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Vine Trust Tanzania
  • MaryA

Vine Trust Tanzania

Volunteering with the Vine Trust on Jubilee Hope. Read more
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  • Trip start
    November 17, 2024
    MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler
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    First day Alone

    November 17, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Awoke to sound of rain. Went for a lovely long relaxed breakfast with intermittent rain on veranda. Beautiful views of Lake Victoria. Decided on a sight seeing walk to rock formations, markets, got my glasses fixed- leg fell off. And into more granite and rural Mwanza. Everyone very friendly and quite surprised to see a Mzungo quite so off beaten track. Lots of birds- kingfisher and wagtail identified and butterflies. Gheckos. I love this kind of exploring. Sights, sounds, smells, people, animals. Now back to my posh hotel! Think I’ll go for a swim! (Lake Victoria definitely not to be advised!)Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler
    1

    Meeting Jubilee Hope

    November 18, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    Luxury morning in Mwanza at the hotel. Swim and leisurely breakfast with my mates for the 2 weeks. Joan, Hilary and Mark. I went for another wander into Mwanza to main market. Typical African chaos. Clothes and football strips by the million. Didn’t find the main food market. So much noise and busyness. Back to hotel for lunch with Samuel and Alex from the Vine Trust. Walked to the Jubilee Hope via the Vodafone shop for others. Seemed very complicated to get a SIM involving passports and multiple photos. Then seemed not to work anyway. Met a young man who stopped Samuel. He had been a street boy and rescued and supported by Vine Trust and now in full employment and seemed very happy. Great to see. Onto boat with a tour. Very much same as Amazon Hope. 22 people on a small boat! ⛴️ back to hotel for dinner! The staff had all been busy with logistics including fixing the AC and installing a new washing machine- luxury. Back for bed.Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler
    1

    Setting sail

    November 19, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    Motors started at 3.30am and set off at 4am for a 12 hour sail. Calm conditions. Awoke a little but got up at sunrise. Yoga on deck, reading, crocheting, chatting. Omelette for breakfast. Heavy rain before reaching the island- Goziba. We bagged up paracetamol, amoxicillin, metronidazole into small prescription packets. Then filled syringes with lignocaine for Hesron the dentist. Finally arrived at Goziba. Truely in the middle of nowhere. All ‘houses’ seem to be corrugated. Lots of boats everywhere. Passed some on route- tiny things with little lighting. Hard for our Captain Jumar to see. Safety talk. Then lunch by Titan and Ilea. Medical talk afterwards. Very interesting and scarey and exciting. A few boats came over to meet us. Lots of hand shaking. Then we were transported to the island. Wow! A culture shock. Very basic. Shops everywhere, food, barbers, alcohol, herbalists, pharmacies, hens, ducks, Guinea fowl, goats. Tanzania playing Guinea1-0. School, health clinic, church- Christians and Muslims.Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler
    Big gastroscisis

    First day of work

    November 20, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Awoke to a lot of rocking and rolling and clanking. The wind had got up and the lake had become quite rough. It was too rough for anyone to go off or on the boat. 7am morning meeting with singing and prayers. After breakfast ( pancakes😊) we wives to the other side of the island with shelter. We went off to the island but no pier so we were piggybacked onto the island🤣. Then go the health post where 100’s of people were waiting or rushing there. They are all sorted into dental, eyes(macho), children women and men and numbered. After a talk by Iziah where they listened attentively they lined up again and all registered. They buy an exercise book as their record and we wrote there name(a challenge often) and age(a big challenge and often made up it seemed) They then knew when to get a boat to the Jubilee Hope. 387 patients Aghh. 🤣. As soon as we were back we set to. I was lucky to have Constantine as my translator as he’s a nurse too. All patients expect investigations- a lot of point of care tests available including HIV, stool and urine microscopy, malaria, haemoglobin etc. most seemed to have abdominal and sexual complaints and malaria but also one stressed lady with palpitations! A steep learning curve. There was then a reasonable supply of medications- equally expected. So the day went on. All patients off the boat by 6pm. Now awaiting another wonderful meal.Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler
    Forgot to mention the kidneys for lunch i thought were mushrooms. I ate them🤔

