Comparative Health Statistics - Tanzania and United Kingdom

When I initially decided that I would create a blog about my experiences of travelling to Tanzania, I thought that it might be quite interesting to compare the statistics from the World Health Organisation: between the United Kingdom and Tanzania.

I feel that this helps to give some perspective concerning the potential issues that I might face whilst working in Tanzania, for example a greater prevalence of infectious diseases – such as TB and HIV – amongst other issues.

I was interested in sharing these statistics – however in a bit more of an interesting-way than plaintext – I have therefore created this 'infographic-of-sorts' to present the information. I must admit that my creative-skills are not the best, but I hope that you appreciate my effort!

You may find the source of these statistics:

• United Kingdom – http://www.who.int/countries/gbr/en/
• United Republic of Tanzania – http://www.who.int/countries/tza/en/

Swahili Body Parts (English - français - Kiswahili)

At the beginning of this week, my sister (who is a school teacher) set me a 'homework' to learn the names for parts of the body in Swahili. She had produced a proper workbook for me, including a list of all the names and also exercises for me to complete! It therefore feels apt to use this topic for first post concerning the Swahili language.

Language learning is something that I have recently taken a great interest in, as I aim to become a lot more proficient in French. I have therefore chosen to include the French translations, for which I hope might be of use to Francophones. 

Au debut de la semaine, ma sœur m'a envoyé un email avec les noms des parties du corps en swahili pour que je les apprenne. Un de mes passe-temps est d'apprendre le français, donc, j'ai aussi ajouté la traduction en français. Je l'espère utile à des personnes francophones.

English - français - Kiswhaili

Body - le corps - Mwili

External - externe - Nje

Head - la tête - Kichwa

Hair - les cheveux - Nwele

Eye (Eyes) - l'œil (les yeux) - Jucho (Macho)

Eyebrows - les sourcils - Nyusi

Eyelashes - les cils - Kope

Iris - l'iris - Kiini cha macho [Literally translates as the 'yolk of the eyes' / Cette traduction est littéralement: 'le jaune d'œuf des yeux'.]

Ear (Ears) - l'oreille (les oreilles) - Sikio (Masikio)

Nose - le nez - Pua

Mouth - la bouche - Kinywa

Lips - les lèvres - Midomo

Tongue - la langue - Ulimi

Teeth - les dents - Meno

Chin - le menton - Kidevu

Cheek (Cheeks) - la joue (les joues) - Shavu (Mashavu)

Neck - le cou - Shingo

Shoulder (Shoulders) - l'épaule (les épaules) - Bega (Mabega) 
Arm and Hand (Arms and Hands) - le bras et la main (les bras et les mains) - Mkono (Mikono)

Finger and Toe (Fingers and Toes) - le doigt et l'orteil (les doigts et les orteils) - Kidole (Vidole)

Thumb (Thumbs) - le pouce (les pouces) - Kidole Gumba (Vidole Gumba)

Elbow (Elbows) - le coude (les coudes) - Kisugudi (Visugudi)

Wrist (Wrists) - le poignet (les poignets) - Kiganja (Viganja)

Chest - la poitrine - Kifua

Breast (Breasts) - le sein (les seins) - Ziwa (Maziwa) [also the word for milk / aussi le mot pour le lait] / Titi (Matiti)

Nipple (Nipples) - le mamelon (les mamelons) - Chuchu (Machuchu)

Abdomen - l'abdomen - Tumbo

Navel - le nombril - Kitovu

Back - le dos - Mgongo

Buttock (Buttocks) - la fesse (les fesses) - Tako (Matako)

Anus - l'anus - Mkundu

Thigh (Thighs) - la cuisse (les cuisses) - Paja (Mapaja)

Leg and Foot (Legs and Feet) - la jambe et le pied (les jambes et les pieds) - Mguu (Miguu)

Knee (Knees) - le genou (les genoux) - Goti (Magoti)

Penis - le penis - Mboo / Mboro / Ume [Ume also means Masculinity / Ume aussi veut dire la masculinité]

Vagina - le vagin - Kuma / Uke [Uke also means Femininity / Uke aussi veut dire la féminité]

Swahili Body Parts

HIV Epidemic: Initial Research

I must admit that I am stickler for TED talks, therefore as part of my research I headed to their website and simply searched 'Tanzania', leading me to this interesting talk concerning the prevalence of HIV in African nations.

What I particularly enjoyed, is how the speaker helps to dispel the idea of Africa 'the country'. A concept-of-sorts, which is particularly present within those in my generation; but I imagine that the issue is more widespread (I am looking at you Sarah Palin). The argument that Rosling takes for dispelling this notion of a single Africa, is that whilst it is true there are many African nations with the highest levels of HIV worldwide; some have the same percentage infected as the United States.

Furthermore, he goes on to describe Tanzania in some greater detail: breaking the infection rates down between income brackets. Perhaps surprisingly demonstrating that it is the  wealthiest Tanzanians that have the highest infection rates, which might suggest that it is not poverty that drives infection rates. However it is acknowledged in the context of other African nations, that the 'poor' are more liable to die from the disease through lack of access to drug-care that others might receive.

The overall arching theme is that prevention is key to helping 'beat' HIV, rather than simply having access to the drug-treatments and living with the disease. Though perhaps with the developments of the last few days, we may at least be on the edge of curing those born with the disease. 

Via this post I am more than confident to say that I am demonstrating my naïvety about this humungous issue, but it is something that I am interested to learn more about. Both in the context of Tanzania, for the purpose of the work that I shall be doing there,  but also as I develop my interest in global health issues.

I therefore intend to research and post more on the topic of HIV, especially if have any experiences with HIV/AIDS patients whilst I am working in Tanzania. As my exposure to patients with the virus is fairly limited from my placements in a District General in the English Shires.

Hello World... and all that jazz!

I have to admit that writing the first blog post, on a fresh new blog, fills me with a certain level of apprehension. As nothing goes before you, and with the weight of what comes thereafter; you are left struggling finding the appropriate words to say... Therefore I write this post with a proviso, that you forgive me for my best attempts. Or, at least, please try!

To get the formalities out of the way, my name is Richard Betteridge. I am a Diagnostic Radiography student in the UