KCMC

Today (6/30/2010), we visited the Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) for the first time. I spent $385US dollars to pay for housing ($150 a month for 6 weeks) and $140US for a residence permit. The rent also covers the cost of having a house cleaner, who comes in and does yard work, washes the dishes, makes the bed, etc. For an extra 5000 T/= (or T shillings) per week, she can wash and iron your clothes.

KCMC is a major teaching hospital with a medical school (one of three in Tanzania) and a nursing school. Many patients travel a great distance to receive care. Because Tanzania is a developing country, disparities are apparent. For example, because the surgery department has limited supplies, we were instructed to bring our own scrubs, masks, and caps if we intended to observe a surgery. Blood supplies are drastically low – I plan to donate blood soon. Furthermore, the internal medicine department lacks a working EKG machine, and because there is no full-time pathologist, pap smears aren’t given to test for cervical cancer (I will discuss this topic later).

Despite the disparities, the hospital is full of talented and caring people who truly work hard for the benefit of the patient. Unlike any other hospital I’ve seen, the campus has many open spaces and courtyards. In the middle of the main building, a grassy courtyard beautifies a hallway for doctors, nurses, assistants, and patients. Plus, you can see Mt. Kilimanjaro from the campus.

The next day, I start work in the obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) department. The schedule varies. Some days I start at 7:30am with the morning reports; other days, I don’t need to arrive until 9am.

I can’t wait to start!