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Visits from a Gynaecologist and a Surgeon from NZ
We recently had visits from a Gynaecologist and a General Surgeon and his wife, all from NZ. They all had a wonderful time here in Tanzania and made some significant contributions.
  This was Dr Bernie Brenner’s second visit to us, having come last year for a short reconnaissance trip. The purpose of the first visit was to ascertain how he could be most effective when he returned. This approach increased his effectiveness here, leading to him having a satisfying 18 days here in Arusha, working at the two Hospitals (ALMC and Selian) where Jenny works. The main purpose of this trip was to teach the Gynaecologists some useful new skills and also provide some additional equipment. This equipment included a new portable ultrasound, which he taught the staff to use. He left it for the Hospital and reports have come back at how useful it has been. As well as sutures, he brought a urine flow meter device, which he designed and had partially manufactured here. The flow meter consisted of a set of scales, a computer programme and a commode that our local steel fundi (expert) constructed for about NZ$30. We are sure this is one of the most unique jobs the steel fundi has completed!
 
Dr Brenner, also has a PhD in ethics, and is a world-renowned speaker on this topic. It was a privilege to have him lecture on this in our lounge to The Joshua Foundation team as well as both Hospital’s Continuing Medical Education sessions.
Our other visitor was Dr Wilbur Farmilo, a General Surgeon and Manager at Middlemore Hospital. Dr Farmilo spent his time here lecturing on surgical topics to the interns and hospital staff, attending clinics and operating. Some of this was alongside Jenny and others by himself. He was able to acertain where to better concentrate energies if he were to visit again. He was again exposed to the harsh reality of working in the 3rd world and just the lack of skills, resources and equipment available. Further, he encountered first hand much of the mythology and ignorance perpetuated throughout the society here that keeps people in poverty and poor health.
His wife, Christine Farmilo was a great blessing also, with her main contribution being teaching English to our staff. Speaking English is a huge advantage and provides people with a springboard to better opportunities. They loved spending the time with her and the way in which her teaching was so practical and applicable. Christine is now looking at ways of customising some of the materials we have to assist with continued training of our staff and others.
The three visitors had an enjoyable time with us. We arranged visits to the homes of some of our staff, so they could experience the environment of a ‘typical’ African – a very humbling, sobering and enjoyable experience. They commented on how safe they felt living in the compound here and on the quality of the accommodation and service they experienced. All of them went on a safari and saw lions, elephants, giraffes etc close-up.
If you are interested in following in their footsteps as a medical person or English teacher, please don’t hesitate to contact us or our ‘African Purpose Team’. We may be able to put you in touch with any one of these three so you get a picture from someone who has been here. We have video interviews with them that paint’s a picture of what it is like to serve here in Arusha.
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