THREE-DAYS HECTIC SEMINAR OF CAB FOR TB DRUG TRIAL RESEARCH WORKS

After three days of hard work, and after a  short walk on the sandy shore of Bagamoyo beach, CAB members pose for a historical picture. The seminar was conducted on Friday, Saturday and Sunday under the coordinator Dr. Omar Juma front row in zebra stripped T-shirt.

THREE-DAYS WORKSHOP FOR TB RESEARCH WORKS

BAGAMOYO

“THE HOPE TO CONTROL TB”

THE COMMUNITY ADVISORY BOARD (CAB) ACTS AS A BRIDGE

TO COORDINATE RESEARCH PROCESS OF NEW TRIAL DRUGS

A marathon three-days of intensive workshop was conducted for almost fifty members of the Community Advisory Board (CAB) which will act as a bridge for the new trial drugs of Tuberculosis in Bagamoyo District. The entire exercise is being held under the umbrella of internationally recognized body, TB Alliance at the Bagamoyo branch of Ifakara Health Institute.

The three-days seminar has almost completed the 110 pages guidelines for the new TB drug research now in the pipeline in Bagamoyo District. The fifty members of CAB are drawn from towns, villages and hamlets in the vast study area of almost 1160 km2. 

Several such seminars were conducted to equip members with the knowledge of TB research exercise of the new drugs. The new drugs which has passed the required stages of trials will now undergo further trials and as expected will be more effective and of less duration than the previous drugs. The convention drugs took almost nine to  twelve months and in some cases the disease relapsed.

TB is curable but the facts revealed by World Health Organization that every twenty seconds a TB patient dies in this world and every year almost 1.8 million people die due to this dreadful disease is alarming. The TB Alliance along with other responsible authorities in the Government of  Tanzania are determined to control the disease and hence new trial drugs.

The workshops are being conducted by community engagement coordinator Dr. Omar Juma, CAB Chairman Sayed Abdul Hai and Secretary Mick Dhamir at the Bagamoyo branch of Ifakara Health Institute (IHI). The 110 pages Toolkit for the drug research became more effective after several chapters were translated from English to Kiswahili, the National Language of the country, under TB Alliance sponsorship.

In order to keep a better control of the administration of CAB, the vast study area has been divided into five zones whereby each zone will comprise of 5 to 6 villages. The zones will be led by a Zonal Chairman and an assistant and their basic responsibilities will be to simplify the administrative works of the CAB Secretariat.

Story and Pictures by Abdul Hai

Coordinator for CAB, Dr. Omar Juma explaining the step-by-step guidelines of the 110 pages toolkit of TB Drug Research at the Bagamoyo branch of Ifakara Health Institute.

Nearly fifty delegates of Community Advisory Board from various towns, villages and hamlets in the vast district of Bagamoyo attended the three-days workshop about research process of the new TB drugs to go into trial.

After three days of hard work, CAB members pose for a historical picture just outside the IHI Office, facing the Indian Ocean. Seated in the centre chair is CAB Chairman Sayed Abdul Hai, second right seated is Coordinator Dr. Omar Juma and standing left in blue shirt Secretary of CAB Mick Dhamir.

Members concentrating at the three-days workshop for CAB.

CENTURY OLD TREE COLLAPSES

The almost century old tree, close to Shia Ithnasheria Mosque (built 1889), collapsed after heavy rain recently.

Observe the roots of the tree known as Mtamba, which do not seem to have penetrated deeper as is common in other species of trees. Normally children play under the shade of the tree and sometimes boat builders are also seen under this tree. Fortunately no one was there when the tree collapsed in the early morning hours.

The Ithnasheria Mosque built in 1889 during the German reign of Tanganyika or at that time known by the Colonialists as Deutch Osta Afrika.

The Swedish financed road, running parallel to the Bagamoyo District Hospital, was blocked for almost two days. No body is reported to have been injured.

CENTURY OLD TREE COLLAPSES

Bagamoyo: The very huge tree estimated to have lived for nearly one hundred years collapsed within the vicinity of Shia Ithnasheria Mosque after a downfall of heavy rain.

The Muslim Mosque was built sometime in 1889, during the reign of Germany when the country was known as Tanganyika and to the Germans as Deuitch Osta Afrika. There are two more huge trees near the Mosque and still provides shade to the people, including boat builders.

No one was reported to have been injured although the road, Swedish financed, is usually very busy day and night. The end of the branches fell a few meters away from the gate of the mortuary of the Bagamoyo  District Hospital Mortuary. The road was blocked for almost two days.

The huge branches were chopped by electric saw and also manually by "pangas" and axes. In Kiswahili, the tree is known by the name of "Mtamba". The roots of the tree, as shown in the pictures, did not go deeper as was expected. However, the tree always stood upright despite heavy wind coming from the Indian Ocean, not far the spot.

On the opposite side of the Mosque, across the road, stands Ismailia Jamaat Khana, having a common boundary with the district hospital.

