It's International Nurses Day! FAME celebrates its nurses, who are at the forefront of patient-centered care. Their specialized knowledge, compassion and unwavering commitment to patient care greatly impact the lives of those we serve in rural Tanzania.

We spoke to seven nurses from different departments at FAME: Maternity Ward, Surgical Team, Inpatient Ward, Outpatient Clinic (OPD) and Reproductive and Child Health Clinic (RCH). They told us what inspired them to become nurses and what they enjoy most about being a nurse and they offered their advice to anyone considering pursuing nursing as a career. 

NURU SHABAN ALUTE - MATERNITY NURSE

“I was born premature, and my mother would tell me all these stories about how the nurses helped and cared for me until I was strong enough to go home. This spiked my interest in nursing as I wondered who nurses are. When I was 16 years old, I had surgery on my hand. I remember being very nervous and scared, but the care and comfort from the nurses solidified my dream of becoming a nurse. What I enjoy most about being a nurse is the opportunity to help and comfort my patients in their time of extreme need. When I see a woman give birth safely and the baby is healthy, that is my ultimate happiness. The most rewarding part of nursing is meeting new people and always learning. I would advise the new nurses that this career touches people's lives directly and they should hold that sacred. Also, we can never fix all our patient's problems, but we can promise they won't have to face them alone.”

KITANGILE MASHEYO- RCH NURSE

“I became interested in nursing from my auntie and grandmother, both nurses. I have been a nurse for seven years and all seven have been at FAME. The best part of my job is caring for patients and giving them hope. It is most rewarding for me to serve. Nursing is everywhere in medicine! I would advise new nurses to love their work and be proud of being a nurse; it is an important job. I did marry a nurse, but that was not because of my love for nursing! I am especially proud that my colleagues chose me as the RCH Nurse of the Year 2023. This award shows that my work is recognized and celebrated.”

ANCILA DIDAS KIMARIO- Outpatient Clinic (OPD) Nurse

“I was inspired to join nursing after I got sick as a child and was taken to hospital, and I loved the hospital! The surroundings, the people who worked there, how busy they all looked, and of course, the nurses in their beautiful uniforms! My favorite part of nursing is serving patients until they get better and say they are not sick anymore! I am most proud that I am the only medical person in my family, so when anyone gets sick, I know how to help them or where to direct them to the right care. I advise new nurses to love nursing from the heart; don't do it because someone else convinced you to. Sometimes the work is challenging and if you are not in it for a genuine reason, you may be unable to handle it. Always treat your patients as family and don't discriminate against them. Being a nurse at FAME has helped me advance and update my knowledge because of the ongoing education classes offered, and I would advise all nurses to keep learning! Medicine is always changing, and keeping up with the latest developments is important to provide our patients with the best possible care.” 

CHRISTOPHER MTISO - SURGICAL WARD NURSE

“I love to serve people and ensure their well-being, so nursing was my natural career choice. 

I love nursing because I am the ambassador of the patient. As a nurse, I get limitless time with patients, unlike doctors, who can only spend limited time with the patient. I receive patients and help them with all their needs, especially where they cannot help themselves and I love this! I believe nursing changes lives and being a nurse at FAME adds to my joy. Here, I have all the resources to help my patients. I advise new nurses to remember that nursing is a calling with many blessings. Do to your patients what you would like done to you.”

AMERIA J BENEDICT - INPATIENT WARD NURSE

“I became a nurse after I was inspired by my now-retired aunt, who was a nurse. My favorite thing about nursing is helping the needy and healing the sick. It's been seven years since I first became a nurse, and my love and dedication to all my patients remains the same and I continue to find my work very rewarding.”

ABDALLAH S ABDALLAH - THEATER NURSE

“I am a theater nurse interested in the operating room and procedures. I chose to become a nurse because I wanted to help people, especially patients who are very sick and need surgery. I advise new nurses that nursing is a privilege and should be taken seriously.”

SEHEWA MGANGA - Registered Nurse/Ophthalmic Assistant/ Head Nurse Anesthetist

“I have been a qualified nurse for 30 years; for 10 of those, I have worked at FAME. I became a nurse because I wanted to be part of saving the lives of critically ill patients. I am most proud of being a nurse when I nurse someone sick back to health. Nursing is rewarding, especially when the care I give my patient gets positive results and brings back someone's life and hope. I advise new nurses to be ready to accept challenges and adjust, work hard, and learn from others.”

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Today, FAME has a team of 70 nurses! Donate now to support our nursing team! Include the name and a message to one of our incredible FAME nurses in the dedication of your donation and we will share it with them.

