African beads in Dutch snow
January 5th, 2010 by
Carolien
Just before Christmas we organized a fair in Zoeterwoude, where we sold self made necklaces from African beads. All the money was contributed to the Foundation and will be well used for future projects in the hospital. It was a funny site to have a piece of Africa in the Dutch snow. Lots of people were interested to hear about Panguma and to buy jewelery of colourful African beads for this charity. We thank everybody for their interest and contribution. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year full of new ideas, creativity and sharing!
More Solar for Panguma!!
January 5th, 2010 by
Carolien
After months of preparation and a lot of help from the Dutch Navy a total system for solar energy arrived in the ports of Freetown in October 2009. A team from Bain Consultancy, who provided the money and expertise for this project, traveled to Panguma together with experienced PUM associate Niek van Dam in the beginning of November. The journey was not all that easy since they arrived in the middle of the rainy season! The team stayed in Panguma for 2 weeks and worked very hard together with the local people to install the solar panels on the roof of the childrensward. In this way the hospital can be provided with light in the night and continoues electricity for live saving equipment. They were very succesful and both the team and the hospital staff substracted a lot of positive energy out of the project. We want to thank Bain Consultancy, Cordaid (Hans Scheen), the Dutch Navy, Niek van Dam, Jorre Bonjer, Tessa Houben and all the local people who contributed to this succes and hopefully we will be able to work again together in the future!
Photo exhibition
July 17th, 2009 by
Carolien
In April 2009 a photo exhibition on Sierra Leone was opened in the Bronovo Hospital in the Hague.
Sixteen pictures showing a different part of the world and a different view on Sierra Leone.
During the civil war in Sierra Leone we were confronted with a lot of terrible pictures of war, they are still in the back of our heads.
Since there is peace now, Sierra Leone is not a big news item anymore and we tend to forget about this small West-African country.
What we do not see is the strength and beauty of the Sierra Leonean people building on a better future for their country.
Filed under News, Projects | Comment (0)Diabetes Project
July 17th, 2009 by
Carolien
Seventeen year old boy happy with life saving insulin!
Because diabetes does not seem to be the major problem in developing countries it is a highly neglected disease in these parts of the world.
Diabetes can be very severe and without treatment, especially in young people, it can be deathly.
Previously, because of lack of the right treatment we were not able to help these patients in our hospital. This was very frustrating for the doctors, staff, patients and their family. Because we all know there is a good treatment with which we can help these patients.
Filed under Projects | Comment (0)Solar support project
June 4th, 2009 by
Carolien
Team proudly showing new solar panels on the roof of the laboratory
Before the war Panguma Hospital was supplied with power from a hydro electricity station nearby, unluckily this was all destroyed during the war and there are no plans or means for recovery in the near future.
There is no electricity grid in this region of the country, and the hospital relies on power supply from a diesel generator that is available only a few hours per day. With the rising prizes of diesel the and the maintenance of the generator the power supply can be really unreliable.
Filed under Projects | Comments (2)