Story & Pix by Abdul Hai

Bagamoyo News

 

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON HERITAGE

Ian Jackson from Liverpool school of Architect far left, Joan algae from Gent University and Yaser Adanali from Turkey Presented their papers.

Joy Mboya from Kenya talking about her views on heritage buildings in Nairobi

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Aida Mulokozi delivering her key-note speech on behalf of DARCH at the International Symposium held at the British Council in Dar es Salaam.

"HISTORICAL HERITAGE BUILDINGS UNDER THREAT"!

“HISTORICAL HERITAGE BUILDINGS UNDER THREAT”

The one-day international symposium on historical buildings  held at the British Council in Dar es Salaam,  succeeded in hitting the point that the “urban heritage was heavily threatened”.

The symposium organized by DARCH (Dar es Salaam Centre for Architectural Heritage) and sponsored by European Union, Goethe Institute, British Council, Technische Universitat Berlin, Kulturstiftung des Bundes. The attendees was a mixture of mainly local and foreign architects, scholars and professors who numbered nearly seventy.

In a hand-out to the participants it was revealed that Dar es Salaam being among the ten fastest growing cities in the world, due to economic pressure competing particular interests and added by a weak regulatory environment, threatened heavily the heritage of the country. Numerous demolitions of historical buildings are being replaced by tall buildings of which some are of generic architectural design with alarmingly poor quality.

Historically, Dar es Salaam was founded by an Omani Sultan from close-by Zanzibar which at that time was a flourishing country. Under colonial rule the “Haven of Peace” in the then Tanganyika was ruled by colonial Germans as well as the British. Today the city, to some extent still reflects the old colonial structure with African, Islamic, Colonial, Indian and early modernistic architecture or influence..

After a welcome remark by Aida Mulokozi on behalf of DARCH and introduction by Rachel Lee of Habitat Unit, interesting in- depth papers were presented by examples of modernism and relevant issues pertaining in Ghana, India, Turkey, D.R. Congo, Kenya, Zanzibar. 

In one of the chapters, the Tanzanian Case was presented by  Muhammad Juma who referred to Urban Heritage in Zanzibar; African Architecture matters by Ng’ambo Tuitakayo; re-presentation of shared history by Annika Seifert, the mapping for community resilience in Dar es Salaam by Deogratias Evarist Minja and Simulizi Mijini which was an urban narratives of Dar es Salaam  by 13  students from Ardhi University and T.U.  Berlin.

Among the prominent people who attended the symposium and also participated in the round-table discussion included a publisher (Mkuki & Nyota) Walter Bgoya; Prof. Mascarehnas from the University of Dar es Salaam and others. The Director General of Tanzania Museum Dr. Mabulla and the author of  this story in the capacity as Chairman of Community Advisory Committee of the Museum & House of Culture (Abdul Hai) also attended the symposium.

STORY & PIX BY ABDUL HAI

BAGAMOYO NEWS

T.B. DAY OBSERVED AT KIWANGWA, BAGAMOYO

Kiwangwa: The World TB Day was observed at the  high-way road-side town of Kiwangwa, some 40 kms away from Bagamoyo. The town, a fast growing place inhabited mainly by peasants growing staple food and mainly pineapple appears to be expanding day by day due to the newly constructed highway joining Bagamoyo and Msata.

The Community Advisory Board of Ifakara Health Institute spearheaded by coordinator Dr. Omar Juma of IHI organized the one-day "sensitizing event" to educate the public about the curable TB disease.

An impromptu seminar for members of the public at the open-air TB Day at Kiwangwa. Dr. Omar Juma from Ifakara Health Institute talking about the TB Disease. Second from left is Ward Officer  of Kiwangwa Mr. Hemed S. Magaso.

Part of the entertainment....three kids dancing to the popular tune during the TB Day function at Kiwangwa. The best dancer received the cash prize of Shs. 2000/=

TB DAY AT KIWANGA, BAGAMOYO

TB DAY AT KIWANGWA, BAGAMOYO DISTRICT

The TB Day, observed world-wide, was held at Kiwangwa town about 40 kms from Bagamoyo with two main features; an on the spot general information about Tuberculosis (TB) and a crowd-pulling football match between two local teams.

The open air meeting heard the Chief Guest, Kiwangwa Ward Officer, Hemedi S. Magaso urging the people with symptoms of  TB to go for treatment and new drug trials at the Ifakara Health Institute Bagamoyo Branch. He emphasized that the full treatment and trial of the new drug was totally free and hence those suffering from the disease should make use of the project.

He called on the people to fully support the Ifakara Health Institute in their efforts to introduce a more effective new drug and hence put the disease to its final rest. The TB Day was organized by the Community Advisory Board (CAB) which represent the community as a liaison body with IHI.

The Counselor of Kiwangwa, Hon. Malota H. Kwagga attended the gathering but immediately left for other pressing duties.

