Chitokoloki Mission

Project: River Turbine


Type:	Major Addition
Urgency:	Short Term
Status:	Acquiring Supplies
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The Need:
At present there is no exterior source of electricity and so the Mission maintains diesel generators (100kVA). The fuel consumption is over 22L/hour so its use is limited to pumping water from the river into the storage tanks and similarly vital tasks. Generators are only operated for 4-1/2 hours each day, which currently adds up to $35,000(US) each year.

Not having reliable electricity greatly limits equipment usage and increases the cost of providing healthcare. The hospital is equipped with modern x-ray, ultrasounds, sterilizers and other devices that need power and the recently built ICU can only be fully utilized with constant electrical supply.

The Plan:

For over 2 years now the Mission has been working with a company in the USA to custom build a ‘flow turbine’ which should be an ideal solution that will produce constant 24-hour power at a very sustainable rate and affordable cost. The project is to have the turbines installed on 2 floating barges in the Zambezi River close to Chitokoloki Mission which will enhance all aspects of the work by providing a constant 100kVA of 3-phase electrical power. This will replace the existing generators and greatly increase the availability of water for the mission, schools and community as well as provide continuous electrical power at a much-reduced cost.

April 2008

Since the begining of this project there has been need to make many modifications of the design and electronic components which has caused lengthy delays and postponed the shipping of the complete barges, turbines and electronics from Maryland, USA.

This latest report was just received April 4th 2008 from UEK as to the progress on the manufacturing of the turbines and barges.

REPORT

Containers:

The first container was delivered to our shop location this week by the “barge manufacturer” Cianbro, Baltimore. The UEK turbine hoist was manufactured and is part of this container load. The container can only accommodate one barge at a time so there is a lot of space around the four main parts forming the “Barge” that could be loaded with other stuff if you request. There will be need to ship 3 40 foot containers to get all the supplies to Zambia

FIRST Barge status: ready to go.

The second barge to be assembled and ready to test the first of the two UEK turbines in a towed form in the Chesapeake Bay as soon as the electronics are ready.

Second Barge status: assembled at Cianbro’s yard, including hoist apparatus, ready to be used for the test.

Turbines:

We are progressing on both units at the same time and the shop labor is concentrating on the Chitokoloki project. The engineers of Alaska Power & Telephone will assist us in the testing because their turbine is the same design on platform but designed for 5.2 kts water velocity.

Electronic interface and ZESCO Transformer:

We are convinced that our electronic engineer and the Mission’s talents in this field know more about the status of this task whice is the component that has delayed the project. We trust them to make the best choices for the benefit of the Mission Hospital and consequently for UEK’s obligations and responsibilities. We are pleased to hear that ZESCO will provide the required transformers.

Representation of project status:

Platforms, Barges: 100% Completed Ready for shipping

Turbines: 80% Completed 2 months to shipping

Testing: -0-% Not Started 2+ months to shipping

Electronic interface: 50% Completed 2+ months to shipping

This is our best assessment for work on this side therefore shipment should occur within three months as the worst scenario.

Project: Airstrip & Hanger


Type:	Major Upgrade
Urgency:	Immediate
Status:	Implementation

The Need:

A 206 Cessnna plane is now based at Chitokoloki Mission and this has been a tremendous help n many aspects but especially in transporting the many visitors to and from Lusaka.

The Plan:
April 2008

We are pleased to advise that most of this project has been completed which includes the complete perimiter fencing of the entire airstrip plus the gravelling of the airstrip and access runway. The gravelling was completed in a 2 week period in December which required over 550 large dump truck loads of gravel and the work was very well done using a lot of equipment which included a large excavator, bulldozer, roller and compactor, road grader, 4 dump trucks and other equipment. The hanger which will comprise of a 15 x 18 meter roof has been ordered and the footings are installed and it should be delivered within the next 6 weeks.

Project: Hospital Floor Tiling


Type:	Minor Upgrade
Urgency:	Immediate
Status:	Completed

The Need:
Since the construction of the hospital many years ago the floors have always been concrete slabs and over the years have developed a lot of cracks and always in need of constant repair. The many areas that were cracked and uneven surfaces combined with the constant wear amde it almost impossible to repair any further and it was decided that it would be a tremendous improvement if the floors could be tiled with ceramic tiles.

The Plan:

We are very pleased to report that the complete hospital has been fully tiled and it has changed the entire apperance of the hospital and made it very much easier to clean and maintain. This has been one of the largest projects that has been undertaken and required it to be done in stages as the hospital still had to function while it was been done.

The end result was worth all the disruption and hard work and has made it look like a complete new building.

Project: Nursery School


Type:	Minor Addition
Urgency:	Immediate
Status:	Awaiting Implementation

The Need:
A large room has been set aside for a new area of outreach in starting a pre-school nursery for the children of staff and others who would benefit. The large area needs a lot of work in ceiling, painting, finishing and a fence erected around the area. Most of the supplies for the Nursery school are on site.

The Plan:

The walls have all been repaired and a new roof insalled on the Nursery Scool Building. The room has been divided into one large room plus several small rooms and the walls have been painted. New windows havejust been installed and some furniture and equipment has arrived to enable the Nursery School to function.

The most important item still required is a person who would be able to run the Nursery School.

Project: Accomodation


Type:	Major Upgrade
Urgency:	Immediate
Status:	Implementation

The Need:

For several years we have been struggling to accomodate the many visitors, medical personel and medical students who vist Chitokoloki each year. All the present houses have been occupied and at times we have had to turn down offers of help as there has been no accomodation available.

The Plan:

A plan was drawn up to build a semidetached building or two housing units of 2 bedrooms each on a site that previously had a mission house and has a great view of the river. All supplies have been purchased and are on site and we are thankful for a couple Brass Tacks teams who helped get the project going and now the walls are almost up but plenty still to be done to finish the structure to enable it to be used. The hardest part to complete are the interior aspects, electrical, plumbing, ceiling and painting.