Erin: Faith Based Hospitals

ICAP supports two types of hospitals: government run and faith-based hospitals. Among the ICAP staff there is controversy as to which type of hospital runs better, and it can vary from year to year as the salaries offered by either side change. My opinion was swayed by data manager at the Mugana district hospital, Sister Theresina. She was an inquisitive, friendly nun who came to Tanzania in 1985 to volunteer in this impoverished rural town, and was fluent in Kiswahili and the local language of the Hayan tribe. She seemed to have a story about every person we passed that day.

She told us about the work of the 8 nuns at the hospital, and that much of the hospital budget was derived from their salaries after they took what they needed for themselves. The nurses were motivated by more than their salary, including both their faith and their desire to help those in need. Unfortunately the remoteness and the recent increase in government salaries made it difficult to keep nurses and doctors. Some doctors did not like the strict atmosphere of the faith based hospitals, which forbid dubious income-generating acts that supplement their meager $3000 salary like selling medication for bribes, which happens, she states, at the government hospitals.

Besides the difference in mentality of the staff that stayed on at the faith-based hospitals, the atmosphere of the hospital compound felt different to me. The tall, white washed buildings of the government run clinics felt very sterile and imposing. By contrast, as soon as I step foot on the grounds of the faith-based hospitals, the atmosphere feels more comforting. There are manicured gardens abutting the walkways with healthy blooming flowers, roses, daisies, morning glories, and others I couldn’t name, the buildings were colorful and the seating a bit more comfortable. The combination was to create an aura of healing that permeated the medical facilities.

I’m sure I was also swayed by Sister Theresina’s intelligence and care when she provided us with tea, biscuits, and conversation while we were waiting for our car to be fixed. We also had our best meal in Tanzania while at Mugana, with cooked carrots, peppers, pumpkin, rabbit, rice, and matoke (a savory banana dish that I usually find very bland but was very tasty here)!

 Steen and I explored the outpatient care and treatment center (CTC) for patients with HIV/AIDS but have yet to go onto the wards of either faith based or government run hospitals. Perhaps then we will be able to tell you more of our perception of the patient’s experience.