.

A Mother's Love, and Community's Care

When Ifrahim’s mother gave birth to her son three months early, he weighed only 3.9 lbs. 

Within a few weeks, his weight dropped to just 2.8 lbs, and she feared for his health. But at FAME, she found more than medical care; she found a community of fellow mothers that stood beside her.

For three long months, her baby was lovingly cared for by our neonatal team—supported by oxygen, incubators and round-the-clock monitoring. Ifrahim’s mother never left his side. She held him through the incubator glass, whispered songs and words of encouragement and waited patiently for the moment she could carry him home in her arms.

Today, Ifrahim is thriving! His tiny frame now replaced by a joyful, energetic toddler weighing 20.2 lbs.

“Don’t be afraid if your baby is born early,” she says. “There are places like FAME that can help. Mothers are strong fighters. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Maternal and Pediatric Health at FAME: 2024 Highlights

FAME continues to strengthen pediatric and neonatal services with hands-on mentorship, targeted education and community outreach. In 2024, we welcomed Dr. Teddy to our pediatric team, bringing our total number of doctors on the team to five, and launched a weekly Pediatric Clinic Day to increase local access to child-focused care. Our neonatal services also expanded, adding three rooms and nine beds to create a “Zero Separation” environment, allowing premature infants to stay with their mothers to do Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). NICU admissions rose to 247—up 31% from 2023—while maintaining great outcomes for our most fragile and vulnerable babies.

---

.

Rekindling Trust in Care at FAME Hospital

To respect the patient’s wish to remain anonymous, we have not included their picture in this story.

My first stop was a hospital in Moshi (140 miles from FAME), where I struggled through countless appointments. I paid high fees, yet the treatment didn’t help. Feeling discouraged, I gave up on seeking help. For weeks I stayed home until one day I mustered the courage to undergo more tests. As I sat in the waiting room listening to a health seminar on the radio, the speaker listed harsh side effects of treatment, such as mouth sores and hair loss. My heart pounded, and I felt God’s voice telling me to leave. So, I got up and went home, unsure of where to turn next.

A few days later I crossed paths with a stranger who found me in despair and handed me a slip of paper with a doctor’s phone number. “Call him,” they urged. “He might be able to help you.” Though skeptical, I dialed the number. When I finally met the doctor, he prescribed medication. From March of that year until the following June, a total of fourteen months, I took it. During that time, I experienced what I can only describe as divine intervention, as my leg—which had hurt endlessly—was healed.

Life took another unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with HIV. This time I began treatment at a hospital in Arusha (88 miles from FAME). The doctors there recommended that I get screened for cervical cancer, even though I was on HIV medication. I agreed and completed the tests. When the clinic called to say they’d seen signs of cervical cancer, I remained calm. I told the nurse, “I will come in at any time,” though inside I wasn’t so confident about whether it would be worth it.

Yesterday, as I tuned into FM radio, the announcer urged listeners with my condition to visit two hospitals. The suggestion hit me hard—I remembered the bills and empty promises I had experienced before, and I felt discouraged all over again. Then came the life changing moment when the announcer mentioned FAME, a place offering free cervical cancer screening.

I had never heard of FAME before, but the idea of help without cost felt like a lifeline. Early this morning I boarded a bus bound for Karatu town. When I arrived, I asked a passerby for directions and took a motorcycle taxi to FAME Hospital. When I walked in, I was met with warm smiles and genuine concern—so different from my previous experiences.

At FAME, the testing process was very thorough, and that was when I knew I could trust this hospital. As I sit here, I can only be thankful that I found this place and got tested. I am looking forward to hearing the results from the cervical cancer screening, and I hope to continue receiving great care here.

Jane, neurology clinic patient.

“The pain started in my right shoulder, but now the right side of my head and my whole right arm hurt constantly.” - JanE, Neurology CLinic Patient

---

Laura, fourth-year neurology resident, University of Pennsylvania.

Adapting Care: Child Neurology in Rural Tanzania

I’m Laura, a fourth-year child neurology resident at the University of Pennsylvania. I’ve spent three amazing weeks volunteering with the FAME Neurology Clinic, and the experience has really opened my eyes to how medicine is practiced in rural Tanzania compared to the U.S. In America, many conditions can be managed quickly with ready access to emergency care. But here, every decision must consider a range of factors that affect the child and the family’s ability to receive care including long distances to hospitals, limited resources and the cost of treatment.

