In June 2026 I had the privilege of travelling to Arusha, Tanzania, to undertake volunteer nursing work for two weeks alongside local healthcare professionals at Ngarenaro Health Centre through International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ).
Ngarenaro Health Centre provides affordable healthcare to people from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds. They deliver a broad range of healthcare services to the local community including antenatal care, HIV services, outpatient and wound management clinics, paediatric, pathology, family planning, dental services, minor procedures, perioperative, and maternity. On average there are around 70 births per week! Working within these areas gave me valuable insight into health care delivery in a resource-limited setting and highlighted the dedication and resilience of both healthcare workers and patients.
A particularly rewarding aspect of the experience was participating in an outreach program that supports people living in remote areas who are unable to access or afford healthcare. Working alongside local doctors, I assisted during patient consultations to help ensure appropriate assessment, education and treatment was delivered. This included purchasing essential medications from local pharmacies for patients who otherwise would not have been able to obtain them.
This experience reinforced the importance of preventative healthcare and health education and strengthened my passion for public health.
During my time in Tanzania, I also visited a Maasai community, gaining valuable cultural insight into traditional ways of life and the social factors that influence health and wellbeing. This experience deepened my appreciation of the importance of culturally sensitive healthcare and the role that community and culture play in supporting health outcomes.
In my downtime, I was able to experience a four-day safari at Serengeti National Park and Ngorongoro Crater- a huge highlight seeing incredible animals in the wild!!
Volunteering in Tanzania was both professionally and personally enriching. At the end of my placement, I was able to donate some supplies to Dr Raymond and his amazing team at Ngarenaro Health Centre including medical scrubs, neurological penlights, gloves and masks. I returned home with a broader perspective on global health, a renewed appreciation of accessible healthcare and an even stronger commitment to providing compassionate, patient-centred care to our local community.