    A rainy start to the day

    November 21, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Awoke to a dull sunrise and rain. It had poured through the night with a dramatic storm. I’d heard a few clanks and lurches and shouting and decided that if things weren’t going well I’d be better off going back to sleep! We’d apparently shifted on our anchor and moved further out again. Rain stops play on the boat- too risky to bring patients on board. And they would be cold🤣. It actually did get a little cool. We had our clinical meeting- malaria. I know so little so all education a bonus. Clinical director Isiah is a fantastic teacher, doctor, coordinator, organiser and truly inspirational.
    The rain ceased and After midday patients started arriving- then we had to have lunch.🤣. Down to work. 150 to see somehow between 6 of us. Slow going for us mzungas with translators. Nothing too unusual. But different. A lot have HIV and very much just considered a chronic disease- it seems very little stigma now. We can test on boat and check CD4 levels. ( I’ve had to educate myself re HIV). Then last 2 cases were malaria. Good to have had the tutorial. They get it frequently so no dramas for them. Packed boats clinical areas up, boat washed down. Reading and soon dinner.
    We will have a lot to see tomorrow before moving on.    Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler

    Last day on Gozeba

    November 22, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    More rain through night and dull in am. Usual 7am meeting of all team. First is, we’re there any crises or accidents. Yesterday Hilary’s ophthalmoscope of 40 years slipped off the table and into the Lake😟. Last night I put my kindle away and it fell down the back of a panel. The engineers were tasked with retrieving. It took 3 of them ( the chief engineer with malaria but being consulted) about 4 hours to remove a panel and find an instrument to slide it up a very narrow passage. It was a coat hanger that did the last bit- the angle grinder was brought at one stage. What an idiot! I’ll not repeat that. I’ve spent this evening crocheting Leonard a hat as he wears a woolly hat- never thought I’d be doing that here! Unfortunately it was too windy to bring patients aboard until midday when it also started raining. The patients were all having to wear life jackets- laughing a lot about that. More interesting stuff. Lots of STDs and HIV. Finished early to set off for another island 32 miles away. Kerebe. Wonderful dinner again by Titus and Ilias. Bed.Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler

    Kerebe

    November 23, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    Another eventful day. 7am meeting. I presented Leonard who worked on finding my kindle with a hat I crocheted - he’s been wearing a woolly hat! Then medical talk by Mark. Breakfast and off to the island. Nowhere near as many people. Got them registered and started transported them over and suddenly the heavens opened and strong wind. Tables and chairs flying everywhere. Boat going towards rocks so we had to get the clinic partitions down quickly so they could see to move. Rain persisted for a few hours. Poor patients under a small area of cover. Dr Isiah and DrGoodluck saw patients. I was helping in pharmacy writing the drugs issued down. Interesting choices! Eventually managed to get a space to see a few patients.
    After clearing up, we had a trip to the island and up the hill to the school. Fascinating wandering through village. And beautiful views. Just a shame we can’t swim in the lake.
    Such a privilege to be able to visit this island.    Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler
    1

    Sunday Day of Rest😊

    November 24, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    A beautiful morning. Boat yoga. Chapatis for breakfast then quickly needed to go off to church with boatman Iziah leading the way back up the hill. We were early so could watch people and birds. The senior pastor wearing his smart check suit greeted us very warmly. Pentecostal church started with jazzy singing and dancing. Then a choir and dancing group performed including trips into the congregation- similar to a happy Xmas party. Eventually the pastor came and enthusiastically welcomed us. We had to introduce ourselves-managed in Tanzanian. Then Iziah was taken to the front to translate all of the
    1 1/2 hr long sermon very dramatically delivered. Basically we have to forgive or God won’t forgive us. Then we were dispatched out into the rain and back to the boat. Incredible experience. Spent the afternoon on top deck watching the fishermen go out, the workers on the hill drying the sardines, carrying water big distances etc. lots of swallows came onto the boat. Cormorants , kingfishers, egrets and wee yellow birds all around. Sock knitting. Nobody else went to church (all are religious) so seems we could have worked to use the resources. 🤔
    Had some sardines for lunch- tiny and just like whitebait. Lovely. The food is great. Rice and a meat dish and bean dish usually. Always with plantain and ugali(a rather tasteless CHO) and some veg.    Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler
    11111112

