EDUCATION
A conversation with Provision sponsored medical students Benard and Dues
Benard Nyange
What area of medicine do you plan on specializing in? Currently I am specializing in internal medicine and perhaps in future to go for further studies and specialize in neurology so that I may be able to help most of the vulnerable population with epilepsy.
How many years of study do you have left? As I am in the second year of my studies, I have one more year to accomplish my studies.
How far away is your home and family? My home place is a bit far from here approximately 1750kms
How will you use your specialty to better communities in Tanzania? I am living in epilepsy endemic region where majority of people have epilepsy I was inspired to pursue my master degree so that I can be a neurologist and help the vulnerable people.
Are there any specific healthcare issues prevalent in rural Tanzania that you find challenging or interesting? Most of people in rural areas cannot afford good health care and medications and most of the time they tend to get seizures but this population when is seizure free can engage themselves in production activities, not only that but also lack of access to safe and clean water that predispose them to diarrheal diseases.
What do you wish North American medical students knew about your life as a medical student in Tanzania? As a medical student in Tanzania I get a chance to go to rural settings where most of very interesting cases are found,majority of people are not at all aware of their health to the extent of giving birth at home,no improved immunization programs ,lack of access to medications especially those with epilepsy.
Dr.Duesdedith Claud
What area of medicine do you plan on specializing in?
-I’m planning to specialize on Obstetrics and Gynaecology
How many years of study do you have left?
-Two years left to finish my residency program on Obstetrics and Gynaecology
How far away is your home and family?
-Is about 1,172km from my home which is located in the south central of Tanzania to my university in Mwanza which is located on the southern shores of Lake Victoria in North western of Tanzania.
How will you use your specialty to better communities in Tanzania?
-As a country we do facing the great burden of maternal death especially in the rural area like Ifakara (my homeland), and this is because we don’t have enough obstetricians, for example in my small town we have only one obstetrician, so it will be a great help when I go back as Obstetrics and Gynaecology specialist, to join force in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality.
Are there any specific healthcare issues prevalent in rural Tanzania that you find challenging or interesting?
-Health challenges in the rural Tanzania mostly is lacking of quality of health care which also includes human resources scarce. We still don’t have enough professional doctors and nurse to offer health services to the rural communities.
What do you wish North American medical students knew about your life as a medical student in Tanzania?
-I wish North American medical to know that, I’m medical doctor student hoping to help my rural Tanzania community in maternal health and community health in general.