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Rocinantes

We -Rocinantes- are an independent humanitarian organization, which mainly gives medical aid in Republic of Sudan.

1. Medical Services (Health Center in Sherif Hassaballa Village)

Rocinantes was requested by Secretary of State for Health in Gedarif state, and have been providing medical and health services in Sherif Hassaballa village located in East Sudan. This area had experienced the conflict between the government forces and anti-government forces. This village had not prepared physicians. Malaria and infection diseases caused by unsanitary water, has been widespread in this area. Rocinantes has hired physician for providing an appropriate diagnosis and treatment.

The activities have been also expanded to the water project for improving hygiene environment of the village.

Absence of midwife caused the difficulty to ensure safety labor, but hiring new midwife has been able to provide an appropriate deliver service. Cooperation with village people is Philosophy of Rocinantes’ activities and this reflects independent management of village people. Infrastructure and management system for the health center would be developed through this cooperation.

2. Maternal/Child Health and Health Education Services

Maternal mortality rate is 1107 (per live birth 100,000) and infant mortality rate is 41 (per live birth 1,000). The improvement of maternal and child health is one of the most significant health issue in Sudan. Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) is the only personnel who could provide delivery services in Sherif Hassaballa village. Pregnant women only visit TBA when beginning to feel labor pains. Limited knowledge of village women regarding pregnancy and delivery, poverty and other cultural factors reflect their health behavior that very few pregnant women receive a necessary prenatal/postnatal checkup. Therefore they face the high risk of complications relating to pregnancy and delivery.
To improve maternal and child health in village, Rocinantes has been preparing full-time midwife for encouraging the village women to have proper prenatal checkups and infant health checkups. One Sudanese health instructor has been also hired for implementing heath education for the village women.

Rocinantes has also launched the school project for increasing women’s educational level. In 2009, Girls elementary school for village women was established through Grant Assistant for Grassroots and Human Security Project of the Japanese Foreign Ministry. This project would improve the educational environment of village women and further include the potential to foster future nurse and midwife from the village.

3. Maintenance of Medical Equipment

Due to closing hospitals, purchasing advanced medical equipment and other factors, medical equipment that can be still used are destroying in Japan. Rocinantes has been attempting in bringing such equipments to Sudan. Relating that activity, educating Sudanese medical engineer is critical activity to maintain the imported medical equipments and appropriately use them. Japanese clinical engineers were invited through J-METS cooperation to educate Sudanese clinical engineers. Japanese clinical engineers were very surprised with the intentness of Sudanese engineers. Rocinantes will continue to work on this activity and rebuild collaborative systems in this area.

4. Exchange Program for Healthcare Professionals and Students

The mental attitude required for international cooperation, should not be “ I can help”, but “ I would like to assist”. Rocinantes has been implemented exchange programs for healthcare professional and students between Sudan and Japan to improve their healthcare competency and cultural understandings. Japanese healthcare professionals and students in those who visited to Sudan, obtained meaningful experiences and understanding about Sudan which may be stark contrast with the information accessed in Japan. Sudanese, who visited to Japan, were surprised to know about advanced medical technology and well organizing management system in Japan.

5. Sport Projects

One of the most famous sports in Sudan is football. Rocinantes has sent the Japanese instructor who used to be football coach for Japan as a Overseas Cooperation Volunteers to Sudanese Football Association. He even had a chance to supervise Sudan National Youth Representative once. Donation from the Japanese Football Association was received and use instructional book developed by this Association for teaching Sudanese youth. This project will be expanded to, not focusing on top football teams only, but also making an expedition to various geographical areas of Sudan to encourage many Sudanese youth to habituate healthy sprit required for peace building.