Frequently asked questions and answers.
What should I bring to wear?
It is cooler than you may think. We are at 1370 meters elevation, about 3300 feet. The average temperature year round is 70 F. You may want to bring a light jacket and at night a quilt or blanket feels good.
Women should bring at least one skirt to wear to church or more “dress up” occasions. Tight slacks or jeans are inappropriate. Bare middles would be shocking. Shoulders and knees are covered for both men and women except when guys are playing sports. I usually wear longish dresses. Den wears cargo pants and a shirt.
Medical people can work in scrubs.
We wear sandals most of the time, or tennis shoes.
It is not a bad idea to bring a broad brimmed hat or buy one after you arrive to protect yourself from the sun.
What is the temperature like?
We are at 3310 ft. elevation and our temperature is between 64 and 85 year round. There is a wet season and a dry season. Wet season is usually October or November until the middle of April. However, climatic changes are affecting rainfall and the weather is less predictable.
How can I get money (Tanzania shillings) in Mwanza?
There are ATM machines in Mwanza. You use your ATM card and put in the amount of Tanzania shilling you want up to 400,000.00 per transaction. The exchange rate today, June 14, 2007 was 1265 Tsh/ $1.00 USD.
Can I buy things with a credit card or traveler’s cheques?
Not really necessary to bring them, they’re a pain to exchange and the banks charge a fee after you’ve stood in line for an hour. Credit cards have limited usage here. Check with your bank regarding charges for cash advances.
How much cash do I need to bring with me? Or, what will I need money for?
The United Nations recommends that their people carry about $400.00 with them in a foreign country to cover unforeseen emergencies.
You will need money to buy gifts, buy water and soda and food, going out to dinner, helping us with fuel for transport, etc., internet café, postage, telephone, etc.
If you go on safari these expenses should be made clear in advance by your safari company. We will be happy to recommend companies with whom we’ve had experience if you’d like.
How do I pay for my room and board?
You have a couple of choices, and we’re still working on this with the bookkeeping. You can send a check to International Health Partners US & TZ, c/o 1811 S 39th St. #36,Mesa, AZ 85206. Please mark on the memo line exactly what this is for, i.e. guest house fees/room and board guest house, etc.
Or, you can just give us either the dollars or shillings here before you leave.
What are the housing accommodations like?
We have 2 guest houses, one is 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, living, dining, and kitchen with plumbing (however, we do not flush every time, and because the plumbing is delicate, we do not put paper in it). There is hot water showers. The other guest house has 3 bedrooms and one bathroom which has hot water. Our house has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms and there is a hot shower in our bathroom. Mosquito nets are on all beds.
We manage a hostel that sleeps about 20 people. It is right here in the compound, with lovely gardens and places for meditation and prayer. There are two conference rooms and a dining hall. Meals are served for guests. All beds have bed nets.
For now, it would be very helpful if you’d think about bringing your own sheets, pillow cases, towels, wash cloths, with the thought of leaving them. Bringing a pillow is a great idea not only for sleeping, but for sitting on if you’re going on safari, or will ride across the game parks. It is bumpy.
Will I be able to do laundry there?
You can wash out anything you want, but if it’s the rainy season, it may not get dry right away. We do have ladies here happy to do your laundry for you. Please mark everything with a black marker with your name. All laundry is done by hand in cold water. The laundry ladies are paid $3.00 per day with a contribution for soap. .
Where will I eat and with whom?
Basically food costs about $10.00 a day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Many volunteers eat at the hostel for one meal, and eat with Denny and Paula for breakfast (self serve) or lunch. It depends on what the schedule is.
If you stay at the hostel you will eat there with your group. There are staff cooks. If you stay at the guest house you can choose to cook for yourself or do communal cooking and eating and cleaning up at my house.
It’s a good idea to bring your own favorite snack foods. There is not a 7-11 on the corner. M & Ms and Oreos are considered gourmet treats at my house.
What kind of food is served?
I’m an American and tend to do American style cooking. Last night we had spaghetti. Some nights we have a pancake supper. The guests in the guest house had hamburgers last night. We fix soup frequently. Because we are near Lake Victoria, fresh fish is available in the market and we have it frequently. We also fix chicken from time to time, but it’s a bit of a production as when you buy it, it’s still alive. Each of the houses has a stove and refrigerator.
At the hostel the food served will depend somewhat on what’s in season, but it will include soup, ugali (maise – corn – that is ground up and cooked in water to a thick mashed potato consistency), rice, noodles, cooked cabbage, meat, chicken, fish, etc. and whatever vegetables and fruits that are in season, i.e. pineapple, avocado, tangerines, bananas, oranges, carrots, green peppers, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, etc.
If I have special dietary needs can they be accommodated?
Denny is allergic to onions. I am allergic to beef, pork, lamb, goat, shrimp, sunflower seeds and pepper. We understand allergies and special needs, and we’ve learned to work around them. When we have a group of people cooking here, there is plenty of “give and take” with menus and a variety of foods so no one seems to ever go hungry.
Are my expenses tax deductible in the U.S.?
Check with your own tax person.
