June 2011

Mary Ellen writing:

Dear Friends,

This month we were blessed with 15 students from Winona State University. They came to volunteer at Nyakato along with their two gifted and wonderful professors, Drs. John and Cathy Nosek. They are in Tanzania studying Ecology. They come to Nyakato every two years to fulfill the service component of their course. WSU says that their motto is, “making a difference in the world.” And that they do! One year they painted the whole clinic making it fresh and clean.

 

This year they planted palm trees and flowers around new corridors connecting the clinic and eye center, the birthing center and the Patricia Ward. They worked so hard they could hardly walk the next day. They absolutely transformed these areas. When the Assistant to the Bishop Emmanuel Makala saw it he shook hands with each of them and thanked them adding, “I could put a chair here and look at this for a few hours and add a few years onto my life!”

 

Research has shown than being in a calm and beautiful space reduces stress…and yes, maybe that will lengthen our lives and give joy to all the years.

 

May you live long within God’s garden of beauty in peace and love.

 

Thanks to the students, our patients and visitors will have that opportunity.

 

I will be in the United States (at my children’s insistence) late June until late July, enjoying the green summer. No snow for me! Karibu (welcome ) to warm Tanzania when the winter cold gets too much for you!!

 

Sincerely, Mary Kitundu, President of IHP US-TZ

 

Den Lofstrom writing:

Time of the month for another Update and I became aware that those who have not visited us have not had a description of the planned hospital.

 

It consists of 24 units, numbered and listed below. Six of these units exist in one form or another. The clinic building, the birthing center, the eye clinic, the Patricia Ward, the laundry and the foundation for the x-ray/laboratory suite.

 

In what we consider the construction office, my office in our home, there is a large filing box for e3ach unit. Stacked four high in 6 rows, each labeled and numbered, containing all the information for that unit. The architectural blue prints and working drawings with construction notes, and instructions, materials lists, and cost estimates, and all correspondence relative to the specific unit.

 

Then we have a “to scale” site plan layout, 1 cm=8 feet, which we use for specific projects, such as water distribution to calculate distances we need for how much pipe, and the same for electric cable between buildings, etc. We use this site plan also to orient our visitors who have shown an interest in the construction of the hospital.

 

Perhaps, for those who have not been on the teams who have been here, this will give you more of an overview of the project.

 

We greatly appreciate all of the support you have given IHP-US & Tz. Thank you. Blessings to all of you.

 

Den Lofstrom, M.D., Chief Operations Officer

 

1. Administration

2. Outpatient clinic

3. Radiology and laboratory suite

4. Surgical suite

5. Solar Panel Court

6. Bogumil birthing center

7. Laundry

8. Maintenance Department

9. Patricia Ward

10. Men’s medical/surgical ward

11. Emergency trauma department

12. Eye ward

13. Eye clinic

14. Pediatric Ward

15. Women’s medical/surgical ward

16. Central supply

17. Central Pharmacy

18. Well-baby, MCH clinic

19. Physical therapy/rehabilitation building

20. Dental clinic

21. Maternity home complex and hostel

22. Three guard houses and security fence

23. Covered corridors

24. Staff facility and day care center and class room area for continuing education

 

Dan Magliozzi writing:

When I learned about a possible trip to Tanzania through IHP, I was ecstatic. Talking to the 2nd year med students, I found out I could get a great clinical experience at Nyakato Clinic, and supplement it with an immersion into the Mwanza culture. I had never been abroad before, so I was interested to not only see what people in Tanzania have to deal with from a health standpoint, but also how they spend their time outside the health arena. In coming to Tanzania, I was preparing myself to see all the things from malaria to schistosomiasis, I was hoping to put my practice in blood-drawing to the test and I was ready to learn a new language, Swahili, and communicate with people both in the clinic and in the community.

 

When I first landed at the Mwanza airport, I was immediately surprised by the size of the airport. Like I said, I had never been outside of the states, so I really did not know what to expect. I realized pretty quickly that life would be different. The next thing I realized was that although life would be different, it would be very exciting. Before ever even going to the clinic, I learned to live without power or internet, two luxuries taken for granted in America. I also didn’t have a cold shower, or snacks whenever I opened my refrigerator. In living this new lifestyle, I quickly was able to understand how people in Mwanza live, although I still probably had many luxuries compared to many of the people here.

 

Once I got to my first day in the clinic, I saw how different the problems here were compared to America. Over time I began to learn that people in Tanzania have to deal with malaria and typhoid fever, and those seem to be primary causes of death. Nearly every patient we saw had to be tested for one of the two. Very few patients were found to have diabetes or heart problems. It may be because doctors weren’t even looking for it, but what I came to realize was that even if a patient did have high blood pressure, many people could not afford to treat it, or could not get the medications for it, or that still wouldn’t be the cause of their death down the road because there were so many other diseases that usually kill people here before something like heart problems or diabetes have their effects. It was so drastically different from America, and interesting for me to see the discrepancy between what American doctors and Tanzania doctors look for. There was also a drastic difference between how many patients the doctors here see vs. America. I was seeing 30-40+ patients a day here, whereas the doctors I’ve shadowed in America see about 15 patients a day.

