Mobile Sonographer in Himo (2): the operating base

As we mentioned, we want to offer mobile ultrasound in the outer areas of Moshi, where pregnant women can't get ultrasounds yet. We do this together with the Himo Health Center. What does this base look like?

The Himo Health Center has been around for more than 5 years and receives an average of 50 patients every day. Extensive pregnancy checks have also been offered here for more than two years, including a free 20-week ultrasound. Every year, about 200 women give birth in this center.

The driving force behind the ultrasound at the center is Dr. Maeda. Since last year he has been assisted by obstetrician Jackline Shirma, who was trained with your support by the Mount Meru Foundation.

In 2021, no fewer than 2000 obstetric ultrasounds have been performed so far. This revealed 16 twin pregnancies, 7 anterior placentas and 7 fetuses that had already died in the womb. Ultrasound enabled the choice of the right care path and life-saving decisions to be made in a timely manner. This gave these women the greatest possible chance of a good outcome from their pregnancy.

If there are complications during pregnancy or childbirth, the women are referred from the Himo Health Center to Kilema District Hospital, 10 kilometers away. The most common reasons for referral are premature rupture of membranes, abnormal fetal position, obstruction of delivery, fetal death, and maternal high-risk factors.

At present, Himo Health Center already offers mother-and-child care in the remote areas. A nurse is responsible for the outreach program that includes the vaccination program, family planning and health education. Hopefully, with your support, we will be able to offer full-fledged ultrasound pregnancy checks to all pregnant women in the Himo area next year. In a next post we will be happy to tell you more about the remote areas and the local population.