Kuji volunteers after loading the 40ft container of donations (l-r)

Julius Gaudet, Wayne Morrison, Caffery Reaux, Rod Morrison and Rasuli Pratt

Wayne Morrison and his son Rod of Redfish Rentals in Morgan City, Louisiana. Their great generosity and assistance to Kuji was invaluable.

This generator being loaded is a donation to UAACC. It can power the entire center and all of its classes when the electricity fails.

The container arrives in Dar Es Salam, Tanzania. Local dock workers unload the generator.

Kuji and UAACC at the ceremony to deliver the donated medical supplies to the Old Arusha Clinic.

Dr. Urasa of the Old Arusha Clinic receives the donations from Kuji and UAACC.

geronimo and Mzee Pete O'Neal at UAACC. geronimo has just arrived from Dar Es Salam transporting the donations in a cravan.

Everyone pitches in to help unload the trucks.

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Kuji volunteers after loading the 40ft container of donations (l-r)

Julius Gaudet, Wayne Morrison, Caffery Reaux, Rod Morrison and Rasuli Pratt

Medical Supplies through Collaborations

By

Arusha Times correspondent

            The Old Arusha Clinic was recently the venue for a brief ceremony to turn over a shipment of medical supplies intended for the people of Arusha that consisted of various medicines, vitamin supplements and medical equipment. 

Mr. Pete O’Neal, founder and Managing Director of the United African Alliance Community Center UAACC explained that “this donation was made possible by the Oklahoma Healthcare Project which is based in Oklahoma, U.S.A. and the Kuji Foundation, a community service NGO founded in 1999 by Mr. Geronimo ji Jaga. It was facilitated to reach Tanzania by UAACC.”  Mr. O’Neal went on to stress that “this has been a collective endeavor, a successful collaboration that should be emulated and repeated over and over.”

The ceremony was attended by several senior doctors in Arusha including Dr. J.M. Urasa, head surgeon and founder of the Old Arusha Clinic; Dr. Mhando, a well known cardiologist; Dr. Lyimo, a radiologist.  Also attending were Mrs. Joju ji Jaga of the Kuji Foundation, Mrs. Charlotte Hill O’Neal of UAACC and several nurses and medical officers.

            Mr. O’Neal pointed out how all of the principal organizers for the medical supplies shipment are from the vast community of Africans of the Diaspora (ie. Africans born outside of the continent).

            “These people are setting a grand example for others in the African American community to follow regardless of their political or religious affiliations.

            “Even though it is true that many in America are poor, the collective wealth of African Americans is immense almost beyond calculation.  I have read statistics that report that Africans in America alone spend countless millions of dollars on hair products and cosmetics and entertainment.  Surely, African Americans must be encouraged to take some of that money and spend it on the development and upliftment of OUR Motherland!  I feel that Africans of the Diaspora have a moral obligation to do this.  Collaborative projects like this one (bringing medical supplies to Arusha) and others that have occurred over the years, are only a start.”

            UAACC has facilitated several other medical supplies and equipment shipments for the Arusha community over the past several years through assistance from the people of Kansas City, (one of Arusha’s Sister City associations) with generous donations from Childrens’ International; the Heart to Heart organization, and the Kuji Foundation. 

            “Our aim is to assist the people of Arusha municipality whether through public hospitals or private medical organizations,” Mr. O’Neal said.  “We feel that when dealing with community upliftment efforts one has to involve the public sector and also one must involve the private sector.  I have seen over the years that the Old Arusha Clinic under the leadership of Dr. Urasa, has proven to be a ‘caring’ health facility.  I have personally observed times when he and his staff will treat patients in need regardless of their inability to pay.  This to me is what serving the people with heartfelt conviction is about.  This is a true example of what is referred to as the compassionate approach to practicing medicine.”