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Volunteer Programs

Universal Initiative’s Volunteer Programs are dedicated to Health Care, Education, Construction Development and Maintenance in Tanzania.

HEALTH CARE

Universal Initiative’s Volunteer Program serves the Tabora Archdiocese Health Facilities, including Ndala Field Hospital in Ndala, the new Universal Initiative Malaria Research Center and Laboratory in Tabora, Health Clinics in Ipuli, Kaliua and Igunga, Dispensaries in Igunga, Nzega, Ikogo and Sikonge.

Ndala Field Hospital, situated approximately 70 km from Universal Initiative’s Headquarters, serves thousands of impoverished rural families. These families consist of many children and adults lacking primary health care. Pregnant, near-term women arrive by bicycle or any rudimentary means of transportation available.

Many cases of Malaria are treated, sometimes too late, as children die prior to getting sufficient treatment. Malaria, a mosquito born, infectious disease, is present in tropical and subtropical regions, including Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Yearly as many as 500 million cases of malaria are reported worldwide, resulting in as many as three million deaths; most are young children in Sub-Saharan Africa. These deaths are associated with low economic opportunities, lack of medical facilities and poor education.

Universal Initiative currently distributes small quantities of Malaria Detection Field Kits to schools in areas where high incidents of malaria are suspected. These kits, if purchased in large quantities through donations, could save many lives.

Complicated operations are performed by local surgeons with basic skills and substandard equipment, assisted periodically by Universal Initiative Volunteer surgeons.

Volunteer surgeons and doctors of all disciplines are needed as well as dentists, ophthalmologists and optometrists.

No medical facility could function without trained nurses of all categories and disciplines. Midwives, laboratory technicians, maintenance and hospital administrative personnel are indispensable to basic health care and badly needed in all Tabora Archdiocese health care facilities.

The newly established Universal Initiative Malaria Research Centre and Laboratory in Tabora, Tanzania needs laboratory technicians, doctors and administrative personnel. This facility serves pharmaceutical companies seeking data on malaria incidents and treatment as well as the local population for malaria testing, using modern technology and properly trained technicians. Some testing facilities exist in Tanzania but lack modern, scientific methods to insure conclusive, clinical results.

An HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Testing Facility and Laboratory will be added in the near future. Experts in these fields are also badly needed for training and support. In conjunction with Ndala Field Hospital and Universal Initiative Malaria Research Centre and Laboratory, Information Technology Specialists as well as Laboratory Equipment Maintenance Personnel are needed, as the Tanzanian educational system lacks formation of individuals with these skills.

Education

Universal Initiative Foundation supports:

These existing educational and care facilities as well as the planned Tabora University College need Volunteer Educators to continue and expand the work of these institutions.

Tanzanian Teachers’ potential is underdeveloped, in the public as well as the private sector, they are underpaid and live in basic housing.

A University College Teacher Formation Program for approximately 800 students was initiated in 2010 with a campus and dormoitory facilities already in need of expansion. Qualified Teachers and Educators are needed to implement this program prior to the construction of the new Tabora University College, as well as donations to support these initiatives.

The Kigoma Orphanage, located on the north eastern tip of Lake Tanganyika, Tanzania, accommodates children of all ages, orphaned in many cases through the death of one or both parents due to AIDS. A new program, initiated by the Bishop of Kigoma and the Archbishop of Tabora, emphazises family and home environment, incorporating one or more foster parent. New, individual housing is being constructed by the Diocese of Kigoma to accommodate this new program. Assistants to foster parents as well as construction and maintenance personnel are needed on an immediate and ongoing basis.

Orphans are schooled in substandard facilities until sufficient donations are allotted to each child as needed for placement in higher standard, Diocesan institutions.

Scholarship Funds help place young adults in private, university level institutions.