BELGIAN FUNDS TO BOOST ZAIRE MEDICAL WORK

Fresno, Calif.

After high level talks in late March in Brussels between leaders of a Belgian church charity and Dr. Pakisa Tshimika, MBM/S regional secretary for Africa, a major infusion of funds has begun for Zairian MB medical services, crippled in 1995 by Canadian government cutbacks.

A twelve-month grant of $308,000 by MEMISA, a state church agency involved in community development programs in developing countries, will bankroll the operations of the Kajiji Hospital and health centres in the Kajiji and Panzi areas. The package includes:

* basic medicine, medical/surgical supplies, and lab equipment and supplies

* four motorcycles and fuel for vehicles

* funds for continuing education and building repair.

During his visit to Brussels, March 24-26, Tshimika also submitted to MEMISA and the Belgian government a five-year health care delivery plan for Zaire's Bandundu Province, where the deadly Ebola virus epidemic occurred last year. MEMISA indicated in a written memo that it was committed to invest more in Zaire, beyond the immediate one-year budget.

Under the terms of the proposed partnership, Tshimika would assist MEMISA in defining specific project objectives, coordinating training in primary care and management of a Health Zone, and monitoring and evaluating the project. His extra work would be compensated by additional MEMISA funds for establishing a regional office, transportation related to monitoring and health activities outside the Kajiji and Panzi areas. The Zairian MB Health and Development Department will facilitate the MEMISA owned projects.

If accepted, the five-year proposal could bring in several million dollars of government funding through MEMISA for Zaire health services. The consequent workload could entail some realignment of Tshimika's responsibilities as director of health and development for the Zaire MB conference.

Gary Hardaway, MBM/S Communications and Public Relations

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