Art in Tanzania partners with clinics and hospitals in the Dar es Salaam area to provide medical projects for volunteers who are either fully qualified doctors or nurses, or currently in Medical School. Around two weeks ago, Katja, a nurse from Norway, arrived in Tanzania and has been volunteering at the Faraja Dispensary, a local clinic in Madale, less than a 10-minute walk from the AIT compound.
The Faraja Dispensary is a private clinic that offers minor surgical procedures and general clinical services, including HIV/AIDS prevention, growth monitoring, and child healthcare services. Malaria diagnosis and treatment were noted as the most common problem dealt with at the clinic. Last week I, along with a fellow media and journalism intern, were able to assist Katja to the clinic to observe what happens on a typical day. She has mainly been performing injection procedures to treat diseases such as malaria. On Fridays, Katja works alongside nurses, assisting with the health care of children in the mother and baby unit of the dispensary.
I had the opportunity to speak with one of the head doctors at the clinic to learn more about the dispensary and some of the issues it addresses. The clinic is usually at its busiest at night, with doctors and nurses treating injuries resulting from road accidents. With the clinical facilities only enabling the treatment of minor injuries, patients with more serious problems are usually referred to a public hospital, which offers more advanced facilities and higher-quality instruments. Problems faced with transferring patients from the Faraja Dispensary to a hospital of higher standards is the availability of transport. Ambulances are not an option for patients from the Faraja Dispensary; therefore, public transport seems to be the only viable option. The patient, then, is responsible for covering the transport cost. The cost of healthcare, in addition to transport fees, is one of the issues many residents face. However, compared to larger-scale hospitals and clinics, Faraja Dispensary is one of the more affordable health services in the Madale area. They offer many free vaccinations, and the cost of medicine is somewhat affordable for the residents.
Art in Tanzania offers numerous projects involving medical and health care. In addition to working with multiple hospitals and clinics, volunteers can also provide community care, health education, and training to schools and villages in the Dar es Salaam area. They can help and assist clinic staff, as many are understaffed, and they can gain valuable medical experience in an environment different from the norm. One of the most significant ongoing projects is the HIV/AIDS awareness seminars in which volunteers can raise awareness of these issues to the local community. If you would like to learn more about some of the medical projects that Art in Tanzania offers, please don’t hesitate to visit our website.
Asante sana,
Lily