    Monday Surgeries

    November 25, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ 🌧 20 °C

    Wonderful breakfast of cinnamon rolls. Education on schistosomiasis. There’s so much to learn in tropical medicine! Schistosomiasis is the main reason we can’t swim in the lake. That and the amount of amoeba in patient’s stool samples. 200+ patients registered. My first diagnosed case of syphilis ever- photo if you wish! More bowel things. A nephritis. 2 boys of 8 and 4 came alone without their mother. Older one declared he had malaria. They had a blood prick test and took it in their stride. Both negative! No social workers informed and off they went back on the boat. More rain and wind. Hilary and Mark seen in 3 layers!
    Fast work meant an earlier finish and time to sit in the sun preparing my health talk for tomorrow on syphilis. We have diagnosed a number of cases. Lots of cases of multiple partners. The privacy they don’t have when talking about their sexual health! And through a translater. My translater Constantine always lowers his voice when talking of such things. He is actually a nurse/midwife and very experienced and must wonder why I’m faffing so much! The Tasmanian ‘doctors’ just order a lot of tests and then give lots of drugs as far as I can see. Boat driven off out of bay and further out to collect water. This is then filtered twice and boiled if used for cooking. Our drinking water is separate. The village has no running water. All collected from the lake shore and carried sometimes 100 metres uphill in 20l buckets on their heads!    Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler
    The snakeIzeah looking at the venow extracting deviceFamily of five all coming for somethingSardinesClouds of lake fly in distanceJoan hard at work1

    My health talk to the masses

    November 26, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    This mornings news was that on the film showing last night a snake appeared. I was asleep and missed the drama of snake bashing and killing. My turn to give the health talk to the masses. 200+ patients. I’d been asked to tell them about syphilis- I had to do a refresher! Main message- avoid sex with multiple partners and use a condom! They all listened attentively 😊. Then back on the boat to work. Lots of amoeba. Call to see whipworm under the microscope. No other dramas and finished up on a beautiful afternoon. No rain or wind today. Sitting on deck it’s amazing watching what happens in the village. Mostly fish related. Bringing fish in, selling, spreading out to dry, sorting them, raking, putting into bales and selling to go off the island- then boats go out again at dusk. Call to prayer. Lots of noise. Smoke. Fish smells. Clouds of lake fly in distance. Non biting but impossible to be with - thankfully not near us.Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler

    Moving to Makibwa.

    November 27, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ☁️ 22 °C

    Engines started up at 4.30am to sail to Makibwa 1 1/2 hrs away. It began to get quite rough. I got up at day break to watch the island appearing. A picturesque island. We couldn’t anchor by the village as it was too rough so went a little further round. A few small boats out. Then the rain started. We had our usual team meeting. She msg, prayers updates from all ‘departeements’ 🤣 Breakfast of lovely bread rolls and chille sauce. Then wait for the rain to stop- played a very enthusiastic session of Dobble with various competitive folk. It is the local elections today and for some reason that was delaying things🤔. Eventually we got off to the island. Very rural. Individual farming plots as well as fish drying. Children lovely but grubby. Chickens, goats everywhere. Children slide. Very basic houses and cooking. Friendly people. Just fascinating. All very Green. The boat team were bartering for fish then chickens. 2 were killed halal and live ones collected to go on the boat back to Mwanza. They are apparently much cheaper and better from here. Not many patients came with their books. And we headed back to the boat gathering patients as we went. Back on the boat with the patients and we were sent for lunch! Then to work. A nice bunch of folk. Malaria in a 3 mth old. 2 new HIV cases in 23and 25 year old. One was devastated. They get free treatment but have to get to the mainland to register which costs. Lots of syphilis. Very sad really. It just seems the men can have sex with whoever. The lads from the boat went back to the island to buy more chickens and when all settled and now dusk we set off for Nyaburo. Lots of tiny boats with solar panelled lights to attract the sardines. The caption has to be so careful to miss them.Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler
    1
    A dreich start to the dayDobbleHilary getting a lift off🤣Mark's talkSolar panel on traditional houseToilet1Hezron DentistJumar CaptainDio Gracious, Chief EngineerBenjamin, lab man. Trainee marinerCheck that laugh

