The basic aim of this project is to improve and better equip the existing Mai Taimako Medical Center in Biu with a technical training and communication center. The establishment of a computer and communication center will provide access to current medical software and training to be used in the training of both onsite medical staff and “barefoot doctors” that provide basic medical treatment to more rural areas. With 22 beds, the small Mai Taimako Medical Center is the only local hospital with current medical equipment, such as X-Ray machines, within an 80 km radius. Rotary funds will be able to better help the many people in the surrounding area.
Medical and educational facilities are very poor in the remote community of Biu, Nigeria, which has approximately 75,000 residents. With high transportation costs and long distances to State-funded hospitals, the poor cannot often utilize State facilities. This project will provide local Biu medical professionals with the equivalent training and educational resources of those available at larger hospitals. Specifically, it will meet the needs of the community by providing essential access to technical equipment, training and updated medical information and resources.
A more knowledgeable medical staff will then be able to perform more complex procedures and expand on the 690 procedures performed last year alone.
Technology solutions will help better manage identification and response time to health crises. For example, specific case studies will be provided via both CD-ROMs and other electronic formats as needed. If a certain medical procedure required additional information, international partner physicians could quickly send electronic resources to the host hospital physicians for easy access. The technology will facilitate international communication around pressing health care needs.
The resources provided by the San Diego Breakfast Rotary will enable the development and continuance of training utilizing the teach-the-teacher model. This methodology will enable the establishment of hands-on classes involving computer maintenance and repair, along with English tutorials and ensure their perpetuality. Implementation and maintenance will consist of ongoing dialogue to identify and resource training needs of the technical center at the hospital. As the host partner identifies needs, they will be communicated to the international partner to initiate the process of securing these resources. | 
