Close-up action medeor

Over a period of six weeks, our volunteer senior expert Dr. Bernd Diener and his wife Sigrid accompanied a special action medeor project in Tanzania: the construction and commissioning of a production facility for laboratory reagents in Kibaha. A very special project - because the plant will be the first of its kind in the whole of East Africa. Over the past few weeks, Sigrid Diener has regularly reported here on the project's progress and experiences in Tanzania:

Our last week has dawned. This is my last report. 6 weeks have flown by.

On Tuesday, a delegation from the district council of the neighboring village came by to see what was happening on the property. We had invited the district representatives to take a look at everything. The representatives were delighted that the first production facility for medical laboratory reagents in Tanzania is being built here.

The completion of the plant has made great progress. The employees are currently being trained in how to use the production facility. A specialist from the manufacturing company has traveled here for this purpose and spent two weeks on site. Many questions have already been answered. The colleagues are eager to ask questions so that they will be able to handle the system and all the equipment safely in the future. It's great to see how the young team is growing into their tasks and seeing the opportunities that a project like this brings for themselves, but above all for their fellow human beings. The production manager is 30 years old and, like the 27-year-old quality control manager, has a degree in chemistry. The boss, Anneth, is also 27 years old and a laboratory scientist. The topic of “more women in management positions” is being put into practice here!

We are still waiting for the container from Germany, with important equipment, to be released by customs. These unnecessary delays are annoying. Sometimes the checks are very lengthy. These waiting times mean that important processes for the first sample filling cannot be completed. I am also beginning to see impatience among those involved. Everyone is ready for the first filled canister! How much we would like to be there when the first test production is filled!

With typical improvisation skills, the necessary equipment is procured and the first production is planned for Monday next week. Our time in Kibaha ends today, Friday. Together with the entire action medeor Tanzania team, we have an atmospheric farewell party and also a bit of a housewarming.

We are leaving the site in Kibaha for the last time with a smile and a tear in our eye. Laughing for the successful work, for valuable experiences, for the openness and trust of our Tanzanian colleagues. Crying, because we have taken our colleagues to our hearts and would have loved to have accompanied the production process through to success. Kwaheri Tanzania! - Goodbye, Tanzania!

Addition: On Tuesday, we received the news that the first test production of laboratory reagents in Kibaha was successful and the product meets all quality requirements! A milestone!

As I write this post, I feel a great sense of satisfaction, joy and gratitude to have been involved...