About three and a half years ago, Flora, my Tanzanian assistant for the orphan program, asked if I would visit a young boy at our local
Hospital. Flora said that “Frank” had suffered a broken back approximately 5 years earlier. She said Frank was an orphan and, at the
time of the accident, was working in a local “sand pit” to earn money to buy school supplies and help feed his siblings.
Child labor is not uncommon in Tanzania. The children work long hours (generally for less than 1,000 /= a day… about 70 cents)
excavating sand deep within caves and digging small mines hundreds of meters deep, with no concern for safety. The cave collapsed
on Frank, breaking his back and he was taken to KCMC Hospital in Moshi where the doctors discovered he was permanently
paralyzed. He underwent surgery to stabilize his back and a colostomy was performed. The latter procedure, “A COLOSTOMY” was the
reason Flora wanted me to visit Frank.
Seven years prior to meeting Frank, I contracted an unknown African virus that almost killed me. Returning to the United States for
medical evaluation and treatment, I was rushed to JPS Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas where I underwent exploratory surgery. My
intestines had ruptured and the surgeon removed 8” and performed a colostomy. The Doctors never determined why my intestines
ruptured and because of heart problems, I never underwent a colostomy reversal.
Hospital. Flora said that “Frank” had suffered a broken back approximately 5 years earlier. She said Frank was an orphan and, at the
time of the accident, was working in a local “sand pit” to earn money to buy school supplies and help feed his siblings.
Child labor is not uncommon in Tanzania. The children work long hours (generally for less than 1,000 /= a day… about 70 cents)
excavating sand deep within caves and digging small mines hundreds of meters deep, with no concern for safety. The cave collapsed
on Frank, breaking his back and he was taken to KCMC Hospital in Moshi where the doctors discovered he was permanently
paralyzed. He underwent surgery to stabilize his back and a colostomy was performed. The latter procedure, “A COLOSTOMY” was the
reason Flora wanted me to visit Frank.
Seven years prior to meeting Frank, I contracted an unknown African virus that almost killed me. Returning to the United States for
medical evaluation and treatment, I was rushed to JPS Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas where I underwent exploratory surgery. My
intestines had ruptured and the surgeon removed 8” and performed a colostomy. The Doctors never determined why my intestines
ruptured and because of heart problems, I never underwent a colostomy reversal.
After my recovery, I returned to Africa to continue my work helping both the old and young in their daily struggles to survive. Having
lived in Africa for the majority of the last 18 years …. since my days as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in 1993…. I’ve seen more than my
share of heart wrenching stories. Frank’s situation was a new addition to the long list of human conditions I’ve encountered. Flora
and I found Frank in a hospital ward with 9 other patients. His eyes came alive when he realized that we had come to visit him. A
blanket covered his abdomen and legs and he held a cane in his hand… .as if to convey the message…. “I’m OK…. I can walk!” Of
course he couldn't walk with legs the size of match sticks. Flora explained to Frank that I also was a colostomy patient.
Several years back, I forgot to reorder my colostomy bags from America and was forced to find bags locally at hospitals or medical
supply stores. DID I PAY THE PRICE!!!! I found NO colostomy bags at ANY hospital. The only source was a medical supply store in
Moshi and they resembled a small zip lock bag with a useless adhesive strip. My life was simply a nightmare until replacement bags
arrived from America…..but NOTHING COMPARED TO THE NIGHTMARE Frank had endured for over five years.
At first I thought the solution would be a simple one…. SUPPLY Frank monthly with the high quality colostomy bags I use. I asked Frank
if he would let me examine his colostomy, and obligingly he pulled back the blanket covering his stomach and legs. I expected to see
a normal stoma, but was repulsed to see exposed intestines that had erupted over the years. Having no colostomy bags, Frank
wrapped his exposed intestines in a towel within a small plastic grocery bag holding the mess. The medical ward reeked of the smell
all too familiar to nurses and doctors tending to colostomy patients.
Although the site of his exposed intestines set me back on my heels, the site of his hips and legs was even more disturbing. His legs
were covered with sores indicative of the lack of proper medical support so important to paraplegics. This may surprise you, but
hospitals in Tanzania DON’T FEED YOU!. Unless you have relatives or friends to bring you food, YOU DON’T EAT!! Also, medicine must
be purchased by the family. In Frank’s case, he had survived for years with the support of a few nuns and nurses who had seen to his
daily needs. God love the nurses….they generally make less than $100 a month…. Not enough money to even support their own
families.
