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St. Francis Referral Hospital
Founded in 1927 as a dispensary, St. Francis Hospital belongs to the Roman Catholic Diocese of
Mahenge. It is a “Referral Hospital”, which means that all hospitals in the surrounding districts,
which are not equipped with the necessary personnel and gadgets and can therefore not treat certain
patients properly, transfer them to Ifakara.
The main medical challenges faced by the hospital include:
HIV/AIDS: In Tanzania, 7% of the population have been infected with HIV. Compared to other
countries in southern Africa, where the percentage amounts to 40%, the above percentage is
considered relatively low. Nevertheless, HIV/AIDS is the most frequent cause of death, also in St.
Francis Hospital. The hospital is equipped with a Chronic-Disease-Clinic. This is a unit for
chronically ill people, which has been offering HIV therapy for more than 2 years, according to the
Tanzanian national guidelines.
Tuberculosis: Tuberculosis is gaining ground, especially in the sequence of AIDS.
Malaria: Kilombero District ranks among the regions with the highest Malaria infection rate
worldwide. In close vicinity to the River Kilombero, the number of infected mosquito bites is
supposed to be 2000 per person and year.
Accidents: The main causes of accidents are completely different from those in Europe. Falls from
the coconut tree during the coconut harvest period are the most common cause of paraplegia. Burns,
on the other hand, are the most frequent and serious kinds of household accidents: children
sometimes fall into the open fire places or their clothes catch fire. This leads to heavy burns with
terrible consequences. Finally, bites from crocodiles, monkeys, hippos and snakes, but also lions
(from the near Selous Game Reserve) are great medical challenges.
Heart and Circulation Diseases: In the first place stroke and high blood pressure, but also heart
attacks.
Diabetes: The number of Diabetes patients is on the increase. Sustaining the conservation of insulin
agents in a country where electricity is scarce poses a great challenge.
Maternal Health: Owing to nearly complete lack of antenatal care, kidney failure and eclampsia
can be seen quite frequently. This results in comparatively high mother- and infant mortality rates.
Leprosy: In the past ten years the number of leprosy patients has remarkably decreased. New cases
nonetheless occur. Today, leprosy patients can get outpatient treatment, at least theoretically. In the
Leprosy Hospital there are still many old patients with burnt-out leprosy, i.e. the disease has led to
loss of limbs.
Anaemia, diarrhoea, meningitis
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