Comments on: Video: Filmmaker Notes

By: Tadd

Tadd — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:53:38 +0000

Dear Filmmakers,
what a wonderful thing you did to get this amazing story out. Perhaps, it is a 2nd time that PBS aired this on July 15, 2009 when I first watched it.

is the donation still ongoing? is there a DVD that is on sale on this particualr story?

Keep up the great work!

By: karin Falck

karin Falck — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 19:46:00 +0000

FROM THE FILMMAKERS OF “BIRTH OF A SURGEON”

After Wide Angle broadcasted our film “Birth of a surgeon” we had so many people contacting us!
Many wants to support the hospital of Manjacaze where the midwife Emilia was working during her education.
We have done research on how to best contribute and we think rather than spreading gifts thin we should co ordinate the help.
Our suggestion is to transfer money to the NGO (Non Governmental Organization) “Africa Groups” with headquarter in Stockholm. They have a strictly regulated charity account number – and they promised to openly display the money coming in for the hospital of Manjacaze.
Depending on how much money we gather we will then contract a professional company for the money and let them do the installation of a turn key ready power backup. The Africa Groups also have a journalist stationed in Maputo and he promised to be present taking pictures of the installation.
We keep you updated on how things are proceeding!!
For those who want to help in practical matters – please email us at; info@filmator.se

Website for Africa Groups; http://www.afrikagrupperna.se/cgi-bin/afrika.cgi?d=s&w=1145

Bank (Name and address); Nordea, Hamngatan 12, SE-105 71 Stockholm, Sweden
Swiftcode: NDEASESS
IBAN Se: 97 3000 0000 0300 1180 1271
Bankaccount nr; 90 03 37-7.
When transferring money you should mark it with “MANJACAZE”

Karin C Falck & Loui Bernal

By: Jenny Hannibal

Jenny Hannibal — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:30:23 +0000

There are many wonderful organizations already doing excellent health care work in Mozambique – helping the people help themselves. Here’s a short (not comprehensive) list:

VillageReach expands access to healthcare for remote, underserved communities by improving logistics and infrastructure support at the “last mile” segment of health systems. In Mozambique, VillageReach’s model strengthens the childhood vaccination program with monthly deliveries of vaccines, health worker training, and community education for 251 clinics serving a population of over 5 million people, covering an area larger than New York State. http://www.villagereach.org

Health Alliance International (HAI) supports the development of equity-oriented policies and public-sector health systems. Their vision is a just world with universal access to quality health care. http://depts.washington.edu/haiuw/

CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE has shifted their focus in Mozambique to long-term development projects in the areas of agriculture, water supply and sanitation, micro-credit and savings, and health and HIV/AIDS. http://www.care.org

Population Services International (PSI) is working to harness the vitality of the private sector to address the health problems of low-income and vulnerable populations in developing countries around the world. With programs in HIV/AIDS, malaria, child survival and reproductive health, PSI/Mozambique promotes products, services and behaviors that enable low-income and vulnerable populations to make informed choices and lead healthier lives. http://www.psi.org

Family Health International (FHI) has a mission to improve lives worldwide through research, education, and services in family health. FHI/Mozambique’s activities include HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and support activities, palliative care, TB control, and PMTCT services. http://www.fhi.org

I work for VillageReach, and we were thrilled to see this film bring to light many of the issues we are trying to remedy. I urge you to research organizations that resonate with who you are and what you want to support. Kudos to the filmmakers and to PBS for shining a light on the issues.

By: Scott Taylor

Scott Taylor — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:15:15 +0000

I also would like to help this hospital receive supplies that it desperately needs.

By: paul

paul — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:55:48 +0000

My wife and I were so moved by the story of Manjacaze Hospital, and I am not suprised to see the interest on this site in helping with a generator purchase and the provision of supplies. We would like to donate to the effort to accomplish these goals once a central contact is established. Please post the contact information once it is established, either to donate directly to the hospital or to any organization for this purpose that might be forthcoming. Paul Teicher.

