It was early morning after a heavy downpour when Mingati*, a Maasai pastoralist, took his cattle out to graze. The grass was wet and slippery, causing Mingati to lose his footing and fall. In a moment of bad luck, Mingati landed forcibly on his cattle herd stick, puncturing his lower eyelid.

Bleeding profusely and in extreme pain, Mingati started the long journey to FAME from his village in the heart of Ngorongoro district, over 30 miles away. Once at FAME, he was treated by Sehewa Mganga, a RN and FAME’s Head Anesthetist. Originally trained as an ophthalmic assistant and with 10 years practicing optometry, Sehewa quickly examined Mingati and assessed the extent of the damage. The herd stick had completely punctured Mingati’s eyelid and conjunctiva, and an operation was urgently needed to save his eye.

Sehewa performed the operation, which required incredible precision. Any misstep would lead to permanent blindness. Mingati was in good hands with Sehewa and the operation was a success. After four days at FAME, he was able to return home with only a couple of follow-up visits needed.

Without FAME, Mingati would have had to go to Arusha for his surgery, making his journey over 90 miles long. Happy with the quality of healthcare and the professionalism of the staff, Mingati promised to recommend FAME to all his friends.

“I’m very happy with FAME. I want to say thank you. After the accident, there was so much blood. I was sure I was blind. FAME has made me see again and now I’m happy to go home and see my cows, and my children too!”

-Mingati

*While the patient’s name has been changed to protect privacy, permission was secured to share his photo and story with FAME supporters, and to raise awareness of available medical care at FAME Medical.

On Monday, December 13, 2021, FAME doctors and nurses sprung into action to treat a motor vehicle accident with several injuries, including  the driver of the vehicle, a 40 year old man, who was unconscious and had shallow respirations. FAME’s medical team also took all the steps to treat a 6 year old boy with a cut on his hand, who was crying loudly. The emergency trauma team gathered and had decisions to make. What should be done first as part of triage and assessment? What should they investigate as part of the primary survey? What potential complications could arise with each patient? 

While this sounds just like another normal day in the emergency room at FAME, today there were no actual patients. This week, 10 nurses and doctors were engaged in a five day, intensive, hands-on International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) training. 

The ITLS training for emergency care providers is an intensive program focused on preventing death and disability from trauma through education and emergency trauma care. This practical, hands-on training covers all skills necessary for rapid assessment, resuscitation, stabilization, and transportation of trauma patients.

The main aim of emergency medicine departments is quick recognition and treatment of injuries which pose a severe threat to patients' life in significant order of priority. In line with our mission to provide quality patient-centered care and improve emergency trauma care in Tanzania, FAME sponsored this training for its medical staff. Led by external trainers, the training  took place over five days at the FAME Karatu campus. 

“Having Basic Life Support (BLS) and International Trauma Life Support (ITLS) training has given me new knowledge and skills in emergency trauma care. Now that I possess these new skills, I have increased confidence in providing the best care for my patients. I am more assured of saving the life of a patient in cardiac arrest or any trauma patient that I encounter. I thank  FAME management for taking the initiative to provide medical staff with continuous medical education opportunities. Knowledge is power.”

-Dr. Ken Karanja, FAME’s Clinical Education Coordinator

FAME is heavily invested in capacity building for its staff by providing continuing medical education opportunities and professional support. From the beginning, we have endeavored to equip our Tanzanian doctors and nurses with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to serve patients with high quality treatment and care.

On top of on-campus multi-day training programs like ITLS, FAME has a volunteer program which offers a collaborative learning experience for both our Tanzanian team and international volunteers, and a scholarship program that provides financial assistance to FAME staff interested in pursuing continued education. So far 13 staff members have benefitted from FAME’s scholarship program. 

Sabrina*, who is a choir member at a local church, was excited to share the recent news about church activities with her in-laws. When she was done with evening choir practice at around 7pm, she decided to stop by her in-laws' place on her way home. 

Unbeknownst to her, her in-laws had dug a pit latrine and covered it with tree branches. Sabrina walked straight into the pit, the brittle branches breaking under her weight and she fell in.

