Dr. Ruth Mathieson, Co-Chair of the International Service Committee shared with the Rotary Club of Belleville a project in Tanzania
 
It came to Dr. Ruth's attention that three anaesthetic machines were desperately needed for remote  hospitals in NW Tanzania. The hospitals each had an operating room, and staff to act as nurse anaesthetists, but no anaesthetic machines.  The District Grant was to raise money( namely $25,000 Canadian) for the machines, which were suited to these remote areas. The machines were small, could be packed into a small suitcase, were portable, robust, 10kg in weight, simple to use, and could function if need be without electricity or oxygen., and can be assembled in 15 minutes. Along with the anaesthetic machines went three oxygenators , which could deliver 95% oxygen, endlessly, and three oximeters.
 
A report from Philibert John, the Nurse Anaesthetist Coordinator reads "the machines are in use everyday, and are used in any operations that require general anaesthetic and intubation. They are used in peritonitis, bowel obstruction, stomach perforation, ectopic pregnancy, hysterectomy, and Caesarean Sections.  The machines are simple to use, quick to apply to the patient, and cheaper to use because they are used with Oxygen Concentrators, rather than using oxygen cylinders that are more expensive.  There have been no problems with the machines and concentrators and our patients are recovering well.