IHP Volunteer Information
Come to Tanzania!
IHP has several ways for you to plug in and volunteer your time, whether that includes coming to Tanzania to provide medical care, administrative support, or construction muscles, or providing community outreach by hosting an event or fundraiser in your hometown where IHP can share their story with new people. Below you'll find the relevant information for all volunteers that want to make the trip to Tanzania.
Visas
Tourist Visas cost $100 (USD) and paid upon entering the country at the airport.
Tanzanian Embassy website is https://tanzaniaembassy-us.org/
Starting 2020, Visa Services will no longer be issued at the Embassy of the United Republic of Tanzania in Washington D.C. All visa applicants are required to use the new electronic system found at https://eservices.immigration.go.tz/visa/. This is new to me so I will try to answer questions but I might not know until I fill out my own visa paperwork.
Travel to and from our Projects:
Children's Hospital
About an hour north of Dar es Salaam, The Children's Hospital at Zinga can be reached in less than 24 hours from the US and 8 hours from Europe by flying into the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. From there, an IHP car will pick you up and bring you about an hour and a half north of the city to the hospital.
Nursing School
The Nursing School in Dodoma can be reached in less than 30 hours from the US and 14 hours from Europe by flying into the Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam. From there it takes six hours to drive from Dar es Salaam to the Nursing School in Dodoma.
Room and Board:
Children's Hospital
In Zinga, room and board are arranged for by Paula. $40 (USD) covers the cost of room and full board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) per day.
Laundry is available for about $5 (USD) per week.
Nursing School
In Dodoma, room is provided to volunteers.
Culture and Must-knows:
For those of you who have never traveled to an emerging country, you will find it a life-changing experience. There is a condition known as "Tanzaphilia" characterized by "once you have been there, you will always return". Most Tanzanians speak several languages: Swahili, English, and their mother tongue. Whether you are here for a long or short time, it is important to at least learn common greetings.
In Tanzania, greetings are very important, and before business is started, it is always expected to exchange greetings and to inquire about the state of things at home and work. There are small handbooks which will help you acquire basic greetings and words. Your local bookstore or Amazon will prove the best source for finding information on East-African Culture and common Swahili phrases.
Appropriate Attire:
Tanzanian culture suggests dressing modestly for everyday attire while out in the community. For women, we suggest clothing that covers your shoulders and knees. Men should wear pants as only children typically wear shorts.
While in the game parks, shorts and sportswear are appropriate.
Seasons:
Tanzania enjoys four seasons each year: long rains (usually starting in March), long dry season (June-November), short rains (November), and the short dry season. These seasons are not always predictable and famine often occurs if the rains are not adequate or long enough to plant and harvest. Tanzania looks dramatically different in the rainy seasons and the dry seasons. Travel is adventuresome in the rainy season, but it is rewarding to see the green landscape and wildflowers. Travel is easier in the dry season, but the landscape is dry and dusty.
Emergency Contact Number:
If there is an emergency and your family or friends need to contact you while you're in Tanzania, they should try Paula's cell phone number at:
011 255 754 599 269.
Volunteer Application:
We are truly blessed to have such a strong demand to volunteer. Since we have limited accommodations and openings, we are asking anyone wanting to volunteer with IHP-US-TZ to submit a volunteer application. This will allow us to best match skills, needs, and availability of our volunteers.
The link to the application can be found here:
When you've filled it out, just attach it in an email to Paula.
Attention all Doctors and Nurses
Doctors and nurses must be authorized to practice. You must apply on-line, but that doesn't always work, so everything must be sent to Dr. Kitundu and he'll take it to the Medical and Nursing Councils for approval. Doctors, specialists, must pay $400 and nurses $200.
Doctors must have a letter from their state medical board stating they are in good standing. Everything hard copy must go to Dr. Jesse Kitundu at 966 Haile Selassie Rd. Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa. For teams, please send all the paperwork for the team via FedEx to Dr. Kitundu in One Packet.
Physician Volunteers
Please note: All doctors MUST have temporary permission to practice.
Just as the United States does not allow foreign physicians to care for patients there, neither does Tanzania permit unregistered physicians to practice in Tanzania.
Fees should be paid to International Health Partners - US with a note in the memo section saying "AUTHORIZATION FEE" and mailed to:
Matt West, Treasurer, 8016 North Everton, Kansas City, MO 64152
Copies of originals should be notarized and stamped by a notary public.
Please follow the instructions below...
Note: The medical council here needs an original letter from your medical board stating you are in good standing.
Internet downloaded pages are no longer acceptable.
Please go to the website for The Medical Council of Tanganyika
and fill out the form, in addition, complete the items below...
Remember to check to see if you have the following seven (7) items:
(If any document is missing, the process does not continue until all items are present!)
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Two passport pictures with your name written on the back and notarized.
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Notarized picture page of your passport.
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Curriculum vitae.
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Notarized copy of your MD degree. If your diploma is in another language, i.e. Latin, it MUST be translated.
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Notarized copy of your current license to practice.
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Application form (fill out and sign first two pages). Please indicate exact days you will be in Tanzania.
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A letter of good standing from your medical board.
and Fed Ex to:
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Jesse Kitundu
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966 Haile Selassie Street
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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa
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Include the phone number 0754-747-017
Volunteer Information For All Medical Teams
All teams need to turn in their authorization documents together in one packet with the date they are coming.