Her screams were heard by her in-laws in the house, who immediately rushed Sabrina to FAME in a Bajaji (auto rickshaw) belonging to a neighbor. Sabrina was bleeding profusely and was unconscious, having sustained injuries at different parts of her body. Worse was a huge wound on her leg where her leg tissue was peeled off leaving the bone exposed. A tetanus vaccine and antibiotics were quickly administered. She was admitted to FAME for four days. 

Through contributions from her church and neighbors, Sabrina’s in-laws were able to raise half the amount needed for her medical care, but were unable to cover the full cost of her treatments. They asked for support from FAME, and our Social Worker, Mr. Kitashu Nganana, took up the case. After talking to the family and traveling to their village to talk with their Ward Executive Officer (WEO), he was able to ascertain that they could not immediately come up with the money. FAME was able to further subsidize the costs. When she was discharged, she needed crutches to help her walk. FAME was able to provide her with free crutches to be returned when her leg was fully healed. 

Over the next three weeks, Sabrina returned to FAME seven times to have her wound cleaned and dressed, all for free. After three weeks, Sabrina was able to walk unassisted, and returned the crutches to FAME. 

FAME remains committed to its mission to provide patient-centered medical care to meet the medical needs of Tanzanian people, including underserved populations in the most rural parts of the region. 

*While the patient’s name has been changed to protect privacy, permission was secured to share her photo and story with FAME supporters, and to raise awareness of available medical care at FAME Medical.

“I would like to say thank you to the FAME staff for the swift and loving care that I have received. When my family brought me to FAME, it was at night and I was in so much pain! The following morning when the doctors explained to me the treatment and how long I would have to stay at the hospital, I was very sad. I knew we couldn't afford the treatment. My husband is a church elder, and I sing at the church choir and sell Rosary beads after church services. We have two kids ages 8 and 3, and we don't have any money! FAME has helped me so much, without FAME I don’t think I’d be able to walk again. I don't have much, but I have a few chickens. Once they’re bigger, I’ll give one of my chickens to FAME as a thank you.” - Sabrina

December 5 is International Volunteer Day! #IVD2021

Established by UN Volunteers, today is about recognizing and promoting the tireless work of volunteers across the globe. Every day, volunteers around the world dedicate time and effort to ensure the inclusion of those often left behind, and FAME uses this as an opportunity to give an extra special thanks to the many people who support our work through volunteering.

Today we share a recent story of one of our rockstar volunteers, Karen Denison. Volunteers are central to FAME’s mission and the Volunteer Program at FAME is a rich learning experience for both our Tanzanian medical team and our volunteers. Doctors, Nurses and Laboratory Specialists from medical communities all over the world work side by side with FAME’s Tanzanian medical professionals, sharing knowledge and expertise.

Karen Denison first came to FAME in 2018, after hearing about FAME from a vendor selling pictures of African animals at a farmer’s market in Woodland, Colorado.

“Our conversation moved from the wildlife pictures to Tanzania, and he mentioned if I ever visited, I should check out FAME.”

As an infection control nurse, Karen is a registered nurse (RN) who implements best practices for halting the spread of viruses and bacteria in hospitals, and delivers top care to patients who have contracted infectious diseases. She contacted FAME's Co-Founder and Co-Director, Dr. Frank Artress, introduced herself and asked him if FAME would have any use for her expertise, he replied with a huge YES!

Karen packed her bags and traveled across the world to volunteer at FAME for three weeks. That was in 2018. She has been back two times since then, in 2019 and this year in 2021.

A few days ago, during her most recent time volunteering at FAME, Karen was at a staff meeting with the doctors when she heard of a young woman who had arrived at FAME the previous night. The woman had been bleeding for 10 hours before she reached FAME. She had a placental abruption, and sadly had already suffered an intrauterine fetal death before reaching FAME.

In order to save her life, the medical team took her in for emergency surgery. Due to her heavy bleeding, she required a transfusion of O-negative blood. This is a rare blood type that is difficult to keep in stock at FAME. The lab team had enough for her initial transfusion, but needed more. Karen, who is also O-negative, immediately volunteered to donate blood and headed straight to the lab. Thanks to Karen and FAME’s medical team, the patient is now stable and conscious, and the team is optimistic for her recovery.

This is just one of the examples of how our incredible volunteers go above and beyond to save lives at FAME and strive for our shared humanity every single day. At FAME, we are deeply proud of our volunteers and happy to have hosted 21 volunteers so far this year.