I remember treating a child with prolonged febrile seizures, a condition that would normally go untreated in the U.S., as the seizures often stop within five minutes and kids usually outgrow them. The patient we were seeing here had been experiencing seizures lasting up to 30 minutes, which was particularly concerning since seizures of this length can increase the likelihood of brain injury. Because the patient lived hours away from a hospital or an emergency care facility, we had to take a holistic approach in managing their health.

We sat down with the family and proposed two medication options. The conversation was not just about the best medication but we had to discuss potential side effects as well as cost and availability of the medication so that the family could choose the best option for their child and for them.

At FAME, these kinds of conversations are common. Care goes beyond diagnosis and prescription, it involves understanding the full picture, including a patient’s home environment, their access to transportation, financial situation, family support and even the traditions of their community.

Laura and a FAME clinical officer observe how a patient walks.

Laura tests the reflex of a patient.

---

Theandra seeing a patient at the clinic in Man’gola.

How a Life-Changing Surgery Brings New Hope

I'm Theandra Madu, a third-year neurology resident at the University of Pennsylvania, and my ultimate goal is to specialize in headache and facial pain.

Today, I had a case that truly excited me and reaffirmed why I chose this path. This morning, a patient arrived with a mix of troubling symptoms. She had been suffering for months from cognitive issues, gastrointestinal (GI) distress and an acute decline in her overall health. Initially, her complaints led to a focus on severe GI concerns; however, as we dug deeper, we discovered a very large lesion in her brain. This lesion appeared to be the main cause of her neurological deficits, including her recent blindness.

It was disheartening to learn that she had potentially been misdiagnosed early on when she first sought care elsewhere. But I felt a renewed sense of purpose seeing her condition up close. The good news is, she may be able to receive surgery at a referral center. If the surgery is successful, it could be life-changing for her, as it would not only alleviate the symptoms she’s been experiencing but also improve her overall quality of life.

This case reminded me again why I chose neurology. Every day in the clinic brings new insights and the opportunity to make a real difference in someone's life.

---

Yombe, third-year neurology resident, University of Pennsylvania.

Shining a Light on Epilepsy Management

As a Resident Neurologist, I’m very interested in epilepsy, and I’ve seen many cases during my time here at FAME. I remember one case in particular, a young girl who came with her mother from a village three hours away because they knew there were neurologists here. She had been living with epilepsy since she was 5 years old. Initially, her epilepsy was well managed with one medication, but by the time she came to FAME, she was 14 years old and on her fourth medication. We had a long discussion about the characteristics of her seizures to help us understand her condition better, but nothing quite fit the picture.

One key piece of data we needed was an EEG, which measures the electrical activity of the brain. About two years ago, FAME introduced EEG services, and for patients like this young girl who had never had an EEG before, it was a breakthrough. With that additional data, we were able to better characterize her epilepsy and get her onto a better medication. It was deeply fulfilling to see her have access to that level of care. –Yombe, Resident Neurologist, University of Pennsylvania

---

Dr Michael Rubenstein (right), Saidi, FAME Volunteer Coordinator (left).

Teaching Resource‑Aware Patient-Centered Care at FAME

I’m Michael Rubenstein, Professor of Clinical Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania, and over the past six weeks I’ve had the pleasure of guiding a group of residents through the FAME Neurology Clinic. For the last 15 years, most of our cases at the Clinic were headaches; but more recently we’ve started seeing many more epilepsy cases. This is because epilepsy is a lifelong condition requiring regular follow ups and medication renewals, which brings patients back year after year in need of thoughtful, sustainable care.

What truly resonated with my residents wasn’t the difference in diseases, it was learning to practice neurology in a setting where families cover the costs*, hospitals may be hours away and resources are limited. Back in the U.S., it’s easy to order “million dollar workups.” Here, each test must be justified by how it will change a patient’s treatment. I watched my team learn to ask, “Will this test benefit my patient enough to outweigh its expense and travel burden?”

Seeing them embrace that mindset, prioritizing patient-centered, resource-aware decisions, has been deeply rewarding. My hope is that they carry these lessons home, because medicine as it’s practiced at FAME—with its commitment to compassionate, impactful care—is how medicine should be practiced everywhere.

*NB: At FAME, all of our care is subsidized so that it is accessible to all patients. This means that patients pay on average 27% of the actual cost. This includes lab tests, CT scans, etc.