After realizing the extent of the problem at hand, I excused myself and asked the ward nurse if she knew where I could find the head
surgeon of CACHA, a Canadian medical team currently visiting the hospital. The Canadian surgeons visit our local hospital for a two
week stint twice yearly. I was lucky to find two Canadian surgeons taking their lunch break in an adjoining staff room. I introduced
myself and began to explain why I needed their assistance. Both Doctors were most cooperative …. certainly indicative of medical
personnel who devote significant time and effort each year visiting and healing the poor and less fortunate.
The surgeons listened attentively as I describe Frank’s medical condition. The older head surgeon said he would examine Frank, but
felt, from my description, that a relatively simple one hour surgical procedure would correct the erupted intestinal problem. He
seemed perturbed the hospital administrator and Chief of Staff (Dr. Clarisa) HAD NOT informed his surgical team that a young
orphaned boy had been confined to a hospital bed for years. He said his surgical team could NOT perform the procedure because
they were scheduled to leave for West Africa the following day. The surgeons excused themselves and returned to their busy
schedule. At that point, the ward nurse took me aside and whispered in my ear…”Babu, Frank is taking up a bed….the hospital is just
waiting for him to die!”
lived in Africa for the majority of the last 18 years …. since my days as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer in 1993…. I’ve seen more than my
share of heart wrenching stories. Frank’s situation was a new addition to the long list of human conditions I’ve encountered. Flora
and I found Frank in a hospital ward with 9 other patients. His eyes came alive when he realized that we had come to visit him. A
blanket covered his abdomen and legs and he held a cane in his hand… .as if to convey the message…. “I’m OK…. I can walk!” Of
course he couldn't walk with legs the size of match sticks. Flora explained to Frank that I also was a colostomy patient.
Several years back, I forgot to reorder my colostomy bags from America and was forced to find bags locally at hospitals or medical
supply stores. DID I PAY THE PRICE!!!! I found NO colostomy bags at ANY hospital. The only source was a medical supply store in
Moshi and they resembled a small zip lock bag with a useless adhesive strip. My life was simply a nightmare until replacement bags
arrived from America…..but NOTHING COMPARED TO THE NIGHTMARE Frank had endured for over five years.
At first I thought the solution would be a simple one…. SUPPLY Frank monthly with the high quality colostomy bags I use. I asked Frank
if he would let me examine his colostomy, and obligingly he pulled back the blanket covering his stomach and legs. I expected to see
a normal stoma, but was repulsed to see exposed intestines that had erupted over the years. Having no colostomy bags, Frank
wrapped his exposed intestines in a towel within a small plastic grocery bag holding the mess. The medical ward reeked of the smell
all too familiar to nurses and doctors tending to colostomy patients.
Although the site of his exposed intestines set me back on my heels, the site of his hips and legs was even more disturbing. His legs
were covered with sores indicative of the lack of proper medical support so important to paraplegics. This may surprise you, but
hospitals in Tanzania DON’T FEED YOU!. Unless you have relatives or friends to bring you food, YOU DON’T EAT!! Also, medicine must
be purchased by the family. In Frank’s case, he had survived for years with the support of a few nuns and nurses who had seen to his
daily needs. God love the nurses….they generally make less than $100 a month…. Not enough money to even support their own
families.
After realizing the extent of the problem at hand, I excused myself and asked the ward nurse if she knew where I could find the head
surgeon of CACHA, a Canadian medical team currently visiting the hospital. The Canadian surgeons visit our local hospital for a two
week stint twice yearly. I was lucky to find two Canadian surgeons taking their lunch break in an adjoining staff room. I introduced
myself and began to explain why I needed their assistance. Both Doctors were most cooperative …. certainly indicative of medical
personnel who devote significant time and effort each year visiting and healing the poor and less fortunate.
