Where We Stand
The PEPFAR office in Mwanza, Tanzania is now closed.
4/28/25
Today, with the abrupt gutting of PEPFAR and USAID last February, sub-Saharan Africa faces a return to the dire health statistics not seen since the turn of the millenium 25 years ago. Since I first came to Africa in 2008, there have been improvements every year in the incidence and mortality of HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB. That is now changed.
According to The Lancet Medical Journal, the current (but ever-changing) 90-day funding freeze in PEPFAR funding alone (not including USAID) is projected to result in 60,000 extra deaths from AIDS. The study looked at data from 7 sub-Saharan countries. The effect on all of sub-Saharan Africa would be multitudes greater. Read full article…
The mission of the SCF is to improve health care outcomes in Tanzania. We improve medical infrastructure by bringing solar powered electricity to hospitals, clinics and schools that need it most in western Tanzania. With free and consistent electricity, medical technology can advance to 21st century health care.
Our plan for 2025 is to bring solar powered electricity to small, rural health care clinics known as outreach clinics. These outreach clinics care for a poor, rural population that cannot get to district hospitals. Patients come by foot or bicycle. There are no parking lots because these patients don’t own cars.
In February 2025 we visited four rural outreach clinics. All four clinics lack consistent, reliable electricity, one clinic had no electricity at all. The healthcare providers there treat Malaria, they provide obstetrical, gynecology and well-baby care. 10 to 20 % of the patient population is HIV/ AIDS positive. We plan to bring solar power to one clinic this summer or fall.
As global health responds to the current self-inflicted instability, the Sandy Christman Foundation may need to change our mission to more direct healthcare. With the help of our donors and supporters we will adapt and work to restore health care stability to places that need it most.
NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO DELIVER HEALTH CARE IN THE DARK.
What we do…
THANKING OUR CORPORATE SPONSORS 2024-2025
As a nonprofit organization we are dependent on and thankful for all our sponsors.
Our mission is made possible by the generosity of individuals, companies and corporations.
To the companies and their representatives listed below we say THANK YOU! Your support has a direct effect on improving health care outcomes and the quality of life for the people of Tanzania… now more than ever.
Thanks to:
1. THE DOWNEAST GROUP AT MORGAN STANLEY, PORTLAND, MAINE
2. MARBLE TRAIL FINANCIAL SERVICES, MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT
3.PARTNER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, EATONTOWN, NEW JERSEY
4. UBS FINANCIAL SERVICES, PORTLAND, MAINE
Solar relief for hospitals in power crisis – Sun Connect News
January 14, 2025
Solar relief for hospitals in power crisis – Sun Connect News
The call by stakeholders in the health sector for government to provide solar electric grids to power public hospitals cannot come too early. Health care institutions have not been spared of power-related problems afflicting virtually all other sectors; and the result has been catastrophic, given their life or death circumstances. Indeed, before the current moves to provide solar power, the healthcare crisis in Nigeria has reached a critical juncture, exacerbated by a dire power situation that has left hospitals struggling to provide essential services. Recent reports highlight the severe impact of the persistent power crisis on healthcare facilities, with many hospitals facing operational shutdowns due to exorbitant energy costs and unreliable electricity supply… Read More Here.
RULENGE HOSPITAL AND RULENGE SCHOOL PROJECTS COMPLETED!
November 22, 2024
SCF is very happy to announce the successful completion of 2 projects in Rulenge, Tanzania!!!
After more than 2 yrs. of planning, raising money, multiple delays Rulenge Hospital now has solar energy producing its electricity and Rulenge School has running water for its 500 boarding students.
Rulenge Hospital:
Commission Date :11/3/2024
Cost: $105,000.00
Energy produced/day 80- 100 kWh/day
Diesel and grid expenses saved: approx. $3,500.00/yr.
Contractors: Power Providers Inc. Arusha, Tz
Rulenge Middle School Solar Water Pump
Commission Date: 11/10/24
Cost: $20,000
Max. Pump Capacity: 50,000/L. day or approx. 13,000 gal./day
(Daylight dependent)
Solar Contractors: Power Providers Inc. Arusha, Tz.
We are very excited to see these projects functioning, very happy for the staff and patients of Rulenge Hospital and Rulenge School and forever thankful to all our supporters who made this possible!
A LETTER TO OUR FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
With summer winding down and Labor Day behind us, I wanted to give you an update on the progress and events that are happening with the Sandy Christman Foundation so far in 2024. You can read more on our blog.
