It was the morning of January 17 when one-year-old Ali* was playing on the floor as his mother got his two siblings ready for school. 

As is customary, the mother used her gas cooker to boil some tea for her kids before school. As she served the tea, little Ali walked over to the sufuria (pot), slipped, and sat on the hot tea. He suffered extensive burns on his groin area, buttocks and thighs. 

“His siblings are only nine and six years old, so I was distracted and wasn't keeping an eye on him. I just heard him screaming, turned around to see him sitting in the hot sufuria with the tea. It had been raining all morning, so it was very cold and I had put lots of clothes on him. I quickly removed the clothes he was wearing”

Little Ali was screaming in pain when his mother rushed him to a local dispensary. Afraid that the injury was too extensive, the dispensary referred her to FAME. Ali’s mother took a bus from their home 20 miles away and got in a tuk-tuk (auto-rickshaw) for the last part of their journey to FAME. Once they arrived, the medical team jumped into action. 

“When we got here I was crying harder than my child! I was hysterical. I felt so guilty. It was my fault that I wasn't watching him closely. I was also very confused. I didn't know where to go, I had no sense of direction. Everyone was so helpful. The doctor even helped me carry my bag as I was overwhelmed.”

The team admitted little Ali and his mother, and after three nights at FAME’s inpatient ward he was ready to go home. 

“I am blown away by the medical attention here. Ali is better now and he doesn’t cry from pain anymore. When the nurse came to change his bandages, she was so gentle with him. I’m very happy. Thank you FAME. I have to mention how good the food is. They always asked me what Ali wanted to eat and what he liked! With all this good service I was very scared about the hospital bill as I do not have much money. I work in a hair salon. But I have received the bill and I can afford it! I even have a little money left over!”

This was not the first time that Ali’s mother has been to FAME. Several years ago she brought her oldest daughter to FAME after the little girl pushed a sponge up her nose. On that visit, they did not have to spend the night and were able to return home the same day.

Ali is now home and set for a full recovery. 

*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.

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