My dad came across this newspaper article about the opening of a clinic in Musoma in 1957. He translated it from Swahili into Italian for me, and this is my translation into English. It's not seat-grippingly exciting, and sometimes perhaps not totally politically correct, but it's an interesting slice of information for my family history. It would be interesting to know what became of the Ikizu clinic: at least this was on the mainland. It was heart-wrenching when we went back to Ukerewe Island and saw the 100-bed hospital my dad had built virtually abandoned, with only 20 beds left and no mattresses, still with no water or electricity...

‘The day has come to eradicate witchcraft and bad habits,’

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said Dr Fornari at the opening of the Ikizu clinic. ‘Many people who are unfamiliar with medical practices in hospitals believe in witchcraft and customs which do not make sense, so we need to make an effort to put an end to this, and place our trust in one single direction: hospitals.’

At half past three in the afternoon of 3 April 1957, a crowd of at least a thousand people, including children from Ikizu Primary School with their music, gathered in front of the maternity building. Soon afterwards the inauguration ceremony began, with speeches. Chief Mohamed Makongoro said: ‘Today we are fortunate to inaugurate this new building, which was constructed here at Ikizu by the South Mara local government with a view to giving pregnant women a place to give birth. Years ago, childbirth was very difficult, and many mothers died. But today we are lucky to have obtained this special building, and we thank our District Commissioner, our doctor, the Secretary and Treasurer, and the local government authorities. And last but not least, we thank Mother Superior, and pray that God may give her a kind heart to help her manage this clinic and give good advice according to the best medical practices. May Queen Elizabeth II protect her.

Our Musoma doctor, Ugo Fornari, holding the scissors and ready to cut the ribbon, said ‘First of all I must thank Chief Mohamed Makongoro for his speech, and all the inhabitants of Ikizu for their kind and respectful words, and I’d like to say that it’s a great honour for me to open this clinic. The District Commissioner, Mr F.B. Weeks, is unable to be with us because he has another engagement: he received a telephone call today and has to go to Mwanza for a discussion with the Provincial Commissioner about the construction of the new cotton ginnery in the Musoma District. That is why I am here to open the clinic on his behalf with Mother Superior, and Mzee Maato is also with us.

We still have huge challenges ahead. We worked hard to obtain an obstetrician, and did not succeed, but we will keep trying, because without one, we cannot work satisfactorily. For every type of work, not only for obstetrics, it is better to have highly qualified people. The medical department needs certified operators who have completed a course in medicine and obstetrics. If Ikizu was chosen from all the areas in this district, it is because it is an important place right in the middle of the Musoma district, on the main road. This will not be the only building here: the Government urgently needs to put up other buildings, besides the medical centre. The next building on the plans is a Health Centre, and if it’s built here, there is no doubt that Musoma will be known as the headquarters for health.

I think you can all see with your eyes what the government and local authorities have done to develop this area. One contribution we will never forget is the building of this clinic which will reduce the difficulties of mothers who need to give birth: instead of going 35 or more miles to Musoma, they will come here. To tell you the truth, this is not the end of our problems: there are other grave difficulties concerning transport to the main hospital in Musoma, where patients can be attended and treated properly.

What I am going to say now must not be forgotten: the time has come to completely eradicate witchcraft and bad habits. Many people who are unfamiliar with medical practices in hospitals believe in witchcraft and customs which do not make sense, so we need to make an effort to put an end to this, and place our trust in one single direction: hospitals.

To finish, I would like to remind you again that this clinic is the result of enormous effort and cooperation between the government and local authorities towards mutual aid, improved conditions, and progress in this country. Let’s help each other help medical workers in their jobs – and if we do this we will favour civilisation and progress. A fixed unit has power which cannot be overestimated.

This maternity unit has been built in a lovely area near the Ikizu dispensary. It is a well-constructed, modern building. The corrugated iron roof is a pleasant colour. The windows are all in glass, also pleasing to the eye. There are various rooms: a room for obstetrics, and other rooms, including one which can accommodate four or five beds for women in labour. There’s a store room and a dispensary, and a room with just one bed for the deliveries. There is a lot of equipment, including scales to weigh the babies, and various other tools. There are two water tanks, a kitchen and a bathroom. The building is attractive, and we must thank the Director of Works who supervised the work carried out by the Musoma local authorities. This is the second clinic in the Musoma district, but the first in this chiefdom. The first was built in 1955 at the Musoma government hospital, and was inaugurated by Provincial Commissioner’s delegate for the Lake Province, J. Bradley, on 2 October 1955.

Musoma is making progress as regards construction both in the educational and medical fields.