What kind of work do you need volunteers to do?
We need medical professionals, of course, but we also need people who know how to build or are “handy”. We need building professionals, i.e. tradesmen and women, but we also welcome those who come along “to fetch and carry.” There is always sorting to be done in Central Supply. There is always work for willing hands.
What training/expertise are you looking for?
In the medical field, at this point we are an outpatient clinic. We can do some “lumps and bumps” type surgeries but do not have an O.R. at this point though there is a room we’re preparing for small procedures. We have a medical laboratory that we’re attempting to equip.
There are opportunities for teachers to work in the different schools run by the diocese. Musicians can share their talents and teach. Artists can decorate the walls. Computer people can teach us at a very basic level. Electricians can wire, plumbers can figure out why we have buckets under every sink, painters can paint and paint and paint and paint, engineers can help us with building designs and construction techniques. Gofers and flunkies are highly valued.
Are you affiliated with a church? How?
International Health Partners, U.S. is a 501c3 non-profit corporation registered with the State of Minnesota. International Health Partners, TZ is a registered NGO (Non-Governmental Organization).
At Nyakato we work with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, East of Lake Victoria Diocese. The health care facility is on land owned by the church and it is their clinic. However, the clinic treats anyone who comes to the door regardless of religion or beliefs. We are here to serve the people of Tanzania.
The ELCT/ELVD Nyakato Health Center is managed by the Clinic Officer, Dr. Bonaventura, and the nurse manager, Mirriam. It is THEIR clinic to run. Visiting medical professionals are here to assist them, not to force them to do things the “American way, or the Austrian, Australian, German, Irish, British way.” (We have visiting medical professionals from all over the world.) They welcome suggestions, but please be aware it is THEIR clinic, not ours and not yours. Suggestions may be integrated within the clinic, but it is a process. We are here to assist them to give the best medical care possible under the circumstances.
In Dodoma our nursing school is part of St. John’s University, an Anglican institution.
In Dar es Salaam the pediatric AIDS hospital will be an NGO.
Do you have any restrictions on who can volunteer?
We do not want to take responsibility for children under 16 years of age, and then only those accompanied by a parent. Groups including those 18 to 20 we expect responsible adults to chaperone them.
It is important for people to be in good health. Life is more strenuous here than in the U.S. and people need to be able to get around and in and out of safari vehicles, etc. If you have a chronic back problem, for instance, it would be a good idea to check with your physician to see if you could withstand the travel on our rough roads.
You can stay either short or long-term, depending on your schedule and what you plan to do while you’re here.
Will I have any free time/days off?
Yes, your volunteer schedule is up to you. However, we have very limited transport available for “going to town for shopping, etc.” and your shopping would have to be worked into the errands needing to be run that day by our staff. If you want to go into town for a special trip on your own, then we’d expect you to pay the fuel and driver. Fuel is, at this time, about $6.00/gallon. It takes about 20 minutes driving time to get from the clinic compound to downtown Mwanza.
The clinic is in operation 5 ½ days a week. On Sundays you can go to church at the chapel here on the grounds, or you can go into town to any of the churches there. There are nice restaurants in Mwanza to go to after church if desired.
The Sukuma Cultural Center is about 10 Km from the compound and is an interesting afternoon visit and features dancers/singers.
Is the environment calm or chaotic?
Well, if you want peace and quiet, you should not come. There are activities all the time, work needing to be done, and people everywhere. You need to be able to cope with that kind of excitement.
What is there to see and do in the area?
You can go walking with a partner. You can play games with the local youth, they’re very welcoming, i.e. soccer and basketball.
As far as night life, it’s not much of an option for visitors. We don’t have transport available at night and taxis do not run after 9:00 P.M.
Do I need to speak Swahili? Do Tanzanians speak English?
The clinic staff speaks English. Most Tanzanians speak a little English. You do not have to speak Swahili but a few words, especially greetings, are nice.
How do I get there?
You fly from the U.S. or Europe with your end goal being Arusha or Dar es Salaam. From there you take a domestic flight (either Precision Air or Tanzania Air) to Mwanza. You let us know when you’re going to arrive and we come to the airport and pick you up. There are also direct flights from Europe to Nairobi, then to Mwanza.
Or
If you want to go through the game parks on the way over here, you can do that with a safari company who will arrange vehicles and drivers who will bring you over here. We’re only 1 ½ hours hour from the western gate of the Serengeti.
Most people choose to go through the parks at the end of their time here rather than at the beginning.
You will be jet-lagged when you arrive. It is a long journey. Almost all of the international flights arrive late at night at the airport in Arusha. You can stay at the Kia Lodge which is only 2 minutes from the airport (they have a shuttle) then return to the airport the following morning to fly on over here. We have friends with safari companies who can make all of these arrangements for you as soon as you know your international flight information.
Or,
We can arrange for a tour agency to have you met and taken into Arusha, 55 Km from the airport, where you can spend the night and then be taken in the morning to the free shuttle that will take you back to the airport. There is about a $50.00 charge for this service. You can stay in hotels in Arusha for almost any budget.
I’d like to go on safari while I’m there. How can I arrange that?
