April 16, 2025 | Caroline Jackson
Many of us have experienced the chaos of a grocery store parking lot. People arrive from miles away, weaving in and out of spaces, ignoring every traffic rule. As horns blare and carts crash, we find ourselves wondering when Sunday became the universal day to restock the fridge. But the most frustrating part? Reaching the shelf—only to find it completely empty, as if a tumbleweed might roll through at any moment.
Sister Magdalena compared this everyday frustration to something far more urgent: what people in her hometown of Tanzania experience when seeking healthcare at their local hospital.
Much like shoppers rushing to the store, women, children, and men walk for miles to reach hospitals. They line up outside with a wide range of illnesses, hoping to be treated. While the doctors are ready and willing to help, they often lack even the most basic medical equipment.
Out of necessity, the women have found creative solutions—gathering leaves to make makeshift blankets and floor mats to sleep on. Hospital beds are rare, and even when available, they usually come without mattresses or sheets. These are not just inconveniences; they are barriers to safe care.
Sister Magdalena, who earned a Master’s in Health Administration and later completed a Doctorate while studying in the U.S., was deeply affected by the contrast between what she had learned and what she witnessed back home. During a visit to Tanzania, she asked herself a painful question: “It’s my own country, it’s my own people. Is this really what our healthcare has come to?”
In partnership with Project C.U.R.E., Sister Magdalena found a way to turn that question into action. Together, we sent a 40-foot container of donated medical supplies to Kabanga Hospital—including hospital beds.
“Having met with Project C.U.R.E. is like a dream come true for us,” says Sister Magdalena.
Now, she’s working to support Bishop Edward Michaud Memorial Hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This respected hospital, owned and managed by the religious order The Daughters of Mary, has grown into a full-service hospital. It now cares for over 37,000 outpatients annually and houses more than 300 inpatients each month, operating with limited equipment.
Bishop Edward Michaud Memorial Hospital
Mother and baby at Bishop Edward Michaud Memorial Hospital
Known not only for its commitment to affordable healthcare but for its compassionate exemption policy, ensuring that even the poorest patients—often referred by religious leaders and local officials—receive care. The hospital is guided by the values of love and service.
With your support, Sister Magdalena hopes to send a container filled with urgently needed medical equipment, including patient monitors, surgical tools, and birthing equipment. The estimated value of the supplies is over $350,000, and the cost to ship the 40-foot container is $35,000.
This effort isn’t just about equipment—it’s about restoring hope, expanding care, and preserving the health of a community that serves the most vulnerable.
Your donation can help make this possible. Click here or scan the QR code.
Every contribution brings us one step closer to delivering life-saving care to families who have no other options. Stand with Sister Magdalena and the Daughters of Mary to support better healthcare in Tanzania—one hospital, one container, and one act of compassion at a time.
Looking to request medical supplies? Please click here.
