This is the question my friend Therese McKenna asked me a few months ago when we were talking about sustainable health care in developing countries. That is the opportunity to support medical and nursing colleagues around the globe by exchanging expertise.

Thus began a journey of learning about an amazing hospital and clinic, FAME, in Karatu, Tanzania, where local Tanzanian doctors, nurses and health care workers are saving lives, delivering babies and caring for people who often walk for days to obtain care.

Started by Dr. Frank Artress and his wife Susan Gustafson in 2002, FAME provides care to people living in area where previously there had only been 3 doctors for over 240,000 people.

This video by Hannah Bowman explains their mission far better than I can:

Click on the image to view the video:

The Foundation for African Medicine and Education from Hannah Bowman on Vimeo.

I’ve been invited to volunteer and learn from the staff at the FAME clinic and hospital in January. I like their philosophy, they’re a non-demonational hospital and clinic where the emphasis is  respecting the expertise of the local Tanzanian physicians, nurses and health care workers and helping when asked.

It’s an incredible honor, and right now, I’m busy studying up on various tropical infections, treating HIV in pregnancy, prevention of transmission to newborns, while also trying to learn some Swahili Habari = Hello!

I’ll be posting photos and videos whenever the internet in Karatu is willing and able. I hope you’ll follow me on this journey and if you’re as inspired as I am, I hope you’ll consider making a tax deductible donation to FAMEAfrica.org 

I’ll also be collecting donations here in Silicon Valley, so that I can purchase needed medical supplies, such as IV tubing, Oxygen tubing, waterproof pads, syringes, glucose test strips and many other items. Please feel free to contact me if you’d like to make a direct donation.

Asante sana!

Thank you very much