St Mary’s Dispensary is situated in the Moshi region of Tanzania about 4km from Kilimanjaro International Airport (KIA) and looks after the needs of the staff at the airport as well as the local community.Although it is called a ‘dispensary’ St Mary’s also has inpatient beds and a new Medical officer, Dr Julius Kanyanka. Staff from St Mary’s visits one out-reach centre in a local village once a month. As with most health units in Tanzania, the most common disease the staff are treating at St Mary’s is malaria and its associated conditions, particularly anaemia.The dispensary has a very well designed laboratory but very little equipment. Inter Care provided the laboratory with a microscope in 2004. Originally started as a facility for the workers at Kilimanjaro International Airport, and first based in an old school building at the edge of the airport, this unit now has good buildings and serves a scattered population from the surrounding areas. It has basic facilities and patients requiring more specialised attention are referred to hospital in Moshi. Inter Care provides approximately 75% of St Mary’s medicines.

After a visit in September 2009, it is clearly a well run developing unit. There are 12 beds at present providing extensive ante and post natal care. They have 10-12 deliveries per month and are well staffed. There is an extensive (European sponsored) new building in progress which will mean a total of 42 beds when compete.