There are tour companies that can assist you. There are several levels of travel and what you want to spend is up to you.
What shots to I need?
We recommend that you check with the CDC website for whatever may be recommended at any certain time.
For sure you will need:
An up-to-date Tetanus titre
Hepatitis A and B
Make sure you have had MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella)
And have had a DPT (Diphtheria, Pertusis, Tetanus).
Optional:
Typhoid
ESSENTIAL: Malaria prophylaxis
Check with your personal physician for the best choice for you.
Do you have a website? Newsletter?
Our website is www.ihptz.org
If you’d like to receive our e-mail updates, please send me a note at:
paulalofstrom@yahoo.com and I’ll put you on the list.
We print a newsletter every so often and if you’d like to be on the list, please let us know.
Where do I make donations?
Please send all donations to: Joyce Zemel, IHP-US, 1811 S 39th St. #36,Mesa, AZ 85206
Are there specific things you need donated, or that I could contribute to?
Our want and wish list is flexible and changes constantly. We usually mention what’s needed in our updates. Most of what we need we can buy here if we have the money to do it.
Will we be able to attend church services while we’re there?
Absolutely.
Do cell phones work there?
Yes. However, we use pre-paid phones here with cards you buy to put money into the phone. Some U.S. cell phones work out here but I have no idea of the costs. You must check with your cell phone plan. A cell phone here costs about $50.00 on up. We do have good coverage here in Mwanza.
Do not use your cell phone next to the open window in the car, someone may grab it.
How can my family contact me while I’m there?
My phone number is 0784 749 320. If you dial it from the U.S. it’s:
011 255 784 749 320
Our address is:
International Health Partners – TZ
Dennis and Paula Lofstrom
P.O. Box 604
Mwanza, Tanzania
East Africa
Use your right hand when shaking hands or passing something to someone. Using the left hand is rude. Or you can use both hands to give someone something.
Women do not kiss men on the cheek. One shakes hands, or there is a sort of half hug to someone you know well. You will see it…and it probably appropriate when you leave. However, men and men, women and women and men and women often hold hands for a short distance after shaking hands. It is only done with good friends and Americans often find it endearing.
When you motion with your fingers for someone to come or follow you, point your fingers down, not up.
Don’t point at people. You can point at animals or things, but not people.
Don’t shout.
Dress as suggested above.
Normally, one does not call anyone by their first name. The first name is a very private one, and often one can be acquainted with someone for years without knowing their first name. However, the people we work with every day know that foreigners have this habit of calling people by their first name. An inquiry about how they wish to be address is helpful.
Many people will think you have lots of money…and you do compared to their small salaries and this area of poverty. They may try to get you to sponsor their children in school, and other things which cost you money. If you wish to get involved in this kind of project, we suggest you talk it over with us so that it can be facilitated in the best way or discouraged.
Other people just love to talk to you about the way you live in your country and about other things. They are flattered when you ask about them. But do be aware that personal questions about a man’s wife, other than asking if they have children may be deemed intrusive. Women are usually less reserved but be alert. It is unusual to talk at all about sex and the topic can be introduced in a very general way after knowing someone.
Bring the goodies you like, they’re probably not available here.
Our power is 220 V, 50 cycle. Check on the appliance you’re using and see what it requires or tolerates. However, we do have frequent power outages.
We have universal adaptors in almost all the outlets. If you need a converter, however, you need to bring it. Remember again the difference between 50 and 60 cycle. If you run a small appliance meant for 60 cycle, it just burns out the motor (which stinks).
Always ask before you take someone’s picture. Always.
Do not lean out of the car window to take pictures in town, someone may grab your camera. Film and developing are available here. However, if you want anything but 100 speed, bring it with you. Developing is about 15 cents per print.
For medical, we do not have mal-practice issues here.
For personal medical or other insurance, please check with your provider.
We have a dial-up system in my house and the smaller guest house, which is slow most of the time except in the middle of the night. So, if you want to use your own computer, it costs us about $1.00 a day for the connection. There are internet cafes around, one out here in Nyakato that has a pretty fast connection most of the time (not always). It costs about $1.00 per hour. We have to drive you there, however.
Please be aware that at my house, sometimes I must use my computer up to 12 – 14 hours a day for work. So, for your own personal needs, think of the guesthouse computer or going to the internet café.
Gloves, Band-aids, alcohol wipes, needles 18g or smaller (larger numbers), syringes between 3 and 5 cc/ml, AA batteries for the ophthalmoscope and otoscopes, plastic tips for the otoscopes, plastic tips for the digital ear thermometer. Please let us know if you have access to more high-tech or specific medical equipment as we may not be prepared to use it yet, or it may be absolutely what we have been needing.
Please bring a “personal” first-aid kit: pair of gloves, band-aids, alcohol wipes, Neosporin equivalent, anti-diarrhea, anti-pain, and, of course, your malaria prophylaxis.
Safety
Please do not walk around after dark. While most people are friendly and love to talk to you, there are (as in any society), people who do not act appropriately. There are some discos in town, but people we know do not advise you go there at night. Those who work with us will be able to give you more specific information.