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Treating Malaria in Tanzania

In Kilimanjaro, Tanzania a visibly underweight one-year old girl named Nance Mungure was brought into our mobile clinic in January of 2016. Her mother carried her on foot for an hour to bring her to MEDLIFE doctors because she was worried about her daughter’s gaunt appearance and high fever. Our doctors suspected a common culprit in Tanzania, Malaria. They immediately administered a test- Nance was Malaria positive.

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Nearly half the world’s population lives in a Malaria risk zone. It claims more than 400,000 lives per year and primarily hurts those in poverty, who lack access to testing and treatment. About 70% of these deaths are in children under 5, just like Nance. Early diagnosis and treatment can reliably prevent these deaths, which is why the WHO considers it a fundamental right of at risk populations.

However, access to treatment and diagnosis is typically not a reality for subsistence farming families living in remote areas like Nance’s, which is why MEDLIFE has made Malaria testing and treatment a focus in our Tanzania clinics.

In addition to treatment and testing, Mosquito net donations can help prevent infections. Education about prevention and treatment is critical in motivating at risk populations to go the extra mile (or many miles) and seek out early testing.

MEDLIFE visited a month later after Nance completed the course of Malaria treatment that she was given at the Mobile Clinic. We found a happy smiling baby who had finally managed to put on a bit of weight.  MEDLIFE Mobile Clinics will continue to bring critical Malaria care directly to the poor in remote communities in Tanzania, so that kids like Nance can get the treatment they need.

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Hear it From MEDLIFErs

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Reya Seby
Western University

This trip motivated me more to pursue a career in the healthcare field so that I can use my resources to help those who need it the most, similar to MEDLIFE’s mission.

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Victoria DiCanio
University of Connecticut

It was most enjoyable to finish the hard work and see how big a difference a group of individuals can make. It was such an amazing experience.

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Anita Woo
University of Toronto

I enjoyed the mobile clinics the most, especially the dental and triage portions. I would definitely recommend a MEDLIFE trip, it was a great experience.

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David Saff
Maclay High School

The most enjoyable part of my trip was hanging out with the amazing group of kids I was with. I would highly recommend a MEDLIFE volunteer trip to others.

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Sydney Sansone
Nova Southeastern University

This trip made everything that I was learning in my public health courses come to life and immersed me in a new culture while also learning about medicine.

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Abygail Youmans
College of Charleston

Being involved with MEDLIFE is not like joining another club - its bigger than that. It is about joining a movement that seeks to help change people’s quality of life for forever.

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Emi Hofmann
University of Central Florida

Not only was I able to participate in a week long Mobile Clinic, shadowing doctors of all types of specialties including pharmacy, dentistry, gynecology, and more, but I was also able to learn about the culture and visit incredible places.

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Julian Takagi-Stewart
University of Toronto

One thing that I really loved about this trip was that MEDLIFE made sure that the volunteers got an understanding of the complexity of issues that lead to underprivileged people in communities outside of the main city

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Hannah Van Hofwegen
University of Ottawa

Whether it was basketball with the local kids, assisting the doctors, talking with families, building washrooms, holding babies, or spending time with the people who were on the SLT with me, this was an amazing opportunity that I would do over and over again.

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Isabelle Holt
Cornell University

I loved learning about the patients MEDLIFE has followed and how they offer real help to people with chronic/urgent conditions. It is amazing how the organization formed real connections with the communities.

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Valerie Lindeborg
Parent

Our family had the privilege of participating in multiple trips with Nick [founder] and his amazing staff. Their expertise made the trips unforgettable while instilling in my boys the fundamentals of good character: selflessness, compassion, and empathy.

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Harry Vildibill
University of Georgia

As an aspiring physician, MEDLIFE motivated me to further continue my goal of becoming a doctor. In fact, I enjoyed the Tanzania Service Learning Trip so much that I decided to go on another trip to Cusco, Peru.