This summer I spent five weeks in Tanzania with a cohort of Global Health students completing the fieldwork for the minor. The entire trip taught us about the Tanzanian healthcare system, public health, and Tanzanian culture. Our trip began in the largest city and cultural capital, Dar es Salaam. For our two weeks spent in Dar, I had the opportunity to shadow nurses in two local clinics. Our last three weeks were spent in the central capital, Dodoma. In Dodoma, I worked with the Dodoma School for the Deaf giving a presentation on handwashing and brushing teeth, I toured various healthcare facilities, and I observed nursing students doing community mental health assessments in rural villages. Throughout our entire trip, we met and worked with various organizations, such as Tanzanian Albinism Society and Albino Peacemakers, that promote health and well-being for albinos.
My experience in Tanzania has taught me knowledge beyond that which you get from a textbook or classroom. I gained a deeper understanding of global health topics and Tanzanian culture. I saw vast inequities and disparities which made me think about the world I live in. Additionally, I have gained a greater appreciation for cultures different than my own. Experiencing life from a different perspective has made me want to be more engaged in the world around me.
Since this fieldwork experience is essentially a culmination of all the previous coursework required for the Global Health minor, I was well prepared to engage in my fieldwork. In classes, I learned about global health topics and issues like social determinants of health, health disparities and DALYs. My professor also specifically prepared us to enter Tanzania. For a semester, I learned about Tanzanian culture, history, and the current healthcare system. Once in Tanzania, I was able to apply that knowledge and learn even more through my observations and engagement.
In just five weeks, I learned so much about global health, Tanzania, and myself. This experience has pushed me to grow both professionally and personally. This fieldwork has shown me where I can fit into the global health field and how I can tie global health into my future career. I saw the importance of global citizenship and I now aspire to be an active global citizen.