The Gadget Scientist

Mibila Village Clinic was built in 2005 by a team of volunteers from Manchester, and leaders and villagers from Mibila. Mibila is 50km from the nearest town, and in an isolated rural area of northern Zambia. Until the clinic arrived there was no access to primary healthcare.

Mibila Village Clinic. The word Handenu means 'be healed'

In practical terms, a lack of primary healthcare meant that even minor ailments could be life threatening and major illnesses – such as birthing complications – would often end in tragedy. In November 2006 the clinic opened, and now serves over 5,000 people. Already, numerous lives have been saved and child mortality rates have been significantly reduced.

All new pregnancies are monitored and new babies are regularly weighed and immunised. New mothers are also given mosquito nets to prevent malaria. Since 2006 my friends, family and clients have donated over 25% of the clinic’s running costs. And now £1 from every Gadget Scientist book sold on our website is also donated to the clinic.

The borehole in Mibila

A borehole was also sunk next to the clinic. Until its arrival the villagers only water was from a nearby stream, which is contaminated with water-borne diseases. Dignity, the charity behind Mibila Village Clinic has also completed other clean water projects in the region, in partnership with local leaders.

For example, in the nearby region of Ipafu, 15 villages suffered from extreme water shortages. In the dry season, which lasts for six months, their wells dried up and the villagers would have to walk up to 5km to the nearest well (and back) with their water supplies.

New wells were sunk in each village. They were dug by local men who were paid modest salaries to support them while they were away from their farms. Each well was placed in a communal area which meant everyone had joint ownership.

Once the wells were excavated a local builder completed the wells with a concrete platform, and a brick wall was built to make sure children and animals couldn’t fall in.

Bricks for a new school

The new well in the village pictured here meant that the Zambian Government funded the building of a new school. Something completely obvious (that had never occurred to me before) was that you can’t build schools without water – because without water, you can’t mix concrete and make bricks! Now additional initiatives such as this school have become possible, because of the wells.

The Gadget Scientist will continue to support these life-changing projects because they show how powerful local leaders can be when given support, encouragement, and a little bit of capital to transform their communities.