The MEA Foundation in the Diocese of Dar-es-Salaam

Yesterday I had the opportunity to hear the Rt Revd Valentino Mokiwa, bishop of the Diocese of Dar-es-Salaam of the Anglican Church of Tanzania, speak to the San Diego chapter of the American Anglican Council at their monthly board meeting. Bishop Mokiwa was visiting Holy Trinity Parish, an Anglican parish in the Diocese of Argentina (in the Anglican Province of the Southern Cone), and will be in Charleston for the January 26 consecration of Mark Lawrence as bishop of South Carolina.

In his talk, Bishop Valentino mentioned the MEA Foundation which sponsors the Buguruni Anglican Health Centre. The centre's mission is to deliver clinical health care services and public health programs to women and children.

According to the MEA Foundation website, the Diocese of Dar es Salaam is

developing a comprehensive women and children health program serving the impoverished Buguruni District (population 250,000) of Tanzania’s capital city. The health center and public health programs will be carefully linked with the government district hospital, the other two general clinics serving the area, and the medical school hospital in order to create an integrated health system for the mothers and children of the area.

Currently on a 3-year mission in Dar-es-Salaam to help with this effort are Drs. Henry and Priscilla Ziegler, a physician and nurse team with community health training and experience. They have had experience in several other African countries: Ethiopia, Nigeria and Uganda, and are sponsored by the Episcopal Church. You can read some of their letters here but this most recent note from August, 2007, says:

. . . We are now actively helping 94 children by supplying a small amount of emergency food aid, full health care coverage, and support for education or job training. The children stay in the community with extended family caregivers or adoptive families. Since beginning in January of 2006 with a $15,000 grant from the Incarnation Episcopal Church in North Carolina, we have helped 107 children. Unfortunately, we can no longer accept new children into the program because the funds are fast disappearing and we must fund the educational needs of children already in the program. We are seeking grants to continue the program but could certainly use your help.

We just graduated another class of community health workers. They include community residents from the Buguruni area, a community resident from the Rufiji Delta, a nurse from Mafia Island, and a doctor who will be our rural health educator. Their community outreach, mosquito net distribution, and health education through the Nets for Life program are one of the most valuable things that we do in helping decrease death and suffering in our communities. . .

Read it all and consider donating as well. Donations should be sent to:
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church
4228 Factoria Blvd. SE
Bellevue, WA 98006
Attention: Ziegler Mission