Training programmes in rural Tanzania

Expertise in the countryside

The two districts Malinyi and Ulanga are among the poorest regions in one of the poorest countries in sub-Saharan Africa. People here are subsistence farmers and their yields are barely enough to live on. Infectious diseases are widespread and the rates of maternal and infant mortality are high.

Practical knowledge for health workers

The nursing schools in Lugala and Ifakara are the only two training institutions in the districts of Malinyi and Kilombero providing practical training for health workers. Both schools offer a two-year nursing training course. On completion of their training, the students receive a state-recognised certificate.

SolidarMed's activities include the support of clinical instructors. They learn how to provide expert support to students during their practical training in the hospital. The focus of the training is on caring for mothers during pregnancy and childbirth, as well as newborn care.

Key project facts

Project Goal

Training urgently needed qualified nursing staff.
Target Groups

Students and clinical instructors in the two nursing schools in Lugala and Ifakara.
Milestones

SolidarMed trains the clinical instructors of the nursing schools, supports management processes and invests in the schools' infrastructure.

Key project facts

Tanzania

Acute staff shortage

Health facilities in rural Tanzania lack more than half of the medical staff they need. Due to the acute shortage of doctors, nurses often the assume the role of primary care providers. With only two trained nurses and five assistants for every 10'000 inhabitants, there is a severe shortage here as well.

The nursing schools supported by SolidarMed offer a one-year vocational training course for community health workers as well as two-year certificate for nursing officers. At the Edgar Maranta School of Nursing, students can also complete the three-year diploma course in nursing. Thanks to the high quality of training they offer, the two nursing schools are making an important contribution to increasing the number of qualified health workers in Tanzania.

More trainers for the nursing schools

However, it is particularly challenging for these very remote nursing schools to find enough qualified teaching staff. In response, SolidarMed is also supporting the training of clinical instructors and nursing tutors. The government of Tanzania has recognised that the practical skills of nurses and midwives need to be improved, which is why a national curriculum for clinical instructors is currently being developed and will soon be tested in selected schools. This project improves the quality of health care for the approximately 530'000 people in the catchment areas of the two remote hospitals and their attached nursing schools.

Vaccinating infants is one of the most effective measures to prevent many infectious diseases. Malinyi, Tanzania.

Thank to the mobile clinic, children can get their routine check-ups in the village.

Maliyni.

SolidarMed trains the tutors in anatomy and physiology. In addition, we train the nurses in emergency care for newborn and premature babies. SolidarMed is also working on a simple monitoring system to help the clinical instructors record and monitor their activities. SolidarMed's many years of experience in the field have helped the Tanzanian government to develop a national curriculum for clinical instructors.

In recent years, SolidarMed has improved the infrastructure of the two nursing schools in order to cope with the increasing number of students. For example, we have built additional classrooms and set up libraries and skills labs.