The Meru District Hospital is a large government hospital with a capacity of 110 in-bed patients. On average over 200 patients are treated per day, and over 1000 surgeries are performed every year. The hospital covers all areas of modern medical care, and has wards for maternity, paediatrics, family planning, diabetics and tuberculosis, eye and dental care, mental health, physiotherapy, and HIV & AIDS.
Schedule
The volunteer hours begin at 9am and finish at 3pm. It is possible to also work on Saturdays if you wish. For all interns and volunteers an individual work plan will be discussed so that you know exactly what your tasks are and what ward you will be active in. Your work schedule will depend on your area of specialization and on the demands of the hospital. Lunch is not provided.
Daily activities include:
– daily ward rounds
– patient care
– deliveries in the women’s ward
– assistance with operations
Experience required
Experience is required for this project, you must be either training in the medical profession, or a qualified doctor or nurse. Please keep an open mind and remember that hospitals in Tanzania are run differently than in your home country. For example, resources are often limited and access to healthcare depends on a person’s income, since insurances are not common.
Location
This project is located 16kms (10miles) from the hostel and can be reached by public transport.
Please note
This project requires a donation of US$150 per month. This donation is not included in the program fee, and is paid direct to the hospital.
“I volunteered with Mt. Meru District Hospital through Viva Tanzania for four weeks. When I first arrived, Viva Tanzania helped me get my volunteer visa set up and introduce me to the hospital. Volunteering with the hospital is organized much as it would be in ‘Western’ hospitals. The hospital let me choose what area I wanted to work in, and I then met with their volunteer coordinator who had me write a statement of intent for what I wanted to learn and experience throughout my time there. The staff were very friendly, and I was even invited to a nurse’s home for dinner. The volunteer coordinator and the Viva Tanzania staff regularly checked in with me to make sure I was having a good experience. There are many jobs that both people with professional degrees, students, and others can do – as professional staff often are involved in cleaning, decorating, etc. The nurses were very excited to teach me how to mop because, obviously, Americans do not know how to mop. I also observed and aided in other duties. Although I spent the majority of my time volunteering in the Reproductive Health Clinic, I was also able to observe major and minor surgeries. (I did help some. I adjusted the surgeon’s headlamp as the power was out.) Knowledge of Kiswahili would be useful but not required. This would be great place for an internship or rotations for a medical or nursing student.”
Jennifer, 23, Germany
| 2 weeks: | 500€ |
| 3 weeks: | 650€ |
| 4 weeks: | 800€ |
| Every additional week: | 150€ |
Please note: Working here involves a donation of 150 US-Dollar per month for the use of the material / instruments and your incorporation and management. This donation is not included in the program fee.
You can choose between a single room or four-bed room in the hostel and a host family.
The minimum stay is two weeks. Due to visa regulations you can spend a maximum of two years as a volunteer in Tanzania.