They should be sent via Federal Express (Fed Ex) to:
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Jesse Kitundu
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966 Haile Selassie Street
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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa
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Include the phone number 0754-747-017
Please allow time to process everything. The government prefers 6 months advance notice if possible.
Prescription Medications/Medical Equipment for use in the Hospital:
(This does not apply to your personal prescriptions)
If you are bringing medications or medical equipment or supplies, it must be pre-approved by the Tanzania Medicine and Device Authority (TMDA)
Please send a copy of the following to Jesse Kitundu and Paula Lofstrom at least 6 weeks in advance of your arrival so the approval letter can be waiting for you upon arrival.
At the airport, you must be prepared to show:
- Letter of Donation stamped with an official seal
- Invoice
- List of Items including name, batch or lot number, expiration date (must be within 6 months of outdating), and the value of the items
Nurse Volunteers
The Nursing Council recognizes that all these forms could take a long while to complete. All items in the Application Packet are absolutely necessary before you come. They are:
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Application packet hard copies with all items listed below should be mailed to
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Jesse Kitundu
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966 Haile Selassie Street
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Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, East Africa
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Include the phone number 0754-747-017
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Application form
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Two passport pictures - notarized
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Certified or notarized copy of diploma
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Notarized copy of your current license
Nursing Application Forms are available online at the nursing Council of Tanzania
At this time nursing permit fees are $200 (USD). Please understand, permit fees are subject to change on little or no notice and not something we have control over.
Fees should be paid to International Health Partners - US and noted 'For Nursing Fees'.
Checks for fees should be mailed to:
Matt West - Treasurer 8016 North Everton, Kansas City, MO 64152
When IHP receives the documents, we will add a cover letter and take them to the Nursing Council for authorization.
I know it sounds like a lot of work, but remember that the US would not allow any nurse to work there without a license, and the same applies to Tanzania.
TRAVELING TO TANZANIA
AIRPORT:
Mwalimu Julius Nyerere International Airport is located in Dar es Salaam. This is the international airport which is closest to Zinga. Fly into Dar es Salaam and we’ll pick you up or arrange transport for you.
For details regarding transport from Dar es Salaam to Zinga, contact Paula at paula@ihptz.org. If you will be working in Dodoma, it is a 6 hour drive from Dar es Salaam. There are no local flights.
VACCINATIONS:
Yellow Fever is no longer required unless you come from somewhere where it is endemic or spend more than 12 hours in Kenya before arriving in Tanzania.
We recommend that you check with the CDC website for whatever may be recommended at any certain time.
Your local county Health Department will also have information.
For international travel vaccines go to www.cdc.gov/travel
or download TravWell from your Apple or Android phone.
Required:
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An up-to-date Tetanus shot
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Hepatitis A and B (note that Hep. B shots are given 30 days apart. Make sure you have scheduled the second one before you start your travels.)
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Have a booster for your MMR (unless you've had the diseases mumps, measles, rubella)
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Immunization for chickenpox (unless you've had the disease) as we do have frequent cases of chickenpox
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DPT (Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) shot if you haven't already had one
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Polio booster, if you have not had one for ten years
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Yellow Fever is required, especially if you’ve flown in through Kenya.*** See Above
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Malaria prophylaxis; check with your personal physician for the best choice for you.
Optional:
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check with the CDC as to their requirements (not always the same as recommendations). Typhoid vaccination, either the injection or the new oral.
CLOTHING:
Because the area is heavily Muslim, it is very important to dress modestly and not offend the people around us. Women should bring at least one well-below the knee skirt to wear to church or other “dress up” occasions. Tight slacks or jeans are inappropriate, as are short tops exposing the belly. Shoulders and knees are covered for both men and women except when guys are playing sports. Long dresses are perfect for girls and women. Cargo pants and a shirt are common among boys and men. Consider bringing a raincoat if you’re here between October and March!
If you are in the game parks, shorts and sportswear are acceptable. However, if you are in towns or upcountry, modest clothing is necessary.
In Dar es Salaam, the dress is more westernized and relaxed, but short shorts are never appropriate, anywhere.
Medical people can work in scrubs in the clinic, but please, not in town. Closed-toed shoes must be worn in the clinic, but sandals or tennis shoes are acceptable elsewhere.
THINGS TO BRING:
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Flashlight and batteries are a must for moving about outside after dark and inside during power outages
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High percent DEET insect repellent
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Sting or itch stop
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Personal needs, especially feminine products
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Photocopies of passport, credit cards, etc.
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Swahili dictionary or phrasebook
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Lonely Planet or other Tanzania guide books
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Sunscreen/sunblock >SPF 30
THINGS TO SEE & DO:
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 nightlife, 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.
SAFARI
There are tour companies that can assist you in scheduling a safari. We recommend Pure-Afro Travels at info@pure-afro.com.
There are several levels of travel and what you want to spend is up to you.
Vesna is the queen of detail and follow-up and we feel confident in having our guests in her care.
Click on this Link to Connect with Vesna -
STAY PROTECTED
In addition to the prophylaxis provided by the shots and oral drugs listed above you should:
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Drink only bottled or boiled water including when you brush your teeth.
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Follow the instructions for handling dishes, showers, etc.
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Always use a high Deet insect repellent when outside, especially at dusk and/ or on safari in the tsetse fly areas. They are vicious and painful!
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Do not walk barefoot outside.
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Close doors and non-screened windows at dusk to keep the bugs out.
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Follow instructions posted for cleaning fruit and vegetables even before you peel them for eating.