In June of 2009, two American women with long-standing ties to Africa, visited a Maasai village at Olmoti in northern Tanzania. They were asked by the Maasai midwives to help them build a medical clinic to provide the women of their tribe with clean and safe childbirth.

That night at Kambi Ya Tembo lodge, the Americans, Diane Raleigh, a practicing clinical psychologist, and Gloria Upchurch, a professional photographer, pledged to work together to build the clinic. Both were aware of the terrible toll of mortality that complications due to childbirth take on Tanzanian women. Transportation to the nearest medical facility, 23 km. away, is unavailable and women must walk to get the care they need. Hemorrhage, infection and obstetric fistula often lead to death or crippling, life-long disability. Without a local clinic, post-natal care including prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child is unavailable.

Before leaving Tanzania, Diane and Gloria sat down with Willie Chambulo, Managing Director of Kibo Guides, to see what could be done. Willie, himself half-Maasai, has a deeply felt interest in helping his people. Having built several lodges in northern Tanzania, Willie said, simply, “Go home, raise the money and we will build it.”The support from Tanzania was incredible. The District Medical Officer, Dr. Jonathan Budenu, pledged the government to supply medical staff, and supplies. Sylvester John, Manager of Kambi Ya Tembo Lodge, offered to oversee the construction on-site and the tribal chiefs pledged the land needed. Diane and Gloria were content that the construction of the building and the long-term stability of the clinic were in very good hands.

Back in the San Francisco Bay area, Diane and Gloria set to work immediately. Through her previous charitable work in Africa, Gloria had established an organization, “A Global Connection” with ties to the Media Alliance, a 501c-3 foundation. Funds donated to the Olmoti Project could therefore be taken as a tax deduction by donors, an essential first step. In addition to fund-raising appeals, a difficult task at this time in America, Diane and Gloria made contacts with public health organizations, teaching hospitals and individual medical professionals throughout the Bay Area. Commitments from Cornell Medical School and UCSF for interns were obtained, and the enthusiastic participation of graduate students from UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health was received.

By February of 2010, the construction money was in hand. Friends and family were the principal donors to the amount enough to build and equip the clinic. The building was completed and staffed by July 1st of 2010. While the Olmoti Clinic is still in need of an adequate water supply and enhancements to the solar power system, it can function well in service to the needs of the 30,000 Maasai tribal inhabitants in the district.

In the future, Father Pius Shao, the founder of a new 150 – bed hospital under construction at Lerangwa, forty-minute drive away, has asked Olmoti Clinic to be affiliated. The clinic will then have a fully equipped and staffed hospital for its patients who require the services of a hospital and ambulance.

On June 3, 2010, Diane and Gloria, accompanied by several of the principal donors returned to Olmoti. They were met by hundreds of Maasai women, men and children in a celebration as joyous as any in recent memory. The celebration was introduced by Mr. James Ole Millya the Regional Commissioner. The founders’ comments to the crowd began, “When we met you a year ago, your women asked us to build a clinic. You gave us the land and your support. It is now your clinic and you have become our friends. We will never forget this day and we will never forget you”.

The Clinic is in need of $70,000 in additional funds for staff housing for the doctor, nurses, and visiting medical interns. Salaries for two Maasai community workers now employed. An anesthesia suite and other more sophisticated medical equipment. Research and projects focused on the specific diseases suffered by the Maasai. A newly established fund for the special needs of children who are blind, deaf, or otherwise impaired.

Click here for current news and updates concerning the Olmoti Women & Children’s Clinic.

For further information about the clinic contact us.

Contributions are most welcomed.

Your tax -deductible check should be made out to Media Alliance in memo section indicate A Global Connection, checks can be mailed to:
Gloria Upchurch
A Global Connection
512 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA. 94102 USA

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