    Nyaburo

    November 28, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    The snake was a Southern African Python. Can grow to 6m🤣. But not venomous. No more snakes. It’s actually only the 2nd one in 10 years. Another rough and rainy morning. A bit dreich. So meeting, breakfast then Dobble , The stowaway chickens were checked on and fed. No cock-doodle-dooing through the night! Late morning it calmed enough for a bouncy trip to the island and the throngs of residents. A lot of men. This explains the incidence of STDs- not enough women to go round. The children here seemed terrified of mzungos (white man). Mark gave an animated talk on the perils of alcohol- a big problem here. Folk listened attentively. Most of residents are sardine fishermen. Back to work for us. Nothing greatly exciting but always interesting. A lady 6mths pregnant- she thought and absolutely no antenatal care and still several partners🤔At least she was HIV and syphilis negative. Patients left and the boat was de-consulting roomed and washed down as efficiently as every day and we set sail back to Mwanza.
    Approx 9 hours.
    I haven’t mentioned the bottom of the boat where the dentist Herron age 76 works away tirelessly pulling teeth. Anna and Benjamin work away in the lab blood testing for malaria, HIV, Hb etc- all point of care tests. And microscopy of urine , and stool samples, brought in match boxes. Most of the patients bring both samples and are keen to get tested irrespective of symptoms. And there’s Aurelia at the well stocked pharmacy. Hardly a patient leaves without some drugs- I tried a few times and the patient just produces another symptom! The system works incredibly well and is impressive to watch. Patients crowd around everywhere, sitting or lying on the floor with no complaints Fascinating. What an amazing privilege to have been a small part of this amazing team albeit for such a short time. I’ve learnt loads, not least that I know very little of tropical medicine. I’ve experienced masses, seen fantastic teamwork.
    So back to Mwanza by 2 am. It’s calm and a beautiful evening. But the marine team have a difficult job avoiding all the small sardine boats with small lights. Concentration is mandatory.    Read more

  • MaryAVine Trust TanzaniaTraveler

    Last day with Jubilee Hope

    November 29, 2024 in Tanzania ⋅ 🌩️ 23 °C

    Awoke in Mwanza port. Final Meeting on top deck to which programme director Pastor Samuel came. A lovely gentle, smart, smiley man. Usual format was interrupted by needing to move the boat for a ferry, then a storm so the sides needed to go down….again. When the ferry moved it crashed right into us - no damage and seems to be a normal occurrence. Iziah asked everyone to report on the week. Lots of thanking, including to God. Lovely efforts made by the very shy Anna and Aurelia. Then us again. Hilary made a very eloquent speech and as usual a great effort on her Swahili. I couldn’t match that but I had crocheted a heart for everyone ❤️. Not sure what they’ll do with them! A token for the amazing friendship of everyone. Pastor Samuel spoke at length about the programme and appreciation of the support of the Mzungos. (Our £ is 50% of each trip)
    And people left, with chickens , on motorbikes.
    The bizarreness is never ending- we were interviewed by a radio then internet channel- both church based. All went well with until I mentioned the Amazon Hope - wrong continent🤔
    And our time to leave. Quite emotional leaving the boat and its amazing crew. I’ve truly never worked with such a cohesive team.
    Off to Ryan’s Bay Hotel posh hotel- what a contrast.
    We had a ‘gloves off’ debrief Iziah. Very few negative points, possibly few suggestions- but everything works so well it’s hard to improve.
    Lunch with Pastor Samuel and just as we were about to get in the swimming pool he offered a trip to the new boat MV Lady Jean. A smaller faster vessel, support for Jubilee Hope. Recently arrived from Scotland, in a container. She’s very smart.
    As ever the short journey there was interesting with the variety of travel and transport. Chickens on bikes, motorcycles with umbrellas, a cart overfilled of foam mattresses. No hooting and quite ordered.
    And back to hotel for a swim. It’s been hard surrounded by water and not able to go in.
    Final meal and beer😊 in outside restaurant and a sad goodbye to Hilary and Jean. An amazing pair of enthusiasts, great company. Friends for life.
    An early start tomorrow with Mark and home by Sunday am for MR training😊 🎅🏻
    What a fantastic adventure.    Read more

    Trip end
    November 30, 2024
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