 

The lifestyle outside of the clinic was also very different than America. I became good friends with the Maasai guards around the compound, and they took me around the villages where I met several other people. The Tanzanian lifestyle grew on me. Everyone seemed to always be out and about. Neighbors were always talking to each other, little children all played together, and nearly everyone spent minimal amounts of time inside their houses during the day. I wish part of that culture would touch the parts of America that I’ve lived in, where people spend much of their day minding their own business within their own homes or offices where they work. I also noticed just how friendly the Mwanza people were. No matter how much I struggled trying to learn the language, they were always very patient with me. One of the guards that became a good friend even gave me his weapon as a gift and I was flattered! There are certainly friendly people in America too, but the “feel” in Mwanza seemed more warm and welcoming than anywhere I have ever lived before.

 

When I found out I was coming to Mwanza, I was excited to learn about local medicine and diseases in the clinic while exposing myself to peoples’ lives outside the clinic as well. As I wrap up my time here in this beautiful city, I truly feel like I’ve gotten everything I wanted to out of the experience and more. I learned that the problems people deal with health-wise here differ drastically from that of America. And so many of the issues, such as typhoid fever, can be remedied by something as simple as education to boil water before drinking it. Or to help the schistosomiasis problem by advising people not to swim in Lake Victoria. When I come back to Tanzania, I hope to better health in the area through education rather than assistance in the clinic, because I feel like so much can be changed that way. Obviously the clinic is extremely important in dealing with those that do get sick, but hopefully those numbers can decrease through education, and with education and healthcare working as a team, even more change can be made in health in Mwanza. My experience outside the clinic also changed how I view the world. I hope to carry the kindness of the locals back to America. I want to spend more time outdoors and more time getting to know people. I want to put a smile on peoples’ faces just by a friendly conversation. My experience in Mwanza, Tanzania has certainly had a huge effect on my life both in medicine and outside the healthcare realm, and it is an experience I will carry with me the rest of my life.

 

Ming writing:

My name is Ming and I am currently an internal medicine resident at the Mayo Clinic. My personal goals on coming to Mwanza, Tanzania, were to experience how primary care was being provided in the local community and to learn tropical medicine. My expectations have been greatly met by the Nyakato Health Center. The Health Center sees almost 100 patients daily from the surrounding area, and is being managed by 2 local doctors. Although the resources available for investigations are limited, the doctors do what they can and refer anyone that requires further evaluation. Despite the heavy workload, the local doctors are passionate in their work and wonderful teachers too! What I will miss is the extreme friendliness of the local people, and their willingness to help in any way possible. I will miss waking up to the roosters crowing and the birds chirping every morning. I have had an enjoyable and eye-opening experience, and hope to return to this beautiful continent in the future.

 

Meaghan Dehning writing:

My name is Meaghan Dehning and I came to Nyakato, Tanzania from University of Iowa’s medical school. The first semester of medical school Paula, Denny, and Priyanka (a medical student who had participated in the program in 2010) gave a presentation to my Global Programs elective course. Their description of the clinic’s mission along with Priyanka’s rave reviews sparked my interest in IHP. Through communicating with Paula and Priyanka I decided to spend my last free summer in Tanzania. Though I have only been in Tanzania a little over two weeks, I have been impressed with the running of the self-sustaining clinic, the friendliness of the people, the beautiful landscape and the ideal weather. In clinic, I have rotated with each of the clinic’s two full time doctors, toured the local government hospital, dressed wounds, and am now working in the laboratory diagnosing malaria, typhoid, HIV, etc. As I continue my stay at Nyakato Clinic, I hope to further enhance my understanding of practicing medicine in a limited resource environment and ultimately use my gained knowledge and experience to deliver quality care to my patients in the future.

 

Amee Patel - UNC School of Medicine 2014 writing:

Hello! My name is Amee Patel and I am a medical student from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. As a first year medical student, I really did not know what to expect when I arrived at Nyakato clinic. I was nervous yet excited to work with the wonderful and extremely friendly staff. My time here has been great and has surpassed any expectations that I could have had. Not only have I been exposed to an incredibly diverse population of patients, I have also become educated on the important medical issues affecting the people of Tanzania. I am so happy to have had this wonderful opportunity, and I definitely recommend this trip for future medical students. Thank you IHPTZ for a wonderful month!

 

Amarpreet Kaur writing:

Hello, my name is Amarpreet Kaur and I am a medical student from the University of North Carolina. I didn’t really know what to expect when I was coming to Tanzania. I was really excited because of all of the great things the group from last year had to say about the experience they had. Reflecting back at the past couple of weeks, I only have good things to say. I had a great time in Tanzania and learned a lot at the clinic. The people here are very welcoming and doctors/staff at the clinic were awesome too. This experience is definitely one that I will remember forever.