Nurse Dainess Mangowi.

In honor of International Nurses Day on May 12, FAME celebrates one of its remarkable nurses, Dainess Mangowi, who has dedicated her life to caring for others. As she approaches her 70th birthday later this year, Dainess finds herself contemplating retirement and is ready to bid farewell to FAME, where she has worked for six years.  

Dainess has spent over four decades as a nurse, starting her journey as a young woman studying nursing in Mwanza, northern Tanzania. Her passion for nursing started when she witnessed the compassion of a nurse who cared for her uncle's triplets in 1969. Inspired by this act of kindness, she embarked on a lifelong mission to make a difference in the lives of those who needed it most.

“My uncle got triplets that were barely 2 lbs each! I didn’t think they would survive, but the nurses cared for them until they were big enough to go home. The compassionate nature of the nurses and their smart uniforms is what ignited my passion for nursing. However, my father had other plans for me; he wanted me to be a teacher.”

— Nurse Dainess

Nurse Dainess was adamant, defied her father- unheard of in those days- and went to nursing school. She was overlooked for a scholarship she believed she was the most qualified for, but that did not stop her. She continued to persist and after four years of nursing school, in 1977, Dainess got her first job.

“My first job was at a local hospital, which paid me 575 Tshs ($0.20) before tax! I didn’t mind the pay; I was just happy to be doing my dream job and taking care of patients. When I got a man who wanted to marry me, I moved to Moshi in North Eastern Tanzania to get married. I started working for a hospital there that paid much more!”

— Nurse Dainess

Nurse Dainess poses with FAME’s Head Nurse, Kizito.

“Dainess is a wonderful nurse. She is a great ambassador for the nursing profession! Seeing her retiring is a big loss for the FAME nursing department.”

-Kizito

When she turned 60, Nurse Dainess retired. She was ready to rest after a long career. However, her retirement wasn't a long one.

“During my retirement, I started caring for my neighbor who had HIV and later developed AIDS, as her family ostracized her. This renewed my passion for caring for sick people and I decided to go back to work. Sitting at home wasn’t very exciting anymore. So I started looking for nursing jobs.”

— Nurse Dainess

In 2017, FAME advertised two nurse positions. Nurse Dainess applied but wasn't sure anyone would give an over-60-year-old nurse a chance. She was called for an interview, hired and put to work in FAME’s inpatient ward. She was 64 years old. 

FAME’s Head Doctor, Gabriel Kissima, Presents Dainess with her ‘Winner of the Outpatient (OPD) and Emergency Department Nurse of the Year Award 2022’.

Nurse Dainess is ecstatic about her award!

“I was so happy when FAME hired me. I quickly realized FAME was a much better workplace than anywhere I had worked. For instance, FAME was very accommodating and honored my request not to work night shifts as I have back problems from years of lifting heavy patients; therefore, I needed to rest in the evenings.”

— Nurse Dainess

Nurse Dainess worked in the inpatient ward for six months and then was moved to the outpatient clinic (OPD), where she is still working today. Her love for nursing extends beyond administering medications and treating wounds. She genuinely cares for every patient who crosses FAME, treating them with unwavering compassion and understanding.

“It has been a joy working at FAME. I have seen the expansion that has taken place over the years. When I started, the radiology department was being built. Now it’s one of the best in northern Tanzania and prevents a lot of referrals by offering CT scans, X-rays and ultrasounds. FAME is always looking to meet the local community’s healthcare needs and I’m proud to have been part of this work.”

— Nurse Dainess

Nurse Dianess also mentions that FAME management appreciates the employees' work and is very supportive of them, providing good salaries and giving them the freedom to work without micromanaging. However, she believes it's time to hang up her boots. 

“This time, when I retire, I’m not coming back! I am serious about resting! We have a good nursing team at FAME and I’m sure they will continue to provide the same quality of care for which FAME is known. I am grateful to end my career at FAME; these past six years have been the best of my long career!”

— Nurse Dianess

Early this month, during FAME's labor day celebrations, Nurse Dainess was selected as a winner of the Outpatient (OPD) and Emergency Department Nurse of the Year Award 2022. This bittersweet occasion of winning an award just before her retirement demonstrates the immeasurable loss her retirement represents to FAME. 

FAME will miss Nurse Dainess’s gentle touch, soothing voice and radiant smile that comforted even the most distressed patients. FAME expresses profound gratitude for her tireless dedication and wishes her all the best in her retirement. 

Moipei

Moipei* is a 54-year-old pastoralist from Loliondo, an area traditionally Maasai with pastoralism as the primary land use. He has spent his entire life tending to his cows and takes great pride in his ability to care for them. That's why when he had a herding accident, the thought of leaving his cows alone in the fields devastated him. 

