Shirati Food Program

Every patient deserves a meal a day

What are we talking about?

The Shirati KMT Hospital doesn’t possess the financial means to provide patients with nutritious meals during their stay at the hospital. Patients generally depend on family and friends for daily care, even if they live far away. High costs of travel and accommodation complicate this care for many patients. This can lead to patients not being fed for days on end. Especially in children, pregnant women and elderly patients, this can have dire consequences for their health and recovery.

In Tanzania, most hospitals do not offer food for patients during admission. Due to limited funds, food provision is generally not a priority.

Why are we committed to this?

Stichting Shirati wants to contribute to provision of healthy food to patients at the Shirati KMT Hospital. By improving the amount and quality of food patients receive, we are hoping to accelerate their recovery process, decrease the changes of complications (such as infections) and also reduce the length of stay in the hospital.

What are we doing about it?

Since 2015, in collaboration with the American NGO REACH Shirati, the Shirati Food Program has offered one free meal per day to patients of Shirati KMT Hospital. Cooking takes place on the hospital compound, in a special kitchen dedicated to this purpose. The food is freshly prepared by four local cooks and immediately dispensed in the various wards.The Shirati Food Program also financially supports the Leprosy ward, where patients live permanently, to ensure the provision of food. This was done by planting a vegetable garden, which produces fresh vegetables and fruit to both the ward, as well as the Program cooks.

What have we accomplished so far?

Over the last 7 years, we’ve managed to continuously expand the Shirati Food Program. Currently, free meals are provided to the pediatric ward, and maternity ward. On a daily basis, food is prepared for 50-80 patients.
Through the involvement of the inhabitants of the Leprosy ward and establishment of our vegetable garden, the project has become more sustainable.
Through the involvement of the inhabitants of the Leprosy ward and establishment of our vegetable garden, the project has become more sustainable.
Increased visibility: in 2018, a documentary was co-produced with Daniel van Houten, about the Shirati Food Program and the people behind it. Sadly, the head of the Program, Martha Ogonga, passed away in 2022.
Recently, we made the transition to clean cooking, away from charcoal and towards gas. This does not only protect our cooks from the effects of chronic smoke exposure, but also benefits the environment.

Future goals

In the upcoming year, we want to further expand the daily provision of food, to all patients admitted at the hospital.
To improve the level of nutrition of the meals, we’re developing new recipes with our local nutritionist Stella Makori.
Finally, we’re exploring options to promote the sustainability of the project, for example by expansion of the vegetable garden.

Are you interested in this project? Then please don’t hesitate to contribute to it by clicking the donate button below!