The Eleanor Foundation and Cannon Asset Management Limited are marking the first anniversary of their official partnership, recognising the vital work the charity has completed this year in Tanzania.
The Eleanor Foundation has been working in the Chato and Biharamulo districts of the country since 2014 and particularly with the Muganza Health Centre which serves a population of close to 60,000 individuals. Twelve months ago, it became apparent that the Centre was facing considerable disruption to the supply of electricity from the national grid.
This is an issue throughout sub-Saharan Africa where an estimated 75% of health clinics lack access to reliable electricity leaving pregnant women vulnerable. Following consultation with the Chato District Council, it was decided the Eleanor Foundation would install a solar back-up facility to provide light and power to the maternity ward and operating theatre during power outages. Installation work was completed at the end of 2021.
This work has already had a massive impact, with local government figures for the first 7 months of 2022 showing around 65% of caesarean sections and 80% of natural deliveries take place using the solar power back-up facility.
Allister Carey, Director of the Eleanor Foundation (pictured with with Dr Peter Clement), commented: “We’re very grateful for the financial support from our friends at Cannon Asset Management. We’re also grateful to the Chato District Council for their logistical support. Lack of reliable power at health centres like Muganza leads to many thousands of deaths due to complications during childbirth each year. We may not have changed the world but, for the population of Muganza, life is undoubtedly better.”
Chris van Vliet, Director at Cannon, said: “We are extremely proud to support the fantastic work of the Eleanor Foundation. Over the past year, it has been incredible to see the hugely positive and very real impact this project has provided for the lives of new-borns and their mothers. We would also like to say a big thank you to our team at Cannon who have taken the initiative to heart and raised funds throughout the year.”
The Foundation is seeking, subject to funding, to extend the solar facility to provide backup power to the out-patients department and the laboratory building where effective refrigeration is required to store blood and other materials.
