Selian Lutheran Hospital is currently serving 50,000 patient visits annually. It does this at a very minimal cost to patients of approximately $2 per Outpatient visit and $3 per day to be in the hospital. The majority of patients come to the hospital with infectious tropical diseases or with acute surgical needs. Malaria and pneumonia account for a high percentage of medical admissions while trauma and acute abdomens are the greatest surgical demands.

The World Health Organization recommends 1 hospital bed for every 1,000 residents. The Arusha area now has a population of 850,000 but only 600 hospital beds. The community is at least 250 beds short of minimum requirements. Arusha also lacks adequate facilities in both number and quality of Obstetrical and Delivery Services. Much pressure has been placed on Selian Lutheran Hospital to provide these services. The purpose of this grant is to help satisfy those obstetrical and delivery services.