Background

History

Sumve Hospital was established in 1935 by the Missionary Sisters of Africa. It started as a clinic for pregnant women, but developed into a hospital to treat a wide range of illness. It was integrated into the National Health Service of Tanzania in 1965, and in 1973 it was appointed as the Designated District Hospital (DDH) of Kwimba.

Sumve Hospital is located in the North of Kwimba District in Mwanza Region Tanzania. It was established in 1934 by the Roman Catholic Church, managed by the white Sisters Missionaries in Africa, up to date the Hospital is owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza. Since there, it is has grown to a well established Hospital under the ownership of the Catholic Archdiocese of Mwanza. The Government of Tanzania chose it in 1965 to be a Kwimba Designated District Hospital. The Hospital is consisting of an Outpatient department (OPD) and general Inpatient department of six wards with 265 registered beds. The ward includes Male, Female, labour and maternity, Children, Isolation and TB wards, High Unit Care and Premature unit. Curative services are supported by pharmacy, laboratory, blood bank, major and minor theatres, x-ray and Ultra sound services in their respective blocks. Preventive services consist of Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) both static units the hospital and mobile clinics visited in weekly basis is offered. Apart from RCH service there is a well established Primary Health Care (PHC) for Community Health Promotion and sensitization. Physiotherapy department also support both rehabilitation and curative.

Catchment Area and its population and Economic Situation
Population of Kwimba District is 406,509 people,198,096 are male and 208,413 are female Population growth rate is 1.9% and average population size per house hold is 6.5 people basing to 2012 National census. Sumve DDH is situated in Ngulla Division; the service area has a total population of about 16,436(2012) people, and has 24 villages. The catchment area has population of about 90,914(2012) mainly from Ngulla division. However the Hospital serves people from neighboring districts like Misungwi, Maswa and Magu.

Population
Population of Kwimba District is 406,509 people,198,096 are male and 208,413 are female Population growth rate is 1.9% and average population size per house hold is 6.5 people basing to 2012 National census. Sumve Hospital is situated in Ngulla Division; the service area has a total population of about 16,436(2012) people, and has 24 villages. The catchment area has population of about 90,914(2012) mainly from Ngulla division. However the Hospital serves people from neighboring districts like Misungwi, Maswa and Magu.

Economic situation
Most people are peasants of small scale farming and breeders. Main agricultural products are maize, rice, cotton and less important are millet, sweet potatoes and beans. Soils are mainly sandy clay. The climate is moderately warm climate with temperature varying from 25 to 33 degree Celsius throughout the year. The rain falls mainly between October and May. Average annual rainfall is low and drought affects the economic status of the district.

1- Main stakeholders
We are very happy to work with all our stakeholders together. Currently we are depending for the largest percent on Government grants, but we are looking at a strategy to make our work more sustainable working together with our local stakeholders, including National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), Donors, Kwimba District Council, Ministry of health, Community development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Christian social services commission (CSSC), ICAP, Church, Banks, and the communities.

1. The Archdiocese of Mwanza:
Archdiocese of Mwanza is the owner of Sumve hospital and is also responsible for hospital operations through the supervision of health department. Its involved in providing professional advice, supportive supervision and capacity building to senior hospital workers.

2. The board of Governors:
The Hospital has a Board of Governors which is the highest board in the hospital. It takes decisions in short and long term issues. It approves the annual budget and makes sure that all planned activities are implemented and that most healthy services are available and affordable as per government and church health policies.

3. The Government:
Sumve Hospital is working very closely together with all government organizations both National and local level such regions and districts in the area of its operation such as Ministry of Presidentʼs Office, Regional Administration and Local Government, Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Regional and District Local Government Authorities.