Dr Rubenstein reviewing cases presented by the neurology team.

---

A Note on Our Partnership

For over a decade, Dr. Michael Rubenstein has brought neurology residents and fellows from the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia to FAME to expand access to specialized neurological care for the communities in Northern Tanzania who need it most. Over a six-week period (twice a year), Dr. Michael, the visiting neurology team and FAME clinicians provide consultations at FAME and reach patients through outreach visits to dispensaries in Mang’ola, Mbuga Nyekundu and Rift Valley Children’s Village—all within a 40-mile radius of FAME Hospital.

.

---

A story from the FAME & Kafika House Pediatric Care Program

As told by Lily’s Mother

At birth, Lily was perfectly fine, but once she started walking, I realized something was off. At first, we assumed it was just normal bowlegs, but over time, the bowing worsened and her legs began to curve outward more noticeably. Naturally, we wondered, "What should we do?"

A friend of mine told me that in Arusha, at a hospital called Kafika House, a parent they knew had taken their child for cleft lip treatment. They told me that the hospital was in the upper Ngaramtoni area (over 146 miles from their village). I decided to give it a try and began saving up for the bus fare. When I later learned that the service was free, I immediately thought, “Let me take my daughter,” and we set off for Arusha.

We arrived at Kafika House in Arusha around February 10th, only to be told that the services my daughter needed wouldn’t be available until May. I cried, fearing that her condition might worsen significantly by then. Then someone asked, “Why are you crying, mama? If you live near Karatu, there’s another hospital there that can help.” So, I traveled to Karatu.

At the Karatu bus stand, I asked some shopkeepers, "Where is Kafika House Hospital?" I was told that it was a new center, and someone kindly offered to take me there. Although I had no documentation or appointment slip, the staff at Kaifika House welcomed us very warmly.

After explaining our situation, they told me to wait until early March, when they would run some tests. They asked if I was okay with that, and I agreed. At this point, even if it meant leaving her at the center, I was willing to do so, all I wanted was for my daughter to get the help she urgently needed.

I left her in their care and returned home. The center was so beautiful and the staff were so kind, so I knew she would be in safe hands. The team kept me up to date on her treatment as things progressed, and on March 4, I received the good news that she had been taken to the clinic. I waited until the 7th, and when I called, I was told that the surgery had already been done. I was so happy, yet I was still worried and asked, “How is she doing?”

When I finally saw her that day, I broke down in tears and whispered, “God—she’s really been through so much.” But just recently, I visited her again and saw that her legs are now completely straight. Although this journey has been long and uncertain, watching her progress fills me with hope and gratitude for the care she has received.

---

A Note on Our Partnership

Through the FAME and Kafika House partnership, children with Blount’s disease, commonly known as bowed legs, are receiving the specialized care they need to grow strong and healthy. With the expertise and compassion of consultant orthopedic surgeon Dr. Makanza and the dedicated surgical team at FAME, these young patients undergo life-changing procedures to help straighten their legs, reduce pain, and improve their mobility. After surgery, Kafika House transforms into a nurturing home away from home, where children heal and regain their strength. This support ensures they return home standing tall and ready to embrace the future.

.

a story from FAME’s Neurology clinic

John has spent the past year as a regular at his local clinic, seeking answers for physical and mental changes he has been experiencing. He spoke openly about feeling a loss in mental sharpness, often accompanied by a deep, burning heat throughout his body. At times, the pain has been so intense that a cold shower once left him nearly fainting.

What has stood out most for John is the care he’s received. Just recently, he met with a group of doctors—during FAME's biannual Neurology Clinic led by Dr. Rubenstein—who took the time to explain each test being done. Firstly, John asked the team to check his eyes, as he noticed that the vision in one eye wasn’t clear; he had a cataract in his left eye. The team also examined his reflexes, memory, ears, and overall wellness to get a full picture of his current health. He was given information about specific days and teams to visit at FAME Hospital for the issues that required specialized equipment to examine more closely and accurately.

He shared his worries about memory loss and explained that he felt his hearing and vision problems were not mere symptoms, but rather the result of the decline in mental sharpness he was experiencing. However, with the support of Dr. Rubenstein and his team, John now feels reassured. He recently made a 33-mile trip to FAME from his village in Man’gola for a further check-up and to refill his medical prescription. The care has been thorough, thoughtful, and personal, something he says he doesn’t take for granted.

---