Two doctors from the University Children’s Hospital of Cracow, neonatologist Jonasz Lenart and paediatric endocrinologist and diabetologist Daniel Andrysiak, have teamed up in order to help the youngest patients in the most impoverished countries. They have launched an initiative aimed at supporting the Sacred Heart Mission Hospital in Katondwe (Zambia).

Both doctors admit that for many years they have been dreaming of travelling to poor countries to provide help – and now these dreams will become reality. In spring this year, they are leaving for a three month long stay at the Sacred Heart Mission Hospital in Katondwe in Zambia run by the Congregation of Little Servant Sisters of the Immaculate Conception. The hospital features 100 beds divided into several departments from different specialisations, such as paediatrics, internal diseases, gynaecology and obstetrics, and palliative care. It treats patients from Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe, with most of the patients being children.

‘We’re aware that our help will be a drop in the ocean of needs. Aside from our daily medical work, we’d really like to support the hospital by providing it with the necessary medical equipment which will serve it in the coming years. We know there is a need for CPAP machines for the youngest patients, in particular for premature babies, as well as a COBAS device for quick analyses of laboratory parameters (bloodwork, including acid-base homeostasis, ionogram, and glucose levels). In most paediatric hospitals in Poland, including the University Children’s Hospital, these are considered basic equipment, but in Zambia, people dream about them’, reads the statement written by the two doctors on the monetisation platform pomagam.pl, where they set up an account to collect donations in order to fund medical equipment for the Mission Hospital.

The hospital currently possesses an outdated mobile X ray machine which cannot be used in accordance with the proper radiological safety procedures, meaning that the health of both patients and doctors is at a serious risk. However, thanks to generous donations, the construction of an X ray department is already underway. Nevertheless, the planned acquisition of a new X ray machine will prove a challenge due to its high cost.

Jonasz Lenart and Daniel Andrysiak plan to devote all the money they collect to provide financial support for the hospital in Zambia. Any costs related to their travel expenses, vaccination and accommodation will be entirely paid with their own money.