“Because of the drought, there is no more grass for my cows to feed on, so I usually climb trees and cut some green leaf branches. As I was up there a week ago, I slipped and fell to the ground, falling on a huge stick that pierced my stomach. I tried to stand up, but the pain was too much. I was alone with the cows and was in too much pain to shout for help. Luckily I had a mobile phone, so I called my younger brother at the homestead and asked for help.”

— Moipei

Moipei was seriously injured, but he believed traditional herbs and oils would cure him, as they had many times before.

“With the nearest hospital miles away, my family and I don’t go to hospitals. We often rely on sheep oil, which works every time! After my accident, I drank a big cup of sheep oil three times a day, sometimes even more! But it didn’t help; if anything, the pain got worse and I could barely stand. After three days, I visited the local dispensary. They gave me medicine, sent me home and asked me to return in a few days if the medicine did not work.”

— Moipei

Moipei took the medicine for four days, but he got worse. While he could take small steps before, he now could not move. His brother decided to bring him to FAME. He hired a private car as Moipei was in so much pain that he couldn't sit up on a bus and had to lie down during the drive.

Once at FAME, the doctors and nurses were shocked by his injury's severity and knew they had to act quickly. He was admitted to Ward 1 and an X-Ray was performed. It was determined that he needed urgent surgery.

Moipei poses with his brother.

“After I woke up from surgery, I was still in pain, but the doctors have been giving me injections and pills and now I can even sit up, almost! Look! The nurses have monitored me closely and have taken care of me, so much so the pain is gone! The doctor says I might be going home tomorrow. I’m looking forward to going back to my cows! Thank you, FAME doctors and nurses, for helping me. God bless you.”

— Moipei

“When Moipei got very sick, I was scared and knew I had to bring him to FAME, even though it’s miles away from home. The journey was long and difficult, but we made it and received urgent care. The doctors and nurses have been kind and gentle with my brother and this comforted him, which I believe helped his healing. Thank you, FAME, for saving my brother’s life.”

— Moipei's Brother

FAME’s Social Worker, Kitashu Ngananga, a Maasai from Ngorongoro, has something to say about the sheep oil. 

“We [Maasai’s] use sheep oil as a local herb treatment. It’s very common. When someone gets sick, they slaughter a fat sheep. We believe that sheep are blessed animals and therefore cure illnesses. Even I drink sheep oil! [chuckles]. However, we are teaching our people that traditional medicine has its limits and they should combine it with modern healthcare to ensure everyone has access to the best possible care.”

— Kitashu

*The patient’s name has been changed to protect his privacy and permission was secured to share his story. The quotes have been translated from Swahili to English.

Sankale (middle) poses with his dad (left) and FAME’s Operating Theater Supervisor, Moses Kikonya (right).

Sankale (left) and his father.

FAME, located in rural Tanzania, was established to provide quality healthcare services to the people living in its surrounding areas. Despite its remote location and limited resources, FAME has served its catchment area effectively by employing local people. This creates job opportunities for the villagers and a sense of ownership and responsibility towards the hospital. For this reason, FAME has prioritized recruiting staff from the local community whenever possible. As a result, FAME has a dedicated team of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers committed to providing the best possible care to their neighbors, friends and family.

FAME staff from the local community deeply understand the local culture, traditions and language. This has made it easier for them to communicate with the patients and understand their healthcare needs. They also have a good rapport with the community and have built trust and confidence among the people. 

FAME staff shares their positive experiences about the hospital with friends and family, encouraging them to seek medical care at FAME. Despite its growth, FAME never forgets its roots and 40 percent of its workforce comes from the community where we are based.

This week, we ran into a father and son duo at FAME's Outpatient Clinic (OPD). The son, Sankale*, was bringing his father for a three-week review after successful surgery and treatment at FAME.

“When Mzee [father] started getting sick, we were all very worried. We went to a local hospital that advised us to take him to Arusha, more than 220 miles away, as they claimed his condition was serious. That’s when I called Kikonya. He comes from our village and works at FAME. We trust him with our lives. He is our brother and son; we know he always tells us the truth as he is one of us! He asked me to bring Mzee to FAME for additional tests before deciding on the next action.”

— Sankale

The "Kikonya" Sankale referred to is Nurse Moses Kikonya, FAME's Operating Theater Supervisor, who has worked at FAME for three years.

