Head doctor and patients at the Denan Hospital
With only one doctor, a nurse and three volunteers to run the clinic—and with no running water or electricity—The Denan Project opened the doors of the clinic on April 27, 2004. That morning, the word had already spread in the area, and hundreds of villagers were already waiting to be treated.
Since then, hard work by The Denan Project volunteers, generous donations, and a bit of good luck have turned the clinic into a 29-room hospital, fully staffed with an exceptionally dedicated team of more than 35 people to run the hospital and its related operations, including a pharmacy, ultrasound equipment, and a laboratory capable of carrying out a battery of sophisticated tests. Over the past few years, we have been able to purchase an ambulance to pick people up from outlying areas, or to take desperately sick people to a large hospital 75 kilometers away. We have also established a maternity ward, vaccinations, and pre-natal and well-baby care, and a TB clinic adjacent to the hospital and are planning for the construction of an operating theater, and hiring a surgeon and an anesthesiologist.
Addressing specific needs of the community, we also run many programs to promote overall health: fighting against female genital mutilation, supplemental-feeding, anti-malaria measures, and medical-outreach programs. In each case, The Denan Project paid to have our doctors, technicians, and midwives trained in the operation and maintenance of the programs.
As of April 2011, the Denan Hospital has treated more than 100,000 people for a wide range of illnesses and injuries. The care is all for free, and it has saved many lives.
