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.
SCF UPDATE: REPORT FROM TANZANIA 2023
April 2, 2023
We spent the month of February crisscrossing Tanzania from Dar es Salaam in the east, to the Burundi border in the west and then back to Dar es Salaam. Our purpose was to visit completed, up and running SCF projects and to research new ones. Consistent with our vision and mission, we work to improve health delivery and outcomes in this beautiful, developing but resource challenged country. Outlined here are current and future SCF projects listed by cities, towns and villages we visited across Tanzania.
More posts to follow here and on Instagram and Facebook.
Moshi, Tz: Breast Cancer Research at The Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (KCMC)
Breast Cancer mortality rates in Tz. and sub-Saharan Africa are some of the highest in the world. The culprit is late presentation and diagnosis of patients at rural health care facilities The SCF is a chief sponsor of research on a biomarker called NOHA. This is unique project is taking place in and designed to benefit women in low and middle income countries ( LMIC) who would otherwise not have access to surgery, biopsy, or pathologists not to mention chemo or XRay therapy ( XRT). Using simple point of care testing and technology NOAH may be able diagnose and differentiate breast cancer cell types with the patient never having to leave their village or home. This may lead to earlier diagnosis, better monitoring of disease and better outcomes.Total support to this date: $30,000.00 (USD). For more on NOHA see previous posts and the attached article.
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