Dear friends:
This month’s update again comes from Tony, Linda’s husband. Linda is still in Ukiah, California with her mother due to an illness in the family.
First of all, we wish all of you a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year. The six students we sponsored and graduated this summer at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center (“KCMC”) have received the results of the national examinations. Five of the six students passed all parts of the examinations and have received their certificates for their earned designation as “registered nurse and registered midwife”. One of the students failed one part and will have to retake that in March (the examinations are in English and it is my speculation, knowing the student, that poor command of English was a primary factor).
On December 7 there was a graduation ceremony at KCMC at which the students received their certificates and recognition was given to special achievements. Two of the students we sponsor, Jackline Kessy and Alece Chapaga, tied for second place for highest grade point average over the three year period.
Edith Macha, our friend and student coordinator took photos of the graduation ceremony. I would like to share a few of the photos with you:
Students in the Parade
Graduates as part of the procession, heading to the graduation cermony
The High Table
The head table at the graduation ceremony, chaired by the principal Juliet Chugulu
Eliza receiving her certificate
Elizabeth Puka, one of the students we sponsored, receiving her certificate
Jackline is awarded
Jackline receiving her award for academic achievement
Nurses taking their vow
Newly minted nurses taking their vows
We usually share with you several emails from our students. This time, I would like to do something different and share with you three rather lengthy emails from a single student, Tasiana. Tasiana is a second year nursing student at the Tukuyu School of Nursing. Just a few days ago she had her 25th birthday. She is the oldest of seven children and the only one in her family to go to school due to family financial difficulties.
First, a bit of background: In the first term of the second year of studies the students learn in the classroom about working in a rural community. Following the classroom learning experience, the students are organized into teams and each team is placed in a rural village for approximately a month. The students as a team need to identify the characteristics of the community and specifically public health issues and work with community leaders to recommend changes to the community leaders. Individual students work with families to identify health related issues and make recommendations to the families. The team is responsible for preparing a written report that is presented to the school staff. Each student similarly prepares and presents a report related to the families that they worked with.
I have changed the names of the patients mentioned in the emails.
The first letter from Tasiana describes her community field work experiences and was dated November 5:
Hallow my friends, I hope that you are doing well in your daily activities .Back to my side I am doing well especially in my students.
From 6th October I was at Mwakaleli Health centre for my community field work practice up to 3rd November when I was back to Tukuyu NTC. Read more... (1498 words, estimated 6:0 mins reading time)
This is a preview of
December 2012 Update
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