Dr. Moirana, our very first PSCTP scholar, is employed by the Tanzania Ministry of Health and is engaged in efforts to influence policy regarding the employment of healthcare providers in Tanzania.  He has regular communications with many of our scholars, serving as a mentor and a leader in our scholarship program.

After graduating in March 2023 from King Ceasor University School of Medicine in Uganda, Rebeka successfully passed her Internship Qualifying Exams in October and, on November 16, 2023, began her internship training at Mount Meru Regional Referral Hospital, located in Arusha, Tanzania. She has already completed a rotation in general surgery and has just begun the next rotation in orthopedics. She was especially excited to be awarded this internship, as she lives nearby. The internship will be completed in December 2024, after which she will move on to her residency training.

In November 2023, Boniphace started his second year of medical school at the University of Dodoma. He was honored with a special invitation to participate in a national conference of healthcare providers, which was attended by about 1,000 people, including the Minister of Health of Tanzania and representatives of the World Health Organization. It focused on the current shortage of healthcare workers, especially in primary care, infrastructure issues, and how to strengthen the healthcare system in Tanzania. Other topics included education, youth, communication, and productive problem-solving. Boniphace was greatly inspired by the conference and gave a presentation to the PSCTP team when they were in Tanzania this past February.

Saumu graduated on December 15, 2023, from Decca College in Dodoma with a Diploma in Nursing and Midwifery. She has already completed her licensing exams and is presently awaiting the results. She plans to volunteer in the local community while seeking full-time employment as a registered nurse, ideally in women’s health. That volunteer experience will make her a stronger candidate to pursue a bachelor’s degree in nursing and Midwifery, which is a step toward realizing her ultimate goal of becoming a midwife. In addition to her nursing activities, Saumu is married to Iman Charles Chimuly, another of our scholars, and is the mother of a boy, now 2 1/2 years old.

Jacqueline was the second PSCTP scholar and obtained her bachelor’s degree in nursing. She is doing very well, continuing her studies to obtain a master’s degree in the Nurse Midwifery program at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences in Dar es Salaam. Academic studies and clinical rotations have been rigorous. Because of venue shortages, she has had to travel long distances on buses for her clinical rotations, made even more difficult by the heavy rain and flooding experienced in Tanzania this past year. She has learned to manage pregnant women with significant complications, including pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, gestational diabetes, malaria, anemia, antepartum hemorrhage, and HIV. In addition to giving a presentation on the pharmacological management of pain during labor, she has been teaching undergraduate nursing students. She is now working on a research project, which she has titled “Postnatal Mothers Experience on the Current Required Antenatal Contacts,” examining the frequency of visits and the challenges women face in attending them.

Masters in Critical Care and Trauma Nursing

Jastin will be applying this spring to Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences to obtain a master’s degree in Critical Care and Trauma Nursing. This is an area of healthcare in Tanzania with an enormous shortage of qualified providers. He hopes to begin studies this coming fall. This past year, Jastin has been working full-time as a nursing instructor at Burando Medical Center, located in Mwanza.  He teaches the students both in the classroom and in clinical rotations. He has been quite engaged with many of the other PSCTP scholars and attended the Inaugural All Scholar Conference held in Arusha this past February.

Clinical Social Work, Mwenge Catholic University

Veronica graduated with a Diploma in Social Work on November 25, 2023, from Mwenge Catholic University in Moshi. Because of her outstanding academic performance and her role as a class leader in the diploma program, she was invited by the university, even before graduation, to continue with her studies to obtain a bachelor’s degree in social work. Given this rare and very exciting opportunity, PSCTP agreed to continue sponsoring Veronica, who commenced the advanced three-year program in October. As a single parent who, at a very young age, was also tasked with raising her younger orphaned siblings, Veronica has consistently overcome life’s obstacles and demonstrated the determination to make a difference. Veronica recently wrote to thank PSCTP for giving her the opportunity to accomplish her goals.

Veronica has expressed gratitude for the educational opportunities she receives from PSCTP, as well as the chance to make a difference in people’s lives.  To her PSCTP mentors she says, “It is always my hope to become someone who can help others, especially those who are in need. I thank you for you and the Team for your kindness and having us [herself and the other scholars] as part of your family. To me, the Phil Simon Clinic is my mother and my father.”

Clinical Social Work, Open University of Tanzania

Iman has started the second year of a three-year diploma program in Clinical Social Work at the Open University of Tanzania, located in Dodoma. He recently reported that he has had ample time for field activities, which have been done at a regional referral hospital. He feels thankful that he is doing well and greatly enjoyed meeting the PSCTP team in February in Arusha. Together with another of our scholars, Saum Kingu, he is also raising their three-year-old son.

Clinical Social Work, Kampala International University

Elisha graduated from Kampala International University in Dar es Salaam with a bachelor’s degree in clinical social work on December 14, 2023, and was awarded recognition as the “Best Student,” earning the highest grade point average of his class. He plans to apply for a master’s degree program commencing in October 2024 after gaining some practical experience volunteering at regional referral hospitals and youth organizations.

Since October, Elisha and Dr. Rebeka Gurti, another of our graduates, collaborated on a project to provide educational classes to parents and youth. He recently presented in Manyara on the topic of parenting and child protection. Elisha was excited that the audience seemed pleased that he was their teacher because he came from their own community and felt they appreciated the information he was presenting.

Clinical Social Work, Mkolani College of Health Sciences

Arafa graduated from Mkolani Foundation Health Sciences Training Institute in Mwanza, Tanzania, with a Diploma in Social Work on December 15, 2023, as one of her class leaders and with good grades.  Following graduation, Arafa was very excited to travel to her hometown to visit her family, as she had not been able to do so for the three years she was in school. As the first woman from her family to obtain a higher education, they are very proud of her and her achievements, as are we. She has obtained a volunteer position with a Canadian non-profit called Villages of Hope: Africa Society (vohafrica.com). This organization has ten locations in five countries and provides education, nutrition, shelter, and healthcare to the children in their care. Arafa hopes this work will open doors for future paid employment as a social worker.