A Spikey Friend

  “Some people talk to animals. Not many listen though. That's the problem.” A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh   As a few people already know, I went on Safari (a blog post to come) and had a chance to see some of the wondrous creatures living in Africa. However, one of my favourite animals that I've met on my African journey, lives a little closer to home. In fact right outside the front door of Family House 4, in Haydom. Henry is...

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A Warm-up Climb: Mt Hanang

Keep close to Nature's heart... and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean. John Muir    Out of the many things to do whilst staying in Haydom, climbing Mt Hanang should be on ever visitor's to do list. The Mt Hanang trek is often used by many as a warm-up climb to Mt Kilimanjaro. However, Mt Hanang is not merely a warm-up trek, it readily offers up its' own unique...

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Swahili 001 - The Essential Basics

To get the most out of your time at Haydom Lutheran Hospital (HLH), I would recommend learning some Swahili. I feel it's not only important to be polite, but also to embrace a key part of Tanzania culture. Not to mention as you progress it will help you on the wards. For this lesson we will start off with some basic greetings, and phrases that any traveler to Tanzania should know. All the material I've either learnt during my stay in Haydom...

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Evidence Based Medicine Coming to Haydom

Evidence based medicine is the cornerstone of how we are now taught medicine and it's coming back to Haydom.Yes, I was a little misleading with the title, but I'll explain why in a second. At Haydom Lutheran Hospital (HLH), where possible interventions are based on guidelines, however due to the lack of resources and staff education levels and availability of doctors, evidence-based medicine is not always practiced. And I think the key to...

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An African Sting

There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt. Erma Bombeck  I know some of you may be wondering if I actually do any medicine at Haydom Lutheran Hospital (HLH), but don't worry I do. Up in till now I've largely steered away from telling cases from the hospital, and I'm not about to start. Instead I have a little story to tell from yesterday, with some added education. If we start right back at...

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Taking a Step Back in Time

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin. ― Mother Teresa At Haydom Lutheran Hospital (HLH), there is a set routine to things. You get up in the morning, go have breakfast, then go to the doctors meeting at 7:30am, followed by Sala (which is a morning prayer and general announcement session attended by all in the hospital), then the radiology meeting and finally clinical duties (which typically starts...

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