Majengo Health Clinic

This week started the reason why I am even here: volunteering and research. I will be working within the Majengo Health Clinic in Moshi to conduct research by assessing the quality and appropriateness of maternal health services provided for women. On Monday, Abi brought me to the clinic to introduce me to the doctors and nurses, hand in my necessary paperwork and begin my volunteering. The clinic is everything you would expect a clinic in Africa to look like: cement building, no windows or doors and people EVERYWHERE. You would think they were giving away free cars with the amount of people lined up.

I was introduced to the head doctor, Christina. If I were to guess what Harriet Tubman was like, this is it, minus the underground railroad. She was overly excited and appreciative of my willingness to help and conduct some research, hoping to make suggestions for the clinic. She proceeded to hold my hand for a solid 30 minutes while taking me around the clinic and get me familiar with the area. The clinic consists of prenatal services, a laboratory, family planning, maternal ward, voluntary HIV testing and a centre for under 5 children. I was surprisingly pleased and shocked to see the line of people lined up outside of the voluntary HIV testing room. In global health classes we were always given the impression/heads up about the stigma about HIV in Africa and the secretively that comes along with it. As a global health student, I was excited to see the patients becoming aware and educated about HIV and the engagement of the health services provided. Slowly, but surely.

I was then shown the maternity health ward, where I will be spending most of my time. The ward consists of nine beds and a delivery room. The delivery room consists of one bed and maybe a flashlight. Definitely gives the sense of the lack of resources available but something is better than nothing, right?

It’s amazing to see the amount of patients, especially women attending this clinic. The clinic serves women from 7 surrounding villages, all arriving with their children tied to their back. I actually started crying at the clinic yesterday because I fell in love with the most precious baby in the “waiting area.” As they wait to be seen they either breastfeed, buy baby clothes that are being sold or converse with each other. It’s great to see the women all interacting with each other and using this time to spend with other women. Although it may take hours to be seen by the doctor, they make the most out of their time.

Next week will be the start of my volunteering and research. I have hired a local Tanzanian woman to help me translate my interviews for the patients and health care workers. I will be asking about the provision of health care services provided to the women and the patients’ views on their received services.

Until then, tomorrow is the start of my 5-day safari. Pick up is at 6am and then I am off to a volcano, Serengetti National Park, waterfalls, camping in a crater and swimming at lodges, sounds more like a vacation. Fingers crossed I cross paths with Mufasa and Simba.