Kilema Hospital is situated in the Moshi region of Tanzania on the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro. It is run by the Sisters of Our Lady of Kilimanjaro and became a District Designated Hospital in 1984 with a capacity of 70 beds. Serving a catchment of over 228,000 people, Kilema Hospital provides general medical and surgical services as well as primary health care services. Along with 9 other ABSN colleagues and 1 Clinical Instructor, I will observe and provide hands-on care under the supervision of the Kilema Hospital staff for a duration of two weeks. Some of our clinical activities will include rotations through the hospital and out-patient clinics including reproductive health, pediatric immunizations, HIV/AIDS with home visits, adolescent health, other infectious diseases, as well as conducting community health assessments. While in Tanzania, I will learn about the cultural practices of patients and their families and learn basic Swahili.
This clinical experience is a part of an ongoing, long-term partnership between Kilema Hospital and Duke. I will be there to train with and learn from local healthcare professionals about emerging health concerns in the region and how they address them. This is a great opportunity to observe different, perhaps better, ways to approach healthcare. To be clear - this is not an international aid trip and I would be happy to further discuss the differing nature of this project with those that are curious.
The concepts of personal space, time, communication, conflict resolution, decision making, gender roles, power, disclosure, etc. can be seen very differently in other countries. So in preparation, over the next several months, I will be orienting myself to cultural differences, studying Swahili, researching local customs, social rules and cultural norms.
Your donations will not only go towards my professional enrichment as a nurse, but also - a plane ticket, in-country expenses, and medical supplies.
Asante sana!
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