Konchog Gelek, Rima Clinic Administrator, inspects the new solar array

We made our goal of $25,000–and more– in only 4 weeks!

Due to the generosity of so many supporters our GlobalGiving Safe Childbirth in Rural Tibet project was fully funded in less than one month. We raised $26,151 in donations and received bonuses totaling $4,500 from GlobalGiving during the June Challenge. We are so grateful to everyone for making it possible to pay our doctors’ and midwife’s salary for one year and to install electricity in our clinic in Tibet. The electricity will bring light and heat to the clinic, make it possible to freeze and store vaccines and other medicines safely, and to run the ultrasound and other medical equipment. The clinic serves 30-50 people per day, or nearly 15,000 patients annually.

Any additional donations can be made directly to Amitabha Foundation and will go towards further training for our new midwife, clean birthing kits (which cost approximately $50 each, and include soap and a towel for the birth attendant, clean plastic sheet for the mother to lie on, clean blade and string for cutting and tying the umbilical cord, towels to dry the newborn, hat and blanket for the baby, and a 9 month supply of prenatal vitamins.), and a 4-wheel-drive vehicle to replace the ambulance that has served the community since 2007. The vehicle and registration fees will cost approximately $20,000. Having a reliable source of transportation to hospital has already saved several mothers’ and infants’ lives in our community.

We sincerely thank the 250 people who donated and many others who spread our story through Facebook and their other social networks for helping us reach and surpass our $25,000 goal so quickly. Check out photos of the new solar electricity installation here. Because of GlobalGiving and YOU we will be able to pay the balance due for the installation, and get caught up with salaries for our clinic staff.