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Medical centres Kilimanjaro - Electives and volunteering
We currently offer the possibility to do clinical electives, student internships and volunteering with three medical centres in the Kilimanjaro region.
Mama Mwashi's maternity home and home-based care
Angela Mwashi has been working all her life as a nurse and midwife. She spent many years at the KCMC (Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre) in Moshi, one of the country's leading hospitals. Angela got retired in 2002. But she continued following her lifelong vocation, because in her home place Chekereni Weruweru in the suburbs of Moshi, just next to the huge Coca Cola bottleworks, the medical care is not satisfying at all: Expecting mothers have to walk half-day distances to get medical check-ups, many children are born handicapped because mothers are suffering from infections during pregnancy, the workers of the ricefields are battling bilharzia, and AIDS is a serious problem.
Therefore Mama Mwashi started using her small government pension to open a maternity and medical centre in her private home. She is financing the largest part of her private medical centre from her own pockets. Twice a week her centre is open for consultation and check-ups of pregnant women, newborns and sick people. As a professional nurse, in Tanzania she is allowed to prescribe standard drugs. The remaining days of the week she spends visiting patients at their homes or accompanying them to KCMC hospital. Due to a lack of funds she has to do this by foot, meaning she spends long hours walking every day.
Her commitment is financially supported in very limited terms from the local NGO "WODEF" (Widows, orphans anddisabled development foundation). As this NGO is supporting three further comparable medical centres in the Moshi area and is only funded by the membership fees of its local members, Angela's monetary means are not sufficient at all to offer a satisfying medical care in her suburb.
Angela is looking for students and professional volunteers from the medical and nursing field to support her. This position will give valuable insights into the reality of medical situation in an African country.
Mama Pulcharia's clinic
Mama Pulcharia's Clinic is similar to Mwashi's centre. In fact Pulcharia is the person who trained Mwashi to be a nurse. Her centre is open 7 days per week from morning to 8 pm. Mama Pulcharia hold the degree of an "Assistant to medical officer" which allows her to run a private clinic with the permission from the Tanzanian Health Ministry. Besides herself, two clinical officers, a nurse and midwife, and a laboratory technician are working at the centre.
The diseases which are typically treated include Malaria, infectional diseases, Diarrhea diseases, small accidents, skin problems, diabetis, high blood pressure, allergic reactions, eye problems and HIV. Deliveries are only done in urgent cases, but it is planned to expand in the field of Mother & Child.
Every Thursday, Pulcharia is driving to the rural region of Boma Ngombe to treat the local population which mostly are Maasai. This is being sponsored by Irish missionaries. Volunteers/elective students can accompany Pulcharia on these trips.
The number of patients varies depending on the season. During the rainy season the number of infectional diseases increases, the most busy months are March to June and October/November.
It is possible to volunteer with Pulcharia, and to do electives/student placements.
SIIMA HOSPITAL Moshi
The SIIMA Hospital in the town centre of Moshi is run by Dr. Ngatulile who has studied medicine in Leeds/UK. It is an established centre with around 40 outpatients per day. Additionally there are 12 beds which most of the time are occupied. The typical diseases being treated include HIV, Diarrhea diseases, Malaria, Tuberculosis and tropical diseases.
At SIIMA Hospital there are 5 physicians; one of them is a dentist. Further, there are 9 nurses and a laboratory technician. Some days every month, Dr. Ngatulele is working at Kibosho Hospital in the rural Kilimanjaro region where elective/internship students can accompany him. Besides SIIMA Hospital, Ngatulele is also running the St. Thomas Medical Centre in Arusha which has a total capacity of 40 beds, and where also bigger operations are being carried out. Elective/internship students can also spend some time there.
The activities with Dr. Ngatulele are only possible for students of medicine or nursing.
Info box:
Location: Moshi/Kilimanjaro, Tanzania
Duration: 3 weeks to 12 months*
Special qualification required: Yes
Costs: free of charge (Trouble-free package for 500 € is optional). For electives at Siima Hospital, it is required to book the trouble-free package at a rate of 550 €.
Accommodation & Meals: Not included.
Included: Placement in the project; if
you opt for the trouble-free package the whole range of services which
is part of the trouble-free package is included
Not included: Travel, health insurance, visa, work permit
Book this placement now!
* Volunteering/electives for 1-2 weeks is possible as part
of voluntourism.
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