Mnazi Mmoja Nurse Volunteer

Hello! My name is Rosie Findlay and I'm a paediatric student nurse from Edinburgh in my final year of study.

I plan to spend six weeks in early 2013 volunteering in the paediatric wards at MM hospital in Zanzibar.

I have been fundraising for some time and now that - FINALLY - all the paperwork is sorted out and I know I can actually go to MM, I need to raise £300.

My Mum and I will be cycling from Glasgow to edinburgh in between christmas and new year and we hope that you will sponsor us. It's winter, and it's 56 miles, and that's about 40 miles more than I've ever cycled before.

Your kind donations will be used for a cash donation to the two paediatric wards, for desperately needed medical and nursing supplies. 

I will be updating this page with info and pics while I'm in MM, so you will be able to find out more about the hospital and how I am shaping up as a volunteer and a nurse.

The type of nursing care, and different illlnesses will be a challenge, with many children in Zanzibar suffering from life-threatening ilnnesses such as Malaria and HIV. There will also be children who are very sick from illnesses that are easily treatable back here in the UK, such as dehydration.

I have visited the Mnazi Mmoja hospital once before, while visiting relatives in Zanzibar. The conditions were not ideal to say the least: cramped wards with patients having to share beds, lack of nursing and medical staff, no air conditioning and poor hygiene levels. The experience has inspired me to return and work there, as part of my final year of study. I believe these 6 weeks will be both tough and rewarding, and ultimately will make me a better nurse. 

There are companies who can arrange this type of experience - but they charge a lot of money, only the minority of which actually goes to the hospital.

So I decided to arrange to volunteer myself...