In 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, FAME hosted 66 volunteers. While it has been challenging to host volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic due to safety concerns and travel restrictions, we are hopeful and looking forward to hosting even more volunteers in the years to come.

“I have received many requests for volunteers interested in coming next year. I already have 10 volunteers booked for January”
- Prosper Mbelwa, FAME Volunteer Coordinator

Interested in volunteering at FAME? Email volunteer@fameafrica.org and request our Volunteer Packet.

If you are not in a position to volunteer your time in Tanzania, you can volunteer using telemedicine. We at FAME believe that volunteers make a difference and are an important part of FAME’s culture of life-long learning.

Nurse Karen Denison doing her rounds at FAME by visiting different departments. Pic 3 she is donating blood.

“FAME is a wonderful facility. It provides so much for people in a rural location. Everyone is striving to provide quality care, not just care. The Tanzanian medical professionals have such great knowledge and experience. I have learned so much at FAME medical! In my first year I saw a patient with human tetanus, the following year I encountered rabies in a young boy. This is not something you see in the US, it's quite rare”
-Nurse Karen Denison

Today is World AIDS Day, and we at FAME are joining the global movement to highlight the challenges around access to HIV services and treatment, through our commitment to stopping new cases of HIV.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimates that as of 2020, there were 37.7 million people globally living with HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls alone account for 63% of all new HIV infections.

While HIV testing has become more accessible around the world, there has been unequal progress in reducing new HIV infections, increasing access to treatment, and ending AIDS-related deaths, with too many vulnerable populations being left behind.

In Tanzania where we work, there are 1.7 million people living with HIV. As part of World AIDS Day, we are highlighting FAME’s Reproductive and Child Health Clinic (RCH), which is working hard to ensure access to HIV prevention services for mothers and their newborns in rural Tanzania.

In 2015, RCH identified a need to create a prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (MTCT) program. The program, which follows the protocols from the Tanzanian government, aims to prevent pediatric HIV/AIDS and improve the health of both mothers and their children, by providing HIV testing, treatment and care continuum.

FAME’s RCH currently provides 815 women with prenatal healthcare, and performs HIV tests for every pregnant woman who comes to the clinic. Pregnant women who are HIV positive receive antiretroviral therapy (ARV) and are carefully monitored throughout the remainder of their pregnancy, delivery and postnatal period. HIV medicines, when taken as prescribed, prevent HIV from multiplying and reduce the amount of HIV viral load in the body, greatly reducing the risk of parent to child transmission. Maintaining an undetectable viral load also helps keep the mother-to-be healthy. FAME’s RCH-MTCT program has successfully prevented the transmission of HIV from mother to child in more than 90% of cases where a mother is HIV positive.

In cases where a baby is born HIV positive, they are treated with ARVs up to the age of one and a half years. After this, any child who tests positive for HIV is referred to a government-operated HIV Care and Treatment Centre (CTC) for management of HIV/AIDS, while continuing to receive general healthcare from FAME’s RCH. 

FAME’s Head of RCH, Joyce Ngowi, explains that in the beginning of the MTCT program, the women were not always receptive to the education and interventions provided, but with continued education and counseling, they are now much more responsive to advice and engage in the discussions.

FAME’s RCH is also involved in outreach programs and mobile clinics in rural villages, with the aim of educating the Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs) on HIV transmission and prevention, especially during childbirth. Some TBA’s perform deliveries with bare hands or plastic bags, leaving them exposed to possible HIV transmission.

“At first they were resistant to this message as there's a lot of respect that comes from being a TBA in the community, not to mention the livestock they’re awarded by the families after a successful delivery. However, after consistent education and counseling they have become more receptive and eager to learn.”

- Head of RCH, Joyce Ngowi 

RHC believes that investment in health and HIV/AIDS literacy accelerates ending global inequalities and is a crucial step towards eliminating HIV/AIDS.

Head of RCH, Joyce Ngowi, poses with RCH Nurse, Kitangile Masheyo, infront of the Afya ya Uzazi (Reproductive health) RCH clinic.

We tell them that HIV is no longer a death sentence. HIV testing is important as once you’re aware of your status, and take ARVs as prescribed, you can live a long healthy life with no risk of sexually transmitting HIV to partners, or transmitting the virus from mother to child during pregnancy”

-Joyce Ngowi