Mbooga Clinic

The clinic in this very remote village was built in 1999 with help from funds and labour from Cranbrook School. The clinic looked like new after refurbishment in 2011 and the staff and villagers were very grateful.
The 2017 rainwater harvesting scheme has made a big difference to their situation.


Mbooga Clinic 2017 Update

After the failures in 2016 to find water by drilling, our advisors recommended a large rainwater harvesting scheme and work began in summer 2017. When I visited in September the walls of the 50,000 litre tank had been built and were ready for the domed roof .

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This has now been completed and the tank passed its 'leak test'. The guttering and connection from the large roof of the adjacent primary school were completed and the tank became operational just in time for the autumn rains.

The clinic is also benefiting from a government award for 'good performance'.
We saw work in progress tiling the floor and walls of some rooms, making them much easier to keep clean and hygienic.

Nick Vinall
FUM Treasurer

Mbooga Clinic 2016 Update

When we visited in November Dr Raphael was still in charge and he warmly welcomed us. The dispensary and clinic look in good order, though the villagers need to deal with the bats in the roof before they damage the ceilings too badly. The Doctor’s house is still lacking windows and permanent doors; FUM will ask the District to finish this work as soon as possible. The solar power system needs a new battery and some maintenance to restore power to the clinic.

Sadly after three test drills to find a suitable place to sink a borehole no water was found so extending the rain water harvesting facilities for the clinic is under consideration. More gutters plus more and larger water holding tanks will be needed, and we are taking advice on the feasibility of putting an underground tank in place. But as the local geography is solid rock this may not be possible. The current Sim tanks appeared rather undermined and we were told this was the result of floods earlier in the year. Trying to put a positive slant on this it shows some good rains do occur so every effort must be made to harvest as much of this water as possible

Richard Pratt and Jo Taylor
FUM chairman and Medical Liaison Officer

Mbooga Clinic 2015 Update

Now VERY remote and not an easy journey ! There is no local transport.

The staff house still looks good. One very good medical officer and one nurse, plus village helpers. There are toilets for the clinic plus one for the staff. One small solar panel gives some light but not enough power.

It needs a permanent water supply to replace the rainwater harvesting (but SIM tanks in place) and there is no placenta pit. The new building is.....still being built.

Mbooga Clinic 2013 Update

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The clinic has one Medical Officer, Dr Raphael, plus village helpers. They see about 200 Outpatients per month, and Cranbrook School gave a bicycle to Dr Raphael to help him with this service. At the clinic they see up to 30 mums per day and they have about 8 – 10 deliveries each month. The low number here is due to the poor state of the roads so many mums still have home deliveries, usually relying on family help.

There is an active Vaccination Programme helping about 25 children each month. The clinic has a gas powered fridge, and the gifts of mattresses and nets from the FUM are in evidence. The doctor’s house is now finished and makes a big difference.

A good supply of clean water was a problem but the situation is much better now following the recent installation of a rainwater harvesting system.

Jo Taylor
FUM Medical Liaison Officer