Script and Service: Field notes from a travelling pharmacist on global aid, work, and adventures

Having a friend come out to visit in March, I'd saved the really touristy attractions of Tanzania to experience together with him. I was a bit nervous that a first time trip to Africa would be a huge challenge for some people and hoped that the poverty, accommodation and safety of transportation would not be too much of a culture shock. I hope he won't mind me sharing but my concerns were raised when, on arriving at the hotel in Dar Es Salaam, he was very reluctant to use the toilet. My fears were ill-founded and after a night's sleep and a portion of street-barbecued chicken and (possibly) unwashed salad, my friend not only sat on the toilet he embraced everything that Tanzania had to give. The first part of the adventure involved climbing Mount Meru, the second highest mountain in Tanzania at 4562m. Having stopped any regular exercise months ago and despite gaining a few* pounds, I still thought climbing Mount Kilimanjaro's smaller sister would be more of a hike...

A couple of months ago I had my first experience of a Tanzanian funeral. One of the nurses fell ill suddenly after finishing her shift on Valentine's Day. Within a few minutes she was dead. Cause of death is often speculation and rumour without the facilities for a post-mortem. Perhaps more realistically why someone dies is irrelevant  in most cases . Not only is it a tragedy for the family but the loss of a salary can have huge consequences on their future. Not having experienced death in Tanzania the rituals and traditions that surround it were new to me. Within an hour, the news of her passing had spread around the village.  Phones were buzzing with the grizzly details and her final moments became a common topic of conversation in homes and at the market stalls. Being a member of staff the funeral costs were paid for by the hospital and sacks of flour and a coffin were sent to her family. The next morning, I went with my neighbour to the family home to view the bo...