 

Michael Cowherd writing:

This is Michael Cowherd, a rising second year medical student at UNC-Chapel Hill. I came to Tanzania with the hope of honing my clinical skills while broadening my cultural horizons. I have noticed that the latter is maximized while accomplishing the former. The people working in the clinic act as teachers of language and lifestyle in a friendly and patient way. The patients provide a rich and diverse sample of everyday people. One of my goals coming to Africa was to help alleviate the stigma of HIV that I could read about but never fully understand. The reactions patients had to HIV testing or even saying “HIV” has provided me with a first-hand comprehension of how to approach the subject with children at the schools where I’ll be teaching. However, this is only a small part of the overall affability I have found that comes with the people of Tanzania. For someone as different as I, the welcoming attitudes of the people have truly made me feel at home.

 

Adrienne writing:

My name is Adrienne and I attend the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. During my first year as a medical student, I spent a considerable amount of time contemplating what I would like do for the summer between my first and second year. I finally narrowed down my choice to volunteer with IHPTZ in Mwanza, Tanzania. This experience has met all of my expectations that I had going into the program. I gained an extensive amount of clinical experience as well as learned a great deal about the people and culture of Mwanza. The staff at the clinic were wonderful and welcoming. The doctors took time out of the busy schedules to explain to the students the common illnesses that are endemic to the area as well as how they treat patients. Embedded between lessons of Mwanza healthcare, the doctors also assisted us in learning the native language of Tanzania, Swahili, which further allowed us to communicate with patients. I am fortunate to have such an awesome opportunity to volunteer my services to others, while exploring the country of Tanzania. Overall, this was a great experience and I would highly recommend this program to any first year medical student looking for clinical experience abroad!

 

Mary Pace writing:

My name is Mary Pace, and this is my third summer in Nyakato. I have been hooked ever since I walked off the plane in 2009. I am a person that comes here with minimal skills when it comes to construction. I have found other ways to be helpful during this amazing growth from a clinic into a hospital. There is a place for anyone here no matter what your skills are.

 

I have met many friends and gained some that will be lifelong. In the last three years, I have seen 31 medical students and approximately 35 volunteers make a big difference here. The construction has been amazing. I have seen three buildings transform from their beginnings to be two operational buildings and one that is almost complete. The place looks different every time I come. I can’t wait to see what has changed in 2012. It is an amazing adventure everyone should experience.

 

Yibing Li is a first year medical student also at Univ. of North Carolina Medical School writing:

This is an experience that I won’t forget. The scenery. The country roads. The bustling markets. And of course, the people. I have loved the friendliness of the locals, and become addicted to all the handshakes, smiles, hugs, and high-fives. Every morning, I look forward to a good day’s work in the clinic. Aside from getting to interact with all the adorable babies and children, the staff of the clinic is an absolute delight to work with. The contagious laughter of Dr. Msengi and the quiet wisdom of Dr. Bon help me get through a long day and a long list of patients. After clinic hours, I explore the neighboring villages and downtown Mwanza, learning about a different way that people approach life. The new set of culture and customs keeps my curiosity high and tests my open-mindedness on a regular basis. Paradoxically, as I interact with the locals more and more, the similarities begin overwhelming the differences, which reminds me simply of the fact that, at the end of the day, we’re not really all that different.

 

Paula writing:

What else is there to say? We thank you for your help. We are asking for your help to continue what we’re doing. We gage what we can do with building by the money in the bank. It’s as simple as that. For us to go forward, we have to prioritize, buy supplies, and pay the salaries of the workers. So far your generosity has made that possible. But, believe me, every step we take going forward takes consideration and prayer and planning. YOU are part of that process! YOU are the ones who make this all possible! YOU are the ones who have made it possible to serve the 100+ patients a day who come here for care. YOU are the ones that are allowing us to launch into 24/7 service by having the buildings and beds and supplies to do it. Without YOU, there would be no Nyakato Health Center. YOU are the ones building this hospital! And we thank you. The patients thank you. The students thank you. The families of those we serve thank you.

 

If you would like to help build this hospital, please do so by sending what you can to:

International Health Partners, US & TZ

Joyce Zemel, Treasurer

1811 So. 39^th St. #36

Mesa, AZ   85206

 

Or, go to our website, www.ihptz.org and click on Just Give!

 

God doesn’t give us limits. We limit ourselves. God gives more to us than we can ever give. It is a matter of being open, being grateful, being aware. You know, once upon a time I said I didn’t think I’d ever be part of building a hospital in Africa!! I said, “My hat’s off to those folks.” Was God listening? Was God laughing? Was God saying, “Why not? You CAN do it because I am behind you and it needs doing.

 

God put Mary Ellen, Denny, and me together in a room with a Can Do attitude. God gave us Joyce to “mind the money” for us as you send it. God gave us Sele to help build the physical structures. God blessed us with our wonderful staff at Nyakato Health Center. God has given us volunteers to come help with the building. God has given us YOU to make this all happen. You can’t out give God. It is impossible. We are blessed and you have blessed us and the patients who come for help leave saying “God bless you.” That’s the gift to all of us.

 

Blessings and gratitude,

Paula, Den, and Mary Ellen

 

 

 

Cathy Nosek, Amon, Mary Ellen and Winona students.

 

 

Laundry and birthing center and dressed up walkway.

 

 

Pastor's chair by the Patricia Ward.