A Visit to the Local Hospital

The visit to the local hospital was not for everyone, however, it was an experience I am very glad I took part in. We were given the option of going to a local hospital or to visit Gilala school. I and multiple peers decided to go to the local Lutheran hospital that Tanzanians use. We start out by meeting with the Head Doctor in his office. From there, he took us on a tour of the hospital, bringing us from ward to ward. The wards were very simple and left the people with little to no privacy. The patients here don't have nearly as much privacy as they should like Canadian hospitals. Some of the things were overwhelming to see, from a man that had his leg amputated to a child with very badly burnt hands. Families are expected to provide food for patients. As sad and as heartbreaking as it was, it also has given me far more appreciation for our medical system. We complain about waiting at emergency or at our doctors office, we are still miles ahead and I couldn't be more thankful.

Written by - Will Stewart