RULENGE HOSPITAL PEDI CLINIC 8:00 AM
THANKING OUR CORPORATE SUPPORTERS
As a non profit we are dependent on and thankful for all our supporters.
Our mission is made possible by the generosity of both individual donors and the essential contributions from companies and corporations.
To the companies and their representatives listed below we say thank you. Your support has a direct positive effect on improving health care outcomes and quality of life for the people of western Tanzania.
Thanks to:
1. THE DOWNEAST GROUP AT MORGAN STANLEY, PORTLAND, MAINE
2. MARBLE TRAIL FINANCIAL SERVICES, MIDDLEBURY, VERMONT
3.PARTNER ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE, EATONTOWN, NEW JERSEY
Sr. Dionesia MD Chief Medical Officer at Rulenge Hospital describes the situation in Rulenge, Tz. Help us bring solar powered electricity to this hospital because No One Should Have To Practice Medicine In The Dark.
AN INTERVIEW DR. GRESMUS SSEBUYOYA MD
SCF 2023 MID YEAR REPORT
August 7, 2023
Here’s an update on events and activities of the foundation so far in 2023 which are made possible thanks to your support.
- NOHA BREAST CANCER RESEARCH: We remain excited about the possibilities for NOHA, a blood biomarker. It has the potential to diagnose and follow breast cancer patients with point of care testing at remote, underserved areas at minimal cost. That means avoiding the cost of mammograms and pathology testing (neither of which is available in Kagera). Breast Cancer in Tanzania (like many developing countries) has a mortality rate that is 6 times that of the U.S. Total SCF investment in NOHA research to date: $30,000.00.
- TANZANIAN SOLAR PROJECTS: We visited our three successful solar projects in Biharamulo. Additionally, we made a firm commitment to Rulenge Hospital to be our fourth solar project (expected cost = $105,00.00). Rulenge Hospital is on the Burundi – Tanzanian border. It is understaffed, resource limited and most notably has no consistent supply of electricity. (see more on our Facebook and Instagram pages ). Hopeful Rulenge completion: March, 2024.
- NEW LOGO AND TAGLINE: We are proud to display our new logo and tagline: NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE DARK.
- SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE: Thanks to the work of our new BOD member, Michela Adrian, the SCF has a growing social media presence, see links above. Awareness promotes our story, expands our network of support and hopefully increases funding for more projects.
None of our work would be possible without your help. As a friend and supporter, we depend on you. Please help us bring light to health care at Rulenge Hospital by contributing and / or responding generously to our year end fund raiser coming this fall. Because no one should have to practice medicine in the dark. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Larry Adrian
BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE DARK
April 12, 2023: Arusha, Tanzania
We went to Arusha, the headquarters of Power Providers, our go to solar energy contractors. The SCF has completed 3 solar energy projects in western Tanzania thanks in part to Power Providers and its director, Clive Jones. Our 4th solar project with Power Providers is planned for Rulenge Hospital in Kagera, Tanzania later in 2023. This hospital, near the Burundi border, currently has electricity about 50% of the time. The SCF wants to bring electrical power to medical providers BECAUSE NO ONE SHOULD PRACTICE MEDICINE IN THE DARK.
Help us bring solar powered electricity to Rulenge Hospital by donating to our cause!
Arusha, population 600,000 under the spectacular Mt Meru.
Making a Difference
The Sandy Christman Foundation (SCF) is an emerging philanthropy raising money through charitable contribution’s to support health-care and health care professionals with a particular interest in the Kagera region of northwestern Tanzania.
SCF was established in 2000 to raise awareness and promote the ideals of Sandy Christman, P.A.-C who died of breast cancer in 1999 at the age of 38. During her 12-year battle with cancer, Sandy made a difference in the lives of countless patients. She was and remains a true inspiration to the patients she treated and colleagues with whom she worked. Her perseverance, compassion, and pursuit of excellence embodied her remarkable passion for medicine and life.
Sandy Christman Foundation Projects
NOHA Breast Cancer Clinical Research Study
2022 – Ongoing
Biharamulo Hospital Solar Project Phase 1
2018 – 2019
Project Tanzania
2016
Project Tanzania
2015
Project Tanzania
2014
Project Tanzania
2009
Sandy Christman Lecture Series
2002 -2010
Sandy Christman Scholarship
2003 – 2009