A new middle school in the Eritrean town of Massaua. The construction of a hospital in the city of Wasserà, Ethiopia. The establishment of a health clinic in Togo, in one of the continent’s poorest areas, and a project to fight child malnourishment in Jakarta, Indonesia. These, then, are just some of the results of the international solidarity extended by Sacmi, a Group that, in keeping with its cooperative origins, does business ethically with a clear sense of social responsibility, supporting numerous projects that benefit both the local community in and around Imola and communities within emerging economies where the Group operates.
This year, Sacmi has turned its attention to Tanzania and, with Christmas drawing near, will be making further efforts to safeguard what truly makes life worth living: health. And that means access to health services. Sadly, in many outlying areas of this African nation, adequate health facilities, equipment, personnel and medicines are sorely lacking; it is an area where the HIV virus is spreading fast and now affects 5.6% of the population. This is where the Amici Mondo Indiviso association has been helping people for some years and, now, thanks to a significant donation from Sacmi, they can go ahead with an overhaul of the health facility in the village of Bukumbi and the purchase of essential patient diagnosis and care equipment.
Located 35 km outside the city of Mwanza, this health facility is managed by the Suore di Nostra Signora of Kilimanjaro. It offers essential healthcare not only to the residents of Bukumbi – some 6,000 people – but also those living in surrounding villages. HIV-positive patients, in fact, need not only specific HIV treatment – provided by the Government – but also a whole range complementary therapies that would otherwise have to be financed entirely by the patients themselves.
That’s why Sacmi instantly responded to the appeal made by the Amici Mondo Indiviso association, a member of the International Missionary Association, a recipient of support from the Diocese of Faenza-Modigliana (since 1991) and an essential care provider in various areas worldwide such as Italy, India, Eritrea and Tanzania. This donation brings renewed hope for many AIDS sufferers, mostly women and children, allowing them to receive better emergency treatment and, through adequate therapy, regain their place in the community.