The surgeons listened attentively as I describe Frank’s medical condition. The older head surgeon said he would examine Frank, but
felt, from my description, that a relatively simple one hour surgical procedure would correct the erupted intestinal problem. He
seemed perturbed the hospital administrator and Chief of Staff (Dr. Clarisa) HAD NOT informed his surgical team that a young
orphaned boy had been confined to a hospital bed for years. He said his surgical team could NOT perform the procedure because
they were scheduled to leave for West Africa the following day. The surgeons excused themselves and returned to their busy
schedule. At that point, the ward nurse took me aside and whispered in my ear…”Babu, Frank is taking up a bed….the hospital is just
waiting for him to die!”
I decided to help Frank personally by supplying his colostomy bags and food /pocket money weekly. I hoped that the Canadians would
perform the necessary corrective surgery, but the Chief of Staff failed to inform the next Canadian surgical team on their subsequent
surgical trips. Over the last few years, I had assumed that Frank was being properly cared for by the Hospital Staff. When I would
check on the status of his colostomy, I would simply lift his sheet (left side of his body) and determine if he needed a new colostomy
bag. I never thought to lift the sheet on his right side or turn him over and inspect his back.
In late Nov 2010, Frank's younger brother came to the house and ask that I come to the hospital. I was in town at KCMC Hospital with
Benny, another of our children who was very sick. Flora went to the hospital to see what was wrong with Frank. Frank said that he
was not feeling good....pain in chest ..... stools were black. Flora waited until the Doctors were making their rounds and requested
that they thoroughly examine Frank. The Doctors said that they couldn't examine Frank because the ultra sound machine was not
working. The Doctor then wrote a referral letter to KCMC . Flora called me at KCMC in Moshi. I asked Flora the cost of transporting
him to KCMC Hospital by one of our local hospital's ambulances. She said they wanted 60,000 /= . I asked Flora to call Father Mosha
to see if he would take Frank to Moshi/KCMC since I was already at the hospital with Benny. Father Mosha asked if I could pay for the
gas and I agreed. Frank was admitted that evening. The following morning, while the nurses were cleaning him, I discovered a large
bed sore on his right hip as seen in the following photos. He was given two pints of blood and treated with antibiotics. When Frank
was discharged. I moved him to our home in Kilema, hired two of the best nurses at our local hospital, and began treatment in hopes
of saving his life.
perform the necessary corrective surgery, but the Chief of Staff failed to inform the next Canadian surgical team on their subsequent
surgical trips. Over the last few years, I had assumed that Frank was being properly cared for by the Hospital Staff. When I would
check on the status of his colostomy, I would simply lift his sheet (left side of his body) and determine if he needed a new colostomy
bag. I never thought to lift the sheet on his right side or turn him over and inspect his back.
In late Nov 2010, Frank's younger brother came to the house and ask that I come to the hospital. I was in town at KCMC Hospital with
Benny, another of our children who was very sick. Flora went to the hospital to see what was wrong with Frank. Frank said that he
was not feeling good....pain in chest ..... stools were black. Flora waited until the Doctors were making their rounds and requested
that they thoroughly examine Frank. The Doctors said that they couldn't examine Frank because the ultra sound machine was not
working. The Doctor then wrote a referral letter to KCMC . Flora called me at KCMC in Moshi. I asked Flora the cost of transporting
him to KCMC Hospital by one of our local hospital's ambulances. She said they wanted 60,000 /= . I asked Flora to call Father Mosha
to see if he would take Frank to Moshi/KCMC since I was already at the hospital with Benny. Father Mosha asked if I could pay for the
gas and I agreed. Frank was admitted that evening. The following morning, while the nurses were cleaning him, I discovered a large
bed sore on his right hip as seen in the following photos. He was given two pints of blood and treated with antibiotics. When Frank
was discharged. I moved him to our home in Kilema, hired two of the best nurses at our local hospital, and began treatment in hopes
of saving his life.
