Women's clinic in the hospital. Women's clinic in the hospital.
ZF hilft.Help Projects2006: Pakistan and Togo

Pakistan and Togo

Worldwide, approximately 5,000 people die from tuberculosis every day. Today, curing this severe and often fatal infectious disease is no longer a serious medical problem – a cure only costs around €50 per case.

Pakistan

The Aid to Leprosy Patients (ALP) Hospital in Rawalpindi covers an area of around 206,000 km² with approximately 90 million residents. It is the only officially recognized hospital that accepts patients with multiresistant tuberculosis in all Pakistan. Donations by the registered nonprofit association ZF hilft e. V. enabled the hospital to care for patients with multiresistant tuberculosis. "ZF hilft." secured the patients' long and cost-intensive treatment for three years.

Without treatment, patients have very little chance of survival. In addition the risk of infection with this fatal disease is extremely high for people who are in close proximity to the patients.

Togo

"ZF hilft." supported the work in the Centre Dermatologie in Lomé.

The Centre Dermatologie in Lomé is the headquarters of the nation-wide Leprosy and Tuberculosis Control Program and houses the office of the German Leprosy and Tuberculosis Relief Association (DAHW), the central pharmaceutical warehouse as well as a reference laboratory, a consulting room for medical examinations and an orthopaedic workshop.

Donations were also used to support Togo's National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Program.

©DAHW / Thomas Einberger A row of donated shoes.

The donations by the registered nonprofit association ZF hilft e. V. contributed significantly to finding and treating new leprosy patients. Among these are children and adults who had already suffered disabilities at the time of diagnosis due to the advanced stage of their disease. The donations also ensured that people who suffer the consequences of leprosy despite being considered officially cured receive continued medical and social assistance. The donations also went towards the manufacture of orthopaedic shoes. Making these shoes costs a mere €10 on average. However, this small investment has a great impact as it serves to protect the patient's feet from severe injuries.

With the aid of "ZF hilft.", 2,493 new cases of tuberculosis have been diagnosed and treated.

The donations were also used to purchase 10,000 sample vessels and reagents for the laboratory and to restock the warehouse. In addition, more than 4,000 voluntary TB aides were trained so that they are now able to recognize the first signs of leprosy and tuberculosis and can refer patients to the reference center in Lomé to be diagnosed.

©DAHW Pharmaceutical warehouse.

With the aid of "ZF hilft.", the hospital was also able to maintain the infrastructure required to treat patients. Four doctors, one laboratory assistant, two leprosy experts, one automotive technician, two administrative employees, four drivers who actively seek out patients and distribute drugs, three security guards who guard the offices and warehouse, one warehouse clerk and one supervisor are on hand every day to provide professional care to patients in 35 districts.

Picture gallery

"ZF HILFT." WITH RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS THE FUTURE