“Sankale and I come from the same village in Loliondo, which borders Kenya to the north. He called me immediately after visiting a local clinic that referred them to Arusha and explained to me in detail the diagnosis they had been given. I advised them to come to FAME to run some tests before making the long trip. After investigations at FAME, we discovered that the original diagnosis was incorrect. We diagnosed Mzee with a condition easily fixable by surgery at FAME. After a successful surgery, Mzee is now fully recovered. Many people from Loliondo, not just from my village, know me well and about my work [Loliondo contains more than 40 villages]. They always call me to seek advice on health issues that need intervention. Today I received another call from home and directed the patient to FAME. People in my community are more likely to trust one of their own who works at a hospital than an outsider. The fact that I work at FAME creates a sense of familiarity and comfort, making them likely to trust my advice. I feel very honored to be in a position to help my community.”

— Kikonya

Mzee (left) explains to Kikonya (right) how he is no longer in pain and his hands work just as they did before!

FAME hires staff from all different tribes in our catchment area. The Maasai are our largest growing patient population and it has been important that we ensure we have staff that represents our entire patient population. As a historically underrepresented group in Tanzania, many Maasai patients have expressed an appreciation for how FAME treats all its patients equally, no matter where they come from.

Overall, the benefits of employing people from the local community in healthcare cannot be overstated. FAME's success is a testament to the fact that by investing in local communities, it's possible to build sustainable healthcare systems that cater to the needs of the people. FAME remains a symbol of hope and progress for the people in our catchment area and a shining example of how a small rural hospital can make a big difference in people's lives.

*The patients’ names have been changed to protect their privacy and permission was secured to share their story. The quotes have been translated from Swahili to English.

Agnes

At FAME’s Outpatient Clinic (OPD), we meet a very upbeat Agnes*. This is her third time at FAME, having discovered it last year when she had recurrent infections that wouldn't go away. Since her first visit, Agnes has been impressed with the care she received at FAME and keeps coming back. Today, she is here on a very special mission:

“I’m here to talk to the doctor about trying for a baby at 47!”

— Agnes

Agnes already has four adult children with her ex-husband. However, she remarried recently, and her current husband is yearning for kids, as he does not have any of his own. 

“My husband is very good to me. He treats me well. He loves me very much. But I am scared he will leave me if I don’t give him a child. He says he will be okay if we can’t have children, but I don’t believe him.”

— Agnes

Agnes confesses that she has been trying for a baby for a year without success. She has taken traditional herbs and medicines, but this has not worked, and she has now come to FAME to talk to the doctor and run some tests to understand the problem. She is hopeful that with FAME’s help, she can get pregnant.

“When I had my second baby in 1996, I was only 20 years old and gave birth in the village. The baby was very big, but the nurses forced me to deliver anyway. Immediately leaving the hospital, I received no aftercare and was back to doing hard manual work. My back and stomach have had on-and-off pain since then. I did go on to carry two more children, but I still wonder if this problem could be what’s stopping me from conceiving.”

— Agnes

Agnes meets with FAME’s Dr. Omary Mvano for a consultation.

Advanced maternal-age pregnancies, or pregnancies in women over 35, are associated with increased risks of pregnancy complications for the mother and chromosomal abnormalities for the baby (WHO). However, with proper medical care and monitoring, many advanced maternal-age pregnancies can be handled well, resulting in healthy outcomes for both the mother and baby.

“I know I am old, but I firmly believe I can have a baby despite my age. My neighbors at home are Maasais, and the women give birth at very advanced ages, sometimes even older than me, and they have healthy children! I’m praying I am blessed the same way.”

— Agnes

FAME’s Head Doctor, Gabriel Kissima, explains how FAME handles fertility issues. In 2022, FAME’s maternity center saw 847 deliveries; the average age of mothers was 29. Still, FAME also encounters infertility in young women too.  

“We run tests when a woman comes to FAME with fertility issues. Some of our tests include a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), an X-ray procedure used to check whether the fallopian tubes are open and if the uterus is normal. A pelvic ultrasound is done to rule out tumors or cysts. We check thyroid functions and other infections. If this is all clear, we check the partner’s quality of sperm, which is essential in maintaining male fertility. We test for other hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone, but for this, we send the lab samples to Arusha. If a patient needs in vitro fertilization (IVF), we refer them to a specialized clinic in Arusha.”

— Dr. Gabriel

On why she is so happy:

“I love everything about FAME. The nurses are very cheerful, and their demeanor is comforting. When I come here, I already feel better even before seeing the doctor because of the wonderful reception I receive!”

— Agnes

*The patient’s name has been changed to protect their privacy and permission was secured to share her story. The quotes have been translated from Swahili to English.