephas Mudzi attended the meeting of FMH trustees and supporters in Leeds on 2nd April 2017.  They were welcomed and made many valuable contributions and explanations to the meeting.  They were able to get an understanding of the difficulties experienced in getting donations and distributing scarce funds by the Friends of Murambinda Hospital.

 

 

 

Sister Silindiwe and Mr Mudzi are continuing to visit FMH supporters in Scotland and be involved in fundraising activities. If you would like to come and meet them please email f.m.h@live.co.uk.

Princess Rukasha in Murambinda

mmh-welcome-dance-16-11-16

Princess Rukasha is a medical student in Australia who went to Murambinda Mission Hospital in November 2016 for her student elective.  Her report gives details of the enthusiastic traditional welcome she received, good teaching and sharing of skills by the nurses.  She saw the wide range of serious illnesses facing the people of Zimbabwe and Manicaland in particular by visiting Buhera Hospital and some of the outlying clinics.

The Friends of Murambinda Hospital supports the provision of health care throughout the Buhera District not just in the hospital.  The information that Princess has been able to supply to the trustees is very helpful in making decisions on the spending of scarce funds.

 

 

 

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The entrance to outpatients                            Buhera District is a poor area of Zimbabwe

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The Mwerihari river flows strongly at times   The entrance to Buhera Hospital

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Buhera Hospital Out Patients                            Chiweshe rural clinic

Meeting of trustees 22/10/16

We decided to improve the future self sufficiency of the Hospital by funding improvements to the kitchen garden including irrigation and greenhouses at a cost of around £3,616

We will service blood testing equipment to help with the care of acutely ill patients at a cost of £4,118

We will continue to pay the salaries of some key members of staff in full and  supplement key hospital salaries. However we are having to cut the supplements from 75% of what we paid in 2015 to 50% due to shortages of funds and the decline in the £:$ exchange rate. This is at a cost of £24,838.00

We will fund some important and life saving medical equipment. We will also pay for some improvements to the comfort and privacy of in-patients.  Exact sum to be to be determined.

Great North Run fundraiser

Congratulations to Dr Kevin Jones who recently completed the Great North Run the largest Half Marathon in the UK. He ran the  13.1 miles to raise funds for Murambinda Mission Hospital via FMH. He raised over £500!  He is a Hospitaller of the Order of Lazarus of Scotland who have matched this sum with a donation. We are very grateful.

Are you are able to do something similar ?  If you need advice or publicity materials please email f.m.h@live.co.uk

 

fmh-kevin-jones-gt-north-run

Photos

Welcome donation from the Kuenssberg Charitable Foundation.

The trustees of Friends of Murambinda Hospital are delighted to record their appreciation of a donation of £1000 from the Kuenssberg Charitable Foundation to allow the work of supporting a struggling rural hospital in a poorly resourced area of Zimbabwe to continue.

Their covering letter to the donation states that “We are aware of the severe problems currently facing the (Murambinda Mission) Hospital with the withdrawal of the MSF funding and are purposely leaving our donation ‘undesignated’ so that the money can be allocated to top priority”

 

 

Meeting of Trustees on 21st November.

FMH trustees and supporters met on 21st November 2015 and agreed to provide vital funds to contribute to the salaries of hospital staff salaries including General Hands, Nurse Aides, Nurses, Nurse Tutors, Administrators, Midwives and Doctors. We recognise that each plays an important part directly or indirectly in patient care.

We will also contribute to the repair and servicing of the anaesthetic machine and laboratory blood testing equipment.

The Nurse Training School is currently helping Primary Care nurses working in outlying clinics to improve their care of pregnant women. This is vital to help reduce maternal and infant mortality. We plan to contribute to some maintenance and building work in the Training School.

We were also asked for around £20,000 to fund 6 months of medicines for patients with long term conditions such as asthma, hypertension, heart failure and psychosis. Sadly we are not going to be able to fund this in full, please help us with fundraising.

Click here to start donating via online shopping !

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TB

World TB Day 2015 Tuberculosis remains a major health problem.It is a nasty disease that can affect all ages and commonly leads to months of severe coughing, with night sweats, weight loss,.disability and death. The good news is that if found it can be treated, and if treated for months with multiple anti-tuberculous medicines it can be cured.It requires meticulous contact tracing and follow up of cases.

Murambinda has benefited greatly from the help and support of TBAlert a UK charity. It helped decentralise TB detection and treatment from Murambinda Mission Hospital to  rural clinics. Sadly TBALert is unable to continue to support work at Murambinda. THis will lead to extra strain on the hospital’s staff.

Please do what you can to donate to Murambinda continue the struggle against TB..

Challenges of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) exit

MSF EXIT.

On 19 June 2015

MSF held a farewell party at Murambinda to mark their exit from Murambinda and the District. MSF closed their offices in Murambinda and have since moved to Mutare. MMH and MSF signed an MOU which runs to end of year 2015 but has since reduced their contributions towards allowances and running costs including salaries for supplementary staff at MMH.

We are facing the following challenges from the MSF exit

  • Pharmacy, blood and fuel costs support has been reduced. These three are the main running costs which we can not do without. In addition some staff pay has also been reduced .The hospital has increased and stepped up user fees collection but due to economic challenges it is not able to collect enough to cover for all running costs.
  • Please be generous, could you do organise a fundraising event via our MyDonate fundraising page?

Murambinda School of Midwifery Success

New trophy donated by FMH

A new trophy for Midwifery students has been donated through the Friends of Murambinda Hospital.

Here it is being proudly displayed at the prize giving event at Murambinda Mission Hospital in June.

Murambinda school of midwifery continue to produce good results for state final exams , this year it acheived a 100 percent pass rate and had the second highest mark in the country and got a silver medal.

The story of Baby Trust

Sister Murendo and baby Trust

Baby Trust Mukondomi was admitted on the 16th of April (day old) was brought in as abandoned under the care of Social Welfare. On admission the baby had fever and was treated for neonatal sepsis. In the hospital the baby was feeding on formula. Hospital Dr Munemo, Nurses, Naurse Aide Maambirwi were responsible for the upkeep of the baby. In the process of looking for a fostering parent by Social Welfare, the mother of the baby was found 4 weeks down the line and claimed that she dumped the baby because of social constraints. After thorough assessments of her mental status by the Social Welfare the baby was given back to the mother on 15/05/15. Breast feeding was initiated as the mother HIV status was insignificant on 22 May the baby was discharged home with his mother and lactation had established.

Sister Murendo with Baby Trust