A doctor from Ifakara Health Institute, Dr. Omar Juma told an attentive audience that the disease TB was curable and the medicine was available free of charge in hospitals in Tanzania. The stigma of isolating patients in camps was not in practice but immediate treatment and proper counseling was readily available.

He said that the CAB functioning under the Ifakara Health Institute, had two representatives in almost 12 villages in Bagamoyo District who are under training in initially detecting people suffering from TB. Dr. Omar Juma mentioned the following symptoms of TB, if detected should immediately go for further laboratory investigations and treatment.

·         Constant coughing for a long time, more than two weeks;* coughing with traces of blood in the sputum; * constant body weight reduction; *sweating profusely at night hours; * experience chest pain and difficulty in breathing.

·         TB disease can be transferred from one person to the other if prompt and proper precautions are not initiated. The disease is caused by the bacteria called Mycobacteria Tuberculosis and is further carried to other people through the bacteria called Mycobacteria bovis or africanas.

During the function, the main people representing the Community Advisory Board namely  Sayed Abdul Hai (Chairman); Mikidadi Ramadhani were introduced to members of the public. The two  CAB Members representing Kiwanga were also briefly introduced.

Cold drinks, biscuits and varieties of sweets were donated by the Past Governor of Lions Clubs International, Lion Abdul Majid Khan who at one time was campaign  Chairman of Measels/Rubella vaccination in Tanzania. 

Later in the afternoon, a crowd pulling football match saw the Coast Stars beat the host team Kiwangwa Rangers by a single goal which was scored in the second half of the game. It was a tense match throughout and result was totally unpredictable. The winning team was awarded a handsome he-goat and the loosing host team captain took a Rooster. 

Story & Pictures by Abdul Hai

Bagamoyo News

The TB Day function to sensitize members of the public about the curable disease held at Kiwangwa, Bagamoyo. Seated in the centre is Kiwangwa Ward Officer Hemed S. Magaso who was Chief Guest at the function.

A ten-minute skit enacted by Imelda George (centre), Robert Ngoroma (right) and John Gambula (left) who acted as a TB patient and insisted that he was bewitched by his enemies and needed to be cured by black-magic. The Artists are from Afri Culture group also known as "sisi majitu".

The loosing team captain receives a consolation award of a Rooster presented by IHI Doctor, Omar Juma.

The Coast Star football team which defeated 1-0 Kiwangwa Ranger receives a goat as the Winner Prize from Dr. Omar Juma of Ifakara Health Institute.

Part of the spectators at the TB Day at Kiwangwa.

BAGAMOYO FATAL ROAD ACCIDENT

A general view of the reception site of Bagamoyo District Hospital where more and more motor vehicles and members of the public started converging as the Dead and Injured people were brought to the hospital.

Many dozens of people gathered near the Hospital Theatre and X-Ray departments at Bagamoyo District Hospital to catch a glimpse of the injured people.

BAGAMOYO FATAL HIGH-WAY ACCIDENT

FATAL ACCIDENT BAGAMOYO

5 DEAD AND 8 INJURED (SOME SERIOUS)

A fatal road accident which involved a heavy duty vehicle and three other saloon cars caused five deaths and at least eight injured, some serious and admitted into Muhimbili Hospital in Dar es Salaam.

Those among the dead were high ranking officers in the Bagamoyo District Council and from TASAF in the Government of Tanzania. The serious highway accident at Kerege, close to Bagamoyo town, is reported to have involved a heavy duty lorry and some saloon cars carrying TASAF officers and high ranking officers from Bagamoyo District Council.

The accident happened close to noon hours in the scorching heat of the day. Those injured were rushed to Bagamoyo District Hospital and were given emergency attention. Some with serious injuries were rushed to Muhimbili Hospital in Dar es Salaam, some discharged. The driver of the heavy duty lorry is reported to have received ankle injuries and a top ranking officer in Bagamoyo District Council is said to have received multiple feet fractures. They were referred for further attention.

In accordance with the initial report, the following are reported to have died: 1. Hilda Msele (Planning & Commerce); 2. Makame Ally (Driver TASAF); 3. Khalid Hassan (Driver Bagamoyo District Council); 4. Tumsiime Duncan (Legal Officer); Ludovick Palangyo (Economist).

Immediately after the vehicles carrying the injured and the dead arrived at the Bagamoyo District Hospital, hundreds of people converged at the hospital. Inquisitive members of the public were seen crowding at the X-Ray and Theatre areas, sometimes making it more difficult for the doctors and the nurses to perform their emergency duties. Some workers, especially women from the District Council, could not control their emotions and wept openly. It was a tragic  afternoon for Bagamoyo residents.

The fatal road accident which claimed five human lives and more than half a dozen seriously injured officers from TASAF and Bagamoyo District Council.

The mangled-up motor vehicles which were involved in the road accident at Kerege, a few kms from Bagamoyo.

 

 

 

 

Story & Some Pictures by Abdul Hai

Other Pictures: Issa Michuzi Blog