We recently received an update from Neema Mgana on the amazing Ipuli Medical Center project. There are some really exciting developments. Neema writes:

Dear all,
Greetings from Dar es salaam, Tanzania! The weather has been very irregular and we are currently suffering from extreme heat and humidity. I have been doing some traveling and a lot of writing about the project in Ipuli village and wanted to give you an update on where we are.

First the most recent news. The Iramba district (Ipuli falls into this district) has now been divided into West and East (for political reasons). We just found out that the main governmental district office for both regions will be built just next to the Medical center. This means that there will be additional infrastructure (roads, electricity, etc) to the area and we very much suspect that the government will welcome the Ipuli Medical center to be a district hospital. If that is the case, then the government would cover all expenses (including the purchase of drugs and supplies, staff salaries, etc) for the medical center. This is a decision that we have to make if this is the direction that we want to go towards. The attraction would be that funding would be provided but the other side of this is that we want to guarantee the medical center will always strive towards quality in staff and services.
(more of the letter here)

The Iramba district (of which Ipuli is part) has been divided into East and West for political reasons. As a result, there will be two government offices built right next to the Medical center. This means that infrastructure such as roads and electricity will be created surrounding the medical center, making the center that much more accessible to those needing medical care.

Of course there is still much more work to be done and funds to be raised. Property owned by Neema’s family in Tanzania is being converted into a bed and breakfast which will create additional income for the project and serve as a place to stay for people visiting Tanzania or those making the trip from the city of Dar es Salaam to the Ipuli Village(which is a 2 day journey).

Another source of income is from the basket-making business started by the women of Ipuli. Below are pictures of some the crafts made by these women to support the project and can be purchased by emailing Neema directly at

nmagana(at)yahoo.com. And as always, we encourage you to visit the

Pop!Tech Giving

site where you can donate to the Ipuli Medical Center as well as the many other amazing projects that were presented at Pop!Tech last year.

It also looks as though the center is generating some media noise and sources have been interested in the Ipuli Medical story. We can’t wait to hear more updates from Neema as those develop.

For more information on the project see the link to

Architecture For Humanity.