This is a true story written by Babu Bob Manire, x-U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer who first came to
Tanzania, East Africa 18 years ago as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer to educate the children of
Tanzania. It is a story of hope, frustration, despair, and death. The photos are real and most
alarming, so please exercise caution when exposing this story to young children! Human Rights
Violations are currently being prepared for submission to the International Court of Justice, The
Hague, Netherlands. The guilt or innocents of those involved in Frank's Tragic and Inhumane
Death will be determined by the International Court of Justice
Tanzania, East Africa 18 years ago as a U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer to educate the children of
Tanzania. It is a story of hope, frustration, despair, and death. The photos are real and most
alarming, so please exercise caution when exposing this story to young children! Human Rights
Violations are currently being prepared for submission to the International Court of Justice, The
Hague, Netherlands. The guilt or innocents of those involved in Frank's Tragic and Inhumane
Death will be determined by the International Court of Justice
The last four photos were taken by myself when we reached our home in Kilema. To say that we all were traumatized by the
extent of Frank's bed sores is an understatement. The reality that Frank had endured such medical treatment at the hands of
qualified medical personnel was beyond my comprehension .... and beyond belief that a young paralyzed boy would not have
received better medical treatment. It simply bordered on the criminal inhumane treatment of a fellow human being.
extent of Frank's bed sores is an understatement. The reality that Frank had endured such medical treatment at the hands of
qualified medical personnel was beyond my comprehension .... and beyond belief that a young paralyzed boy would not have
received better medical treatment. It simply bordered on the criminal inhumane treatment of a fellow human being.
I knew that time was most important..... both because of Frank's condition and the FACT that I had to return to The Baylor
Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas for heart treatment by my heart surgeon. My flight date was set and my ticket paid
with no cancellation clause.
Knowing it was of paramount importance that I accompany Frank to Texas where Tina and a UCLA Medical team would
accompany him to CA., I set out to obtain the proper visas for Frank's trip.
Regretfully paper work and bribes trump Human Life in Tanzania and I was not able to acquire the proper papers prior to
my departure date. However to my delight (I thought at the time it was to my delight!) Liz (who I had formerly met on one
of Cacha's earlier caravans) and the Cacha team returned the night before my departure to the States. I was able to
contact Liz and informed her of Frank's condition and my need to return to the States for the heart procedure. She agreed
to come to our facility the following morning and have the Canadian Doctors examine him.
On my return from the States several months later I found that Liz had placed Frank back in the hands of Dr. Clarisa, the
C.O.S. and her Medical Staff. I was also privately informed by several medical personnel at the hospital that he was no
longer being properly cared for and that his condition was very grave.
It became shockingly clear to me that Frank's medical needs were not being morally and responsible addressed. TOTALLY
UNACCEPTABLE in light the lack of humane care previously afforded Frank by Dr. Clarisa's Staff. I immediately contacted
Dr Wonanji asking that he send a medical team to the hospital to investigate. During my absence, Flora had continue to
feed Frank and supply his colostomy bags. She told me that Frank was daily soaked in his own urine from a leaking
catheter and his room reaked of the smell of urine and rotting flesh. We had encountered the same problem while he was
in our care and we took him to Marangu Medical Hospital where a surgeon inserted a new tube and balloon.....a
procedure that took but a few minutes. I again contacted Dr Wonanji and he called and ordered Dr. Clarisa to correct the
problem immediately. (Special Note : Which she did, but only after being ordered to do so by the Dr. Wonanji, the
Government District Medical Director in Moshi. It should also be noted that the hospital had previously been closed
because of a substandard environment.)
We were informed that Frank died on August 16 and I retrieved his body from the Hospital Morgue for burial. It was at the
morgue that I took the following photograph. Again, the photos are most shocking but reveal the lack of medical care
afforded him by the hospital. As his legal guardian and director/founder of Orphans of Kilimanjaro, we paid for all the
funeral expenses.
Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas for heart treatment by my heart surgeon. My flight date was set and my ticket paid
with no cancellation clause.
Knowing it was of paramount importance that I accompany Frank to Texas where Tina and a UCLA Medical team would
accompany him to CA., I set out to obtain the proper visas for Frank's trip.
Regretfully paper work and bribes trump Human Life in Tanzania and I was not able to acquire the proper papers prior to
my departure date. However to my delight (I thought at the time it was to my delight!) Liz (who I had formerly met on one
of Cacha's earlier caravans) and the Cacha team returned the night before my departure to the States. I was able to
contact Liz and informed her of Frank's condition and my need to return to the States for the heart procedure. She agreed
to come to our facility the following morning and have the Canadian Doctors examine him.