By: Karin Falck&Loui Bernal

Karin Falck&Loui Bernal — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 23:43:39 +0000

FILMMAKERS NOTES
It´s fantastic so many of you want to help!
We have two suggestions;
1. Purchase and delivery of equipment to the hospital
The lack of materials is great in Mozambique. If you find something it’s probably totally overprized. Probably the best way would be to purchase equipment in some other country and bring it into Mozambique.
The hospital of Manjacaze has electricity on and of. What they need is a power backup. Louis idea is to install an inverter, a bunch of car batteries, a charger and a switch. That way they will have a simple solution for the power backup easy to maintain. To do this we would also need the help of an authorized electrician. We the filmmakers can travel down there.
We can take care of the arrangements and openly display to you on Wide Angles website how this proceeds! We would then be happy to get in contact with those of you who want to contribute in one way or another. We are sure the hospital of Manjacaze would appreciate help!!
Please email us at; info@filmator.se

2. International education of nurses
For those who want to contribute to the only advanced international course of ”non-physician clinicians” to save mothers lives we would recommend you to contact Dr. Staffan Bergström. Since 2006 he organizes an international education every year in Gotland, Sweden, that attracts more than 200 applicants from more than 30 countries (mainly Africa and Asia) each year, of whom they can admit merely 30.
They cannot expand this course more at present due to insufficient financing but the need is great. Emilia Cumbane attended this education 2006. That’s were we, the filmmakers met her for the first time!!

Please email Dr. Staffan Bergström at Staffan.Bergstrom@ki.se

By: Linda Wheeler

Linda Wheeler — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:33:06 +0000

Hi – I commented yesterday about wanting to purchase a generator for the Manjacaze Hospital, along with many others. Loui said he will get back to us, but in the meantime should we get organized here in the US? I suggest putting Skip Batley in charge. Let’s get organized and keep this going. If we let it drop, the good people at Manjacaze will never see a new generator. Loui said he is willing to get it there. Maybe we can fund the generator and Loui’s trip to the hospital. Just a thought. Linda Wheeler

By: Cecilia Gomez

Cecilia Gomez — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:57:31 +0000

I see many of us were very moved by the film and inspired to do something. I actually wrote to the very kind Dr. Vaz and he sent me the information for a contact at the hospital. I have already sent a communication, but would love to hook up and help the progress if that makes more sense. As a new mom-to-be I was so moved by your film, thank you for bringing our attention to novel ways to address our world healthcare crisis.

By: M.B.

M.B. — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 17:49:45 +0000

Amazing! What a way to think outside the box. Would it be possible to send the class a congratulatory card upon their graduation?

By: Cherie Tiffany

Cherie Tiffany — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:50:38 +0000

To Karin Falck…many here would like to help financially, including myself after seeing your wonderful documentary…let us know! I loved your film and now have a bigger reason to like…you’re Swedes! My grandfather came over to America from Sweden in 1913 and till the day he died at age 96 (you’re TOUGH PEOPLE!!!) he still said it this way…”tank you” instead of “thank you”.

for you both and for your film I say “tank you”!

By: Karin Falck

Karin Falck — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:46:35 +0000

FILMMAKER COMMENT
We would love to help you get in touch with people in Mozambique and find a way to help you contribute! Get back to you soon about this!!! And Lindsay! I would love to tell you more about the Swedish midwife!!! Warm regards from Karon Falck and Sweden.

By: Karin Falck&Loui Bernal

Karin Falck&Loui Bernal — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:42:27 +0000

FROM FILMMMAKER LOUI BERNAL:
With the help from you I would like to go back myself to Manjacaze and help the hospital install a new power backup. There is a lack of everything so we would have to bring the equipment ourselves. This has been on my mind ever since we filmed there and it would feel very good to help them. Maybe we could even film the process and show it too you on the web site.

By: Judith

Judith — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 00:34:39 +0000

Thank you so much for posting the address of the hospital again. I would still be interested to find out about the name of the Dr. that was a teacher to Emilia. Could you provide me with his name?

Thank you.

By: hilary anderson

hilary anderson — Wed, 16 Jul 2008 22:06:23 +0000

My daughter now a grad student in the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University used to work at Direct Relief International who deliver direct aid in medical assistance to countries in need. You may be interested to look at their website if you cannot donate directly to the Manjacaze hospital.www.directrelief.org