Busega Scotland interacts with the Covid-19 in different ways. One of our Mayega and Moving-on graduates, Happiness, has started making face coverings for sale in Mwanza. She is qualified tailor but the market for wedding dresses at the shop where she works has dried up. Indeed, the economy of the city has taken a significant downturn and prices are rising. Residents, like Happiness, have to make a living in whatever ways they can. Face coverings are now compulsory in many public places, such as banks and the shopping mall.

Our Project Leader, Gadlord Deuli, has one but we are not sure if Happiness was the creator. Reports we are receiving from Mwanza suggest that case numbers are rising and there is a quarantine camp on the outskirts of the city. The cost of PPE in Tanzania is increasing all the time. Our recent purchases from the government’s medical store, for the Children’s Centre at Mayega, are a bit eye-watering.
£19 for a box of 50 pairs of gloves.
£47 for a box of 50 face masks. The gloves and masks, along with aprons and face guards, are only to be used if we have a suspected case at the Centre. We are co-ordinating with Busega District Council in planning our response. We have received no reports of any confirmed cases in the district.

Along with all other charities, Covid-19 is presenting Busega Scotland with unprecedented challenges; from keeping the Mayega children safe and increasing costs in Tanzania, to raising enough funds to meet our existing commitments.
We are facing a loss of income of about £1200 from fundraising in the first half of the year and we do not know what the ‘new normal’ will then allow us to do. Understandably, local, and national grant making organisations are concentrating on the situation here without the capacity to look overseas.
Could you help?
• Regular donors may feel able to increase their donations or supporters may wish to become new regular donors. One-off donations can also be made. All this by clicking https://busegascotland.co.uk/donate-now/
• Alternatively, you may wish to sponsor John walking 15 miles on the Edinburgh Kiltwalk in September, using the following link https://edinburghkiltwalk2020.everydayhero.com/uk/john-8 (the Hunter Foundation will add 50% to any donation you make)
• Maybe family, friends and workmates can club together, using spending that cannot take place due to lockdown – work travel costs, the coffee shop, meals out, hairdressing, sporting activities, cinema etc and make a joint donation.
We appreciate that the current situation can impact adversely on supporters’ incomes and fully understand if it is not possible to help.
With all good wishes from Busega Scotland.

Busega district has no reported positive cases of Corona virus. There have been suspected cases, and despite its very rural nature the area is clearly at risk. The last national figures showed 480 cases and 16 deaths.
Busega District Council is making preparation in anticipation of cases occurring. A secondary school in the town of Nyashimo has been designated as a triage centre and the district hospital has wards set aside for quarantine. Schools in Tanzania are all closed.
Personal protective equipment is available through the government medical stores department but in limited supply. The district pharmacist is demonstrating full Covid-19 protection, alongside the district medical officer.
At Mayega Children’s Centre we have masks, gloves and aprons for use if someone is suspected of having the virus. Our Covid Action Plan is stopping access to the Centre, keeping the children inside and promoting good hygiene practices. We have adequate supplies of soap and hand sanitiser.
We are working with the district medical officer to co-ordinate action if we have a suspected case. We hope that this will not happen but we are preparing as best we can.

Partnership working is both a joy and a necessity in Tanzania. It has its tough moments but the rewards for the community can be so valuable. Busega Scotland has been chairing the Mayega Water Group for the last couple of years and its endeavours brought piped water to the village.
A step change in the project was joining up with the Rotary Clubs of Egin in Scotland and Igoma in Tanzania. This allowed Busega Scotland to do the groundwork, along with Busega District Council and the water authority, RUWASA, to prepare a Rotary International Global Grant application, which Elgin submitted.
The tremendous news is that the application was a success and, when local contributions from the Council and RUWASA are added in, the next phase of the water project is benefitting from £50,000 worth of funding. Igoma Rotary and RUWASA are responsible for implementation and Busega Scotland continues to play a co-ordinating role.
Mayega Primary School will benefit from proper toilets, the village will have 7 new water distribution points and family toilets will be piloted. To support the expanded facilities, a new mains pipe will be installed along with a chlorination unit. The project will be backed-up by sanitation training and education in the village and school.
Talks have already been held between Igoma Rotary and RUWASA on how the work can proceed safely. At present, there have been suspected cases of Covid in Busega District but none confirmed.