On my return from the States several months later I found that Liz had placed Frank back in the hands of Dr. Clarisa, the
C.O.S. and her Medical Staff. I was also privately informed by several medical personnel at the hospital that he was no
longer being properly cared for and that his condition was very grave.
It became shockingly clear to me that Frank's medical needs were not being morally and responsible addressed. TOTALLY
UNACCEPTABLE in light the lack of humane care previously afforded Frank by Dr. Clarisa's Staff. I immediately contacted
Dr Wonanji asking that he send a medical team to the hospital to investigate. During my absence, Flora had continue to
feed Frank and supply his colostomy bags. She told me that Frank was daily soaked in his own urine from a leaking
catheter and his room reaked of the smell of urine and rotting flesh. We had encountered the same problem while he was
in our care and we took him to Marangu Medical Hospital where a surgeon inserted a new tube and balloon.....a
procedure that took but a few minutes. I again contacted Dr Wonanji and he called and ordered Dr. Clarisa to correct the
problem immediately. (Special Note : Which she did, but only after being ordered to do so by the Dr. Wonanji, the
Government District Medical Director in Moshi. It should also be noted that the hospital had previously been closed
because of a substandard environment.)
We were informed that Frank died on August 16 and I retrieved his body from the Hospital Morgue for burial. It was at the
morgue that I took the following photograph. Again, the photos are most shocking but reveal the lack of medical care
afforded him by the hospital. As his legal guardian and director/founder of Orphans of Kilimanjaro, we paid for all the
funeral expenses.
International Human Rights Violations are currently being submitted to the International Court of Justice, The Hague,
Netherlands. The guilt or innocents of those involved in Frank's Tragic and Inhumane Death will be determined by the
International Court of Justice.
Robert B. Manire
Founder of Orphans of Kilimanjaro and Trustee of The Paul & Delilah Roch Charitable Trust
October 6, 2011
Netherlands. The guilt or innocents of those involved in Frank's Tragic and Inhumane Death will be determined by the
International Court of Justice.
Robert B. Manire
Founder of Orphans of Kilimanjaro and Trustee of The Paul & Delilah Roch Charitable Trust
October 6, 2011
I was so alarmed at the extent of Frank's condition that I visited a Doctor I had met the year before who works with an
orphanage in Moshi. The Doctor is an emergency room surgeon from Alaska who devotes a great deal of his time to
helping the orphans at his facility in Moshi. After viewing the photos and talking to Frank, he told me that with proper
care, love, and nourishment..... we would, in time, be able to cure Frank. I told him I had hired two very qualified nurses
who cleaned, applied topical antibiotics, and dressed his wounds daily.
Within weeks we had Frank exercising daily, rotating him to eliminate additional pressure sores, and moving about our
courtyard in his wheel chair. With Flora and the staff's love and great cooking, Frank began to gain weight and the
sparkle in his eyes returned. It was about this time that I met a lovely young emergency room surgical nurse from UCLA
Medical Center in CA, USA. She visited our facility and examined Frank. She immediately contacted the Doctors at UCLA
and was informed that the UCLA Medical Center would treat Frank free. At the same time she contacted a close friend of
hers in CA who offered to pay for Frank's flight. I contacted the Tanzanian and American Immigration offices seeking
visas and permission to transport Frank to America.
orphanage in Moshi. The Doctor is an emergency room surgeon from Alaska who devotes a great deal of his time to
helping the orphans at his facility in Moshi. After viewing the photos and talking to Frank, he told me that with proper
care, love, and nourishment..... we would, in time, be able to cure Frank. I told him I had hired two very qualified nurses
who cleaned, applied topical antibiotics, and dressed his wounds daily.
Within weeks we had Frank exercising daily, rotating him to eliminate additional pressure sores, and moving about our
courtyard in his wheel chair. With Flora and the staff's love and great cooking, Frank began to gain weight and the
sparkle in his eyes returned. It was about this time that I met a lovely young emergency room surgical nurse from UCLA
Medical Center in CA, USA. She visited our facility and examined Frank. She immediately contacted the Doctors at UCLA
and was informed that the UCLA Medical Center would treat Frank free. At the same time she contacted a close friend of
hers in CA who offered to pay for Frank's flight. I contacted the Tanzanian and American Immigration offices seeking
visas and permission to transport Frank to America.
