I Want To Make The Impossible, Possible!
My name is Bernhard Rumstadt, I'm a surgeon from Germany and my dream is to build a surgical clinic in Burkina Faso, one of the poorest countries in the world. A clinic for those, who would normally be unable to afford treatment.
Why I'm doing this? With the longstanding wish to assist in the provision of developmental aid, I originally approached large NGO's and began to inquire about how I could be of use during my vacation time. However, I soon discovered that there is no way to provide active support for short periods of time, within large organisations.
It was then, that the idea to form a new independent aid organisation came into being. Over the past 12 years I have visited Burkina Faso on numerous occassions to perform operations and work together with the local doctors. These visits allowed operations, that under normal circumstances would be too complex, to be performed.
Through doing this free of charge, we are able to not only help the patients, but also provide the African doctors with valuable training and experience. Besides that we were able to build up a farm that provides bread and work for around 500 women, as well support to a neighbouring school of 450 children. In addiiton to this, more than 100 orphaned children are supported by our sponsorship program.
Our vital work and various experiences, have provided the entire team with the confidence and the know how, to successfully embark upon our biggest project to date, the building of a local clinic. Our unique working concept, that allows surgeons to come and operate for short periods of time, guarantees us a lively clinic. One that can provide vital help to the regions highly deserving population.
In January 2013 we laid the foundation stone for the clinic.
What We Need
Since the idea for the clinic arose in my head, I have spoken to more than 500 donors - major companies, foundations, institutions and wealthy people. Thanks to their generosity we were able to raise more than 350,000 US dollars. At the time, we believed this would be enough. However, as we started to build the foundations we encountered a major setback. A massive rainfall highlighted the fact, contrary to our soil evaluations, that during rainy periods the ground would turn to marsh. This meant that the whole clinic needed to be placed 1.6 ft higher on top of a platform and the foundations dug deeper. The extra costs incurred were not anticipated.
Meanwhile all the walls and ceilings are in place and electricity is being
installed. But still we need an extra 50,000 US Dollars in order to finalise
this huge project. We are confident that we are able to secure half of the amount from our supporters, but that still leaves a further 25,000 $. That
is were you can help and become a part of our project. I personally guarantee that - thanks to the fact that we have no administrative fees at all - your help will go directly into the project.
The Impact
Burkina FasoBurkina Faso is a country situated on the border of Mali, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ghana, in West Africa. The former French colony, previously known as 'Upper Volta', gained its independence under this name on the 5th of August 1960. It was President Thomas Sankara who changed the name to Burkina Faso, which means 'land of the honourable' or 'honest land', on the 4th of August 1984.
Burkina Faso is one of the poorest countries in the world. Today, despite the large range of cultural diversity and a lack of stability, the various ethnic groups live together peacefully. Regular and reoccurring drought periods are of great concern for the majority of the population, who work as farmers.
The current healthcare system in Burkina Faso means that the patient must pay all of their own medical costs, except when giving birth and vaccinating a child. The doctor to patient ratio is severely out of balance, and it is made even worse when factoring in the level of qualified doctors. There are thousands of people in desperate need of surgery, who simply cannot afford it. We can provide them with operations, free of charge.
Clinic conceptThe clinic will consist of 10 beds, where it will be possible to perform surgical, urological and gynaecological operations. The clinic is to be managed by Dr. Sedogo, who thanks to a scholarship provided by our foundation, trained for three years as a surgeon in Togo, as well as spending a year in Germany. The clinic will be staffed by skilled personnel who have trained, and worked together with the foundation, to provide medical aid for over 10 years. Through uniting the African culture with European medical standards, we are providing a high level of service, that is completely unique in Burkina Faso.
The clinic has been built on a piece of land, given to us by the local population, in Leo. Leo is the town within which we have been successfully providing medical aid since 2001. Leo is situated on the best connected road between Ghana and the capital city of Burkina Faso, Ouagadougou, which is approximately two hours drive away. The clinic itself will be built directly on this road, therefore making it highly accessible. This is of particular importance during the rainy season.
Economic conceptDue to the state of the Burkinian healthcare system, a clinic must be financially independent. One of the key concerns for us, is providing treatment for the patients who need it, irregardless of whether they can pay for it. There are people in Burkina Faso, in the middle or upper classes, who have no problems when it comes to paying for medical treatment. These classes tend to live in or around the capital city and can therefore easily reach the clinic. Through the provision of a high medical standard, the clinic is an attractive prospect to this group of possible patients. This means that the treatment of wealthier inhabitants can easily finance the running of the clinic, allowing the clinic to care for those who cannot afford it, free of charge.
Political ConceptThe construction of a clinic is supported whole heartedly by local politicians. This is clear from, amongst other things, the gift of the land itself on which the clinic will be built. The building of the clinic has been arranged with the Health Minister himself. Surgeons for Africa is not only a certified foundation in Germany, but also in Burkina Faso. This means that we have permission to build clinics and initiate medical aid projects, throughout the entire country.
Architectual conceptThrough a special technique, discovered by our architect Francis Kere, clay bricks are combined with concrete. These bricks are sourced from local suppliers and produced using traditional building methods, which comply with modern day structural requirements. Additional materials such as laterrite will also be used, as they fit naturally within the colours of the African landscape.
Climate control is achieved through the construction of high ceilings and in particular, the unusual and exceptional roof construction. A normal roof construction blocks rising heat. Through our ingenious and innovative roof technique, the roof is constructed in a V form. This allows for the heat to be drained using a ventilation system constructed within the walls and roof. By constructing the building in such a way, it also allows for the natural wind flow to aid air extraction.
This further optimises climate control within the building and functions in temperatures of up to 50 degrees. Thus creating a pleasant and comfortable environment for patients to recuperate in. During the rainy season the roof serves as an aid in collecting rainwater which is then stored in a cistern. Thus solving one of the main, and well known, problems in the Sahel region in an effective way.
Environmental conceptThe building of the clinic should not only serve as an example of successful medical developmental aid, but also provide a workable environmental role model. The intensive use of solar energy is planned and this will fulfil a large proportion of the predicted energy expenditure. It is thanks to the donation of solar panels by the firm SolarWorld, that this is made possible. In addition to this, a biological water purifier will be installed, one of the first ever in Burkina Faso. Water needs will be met through the collection of rain water, which can then be heated using solar power. The construction of an ecological waste disposal plant is also planned.
The Architect
After our decision to build a surgical clinic in Burkina Faso, and with high hopes that we would be able to finance and complete such a project, the search began for a suitable architect.
It was whilst working with the late popular film and theatre director
Christoph Schlingensief, who is well known thanks to his work on the African Opera House Project in Burkina Faso, that I came to meet Francis Kéré. Francis Kéré was born in Burkina Faso and left his childhood home at an early age in order to attend school. He then went on to receive a scholarship that enabled him to study Architecture in Germany.
Currently,
Francis Kéré owns an architecture firm in Berlin through which he plans and works on a range of worldwide international projects. He has also been nominated for and received numerous architectural prizes.
Other Ways You Can Help
If you don't have the money you can still support us.
As marketing expertWant to spend one year in Africa? Or even just six months? Do you speak French? Maybe you even have a sponsor who could support you in setting up the clinic together with us? Currently we are looking for a marketing expert to promote the new clinic, mainly to wealthier inhabitants of Burkina Faso who tend to live near the capital city. Through the provision of a high medical standard we are sure that the clinic will be
attractive to this group of possible patients. Through their treatment we will be able to operate on the poorer people for free.
As a doctorAlongside our continual medical support of the local population, the
clinic will act as a platform and base for various international
surgical support initiatives. In general, larger organisations require
doctors to make themselves available for extended periods
of time. It
is not always possible for doctors to take long periods of time out
from their working lives, in order to provide help and support in
Africa. However, thanks to the unique infrastructure of our clinic, it
is ideal if not better to organise short trips of 1 – 2 weeks. Groups of
doctors from various hospitals are able to fly out to Burkina Faso,
where they are collected from the airport and taken to stay in guest
houses. It is then possible for the doctors to work alongside local
doctors and perform specialised urological, gynaecological, paediatric
and plastic surgeries. All of which are performed for free. In the
meanwhile, African doctors are provided with experience and
intensive
training as well as an understanding of good after care. The costs of
flights and medical supplies have to be covered by the participating doctors or by a sponsor they acquire for themselves.
If you are interested in helping
please get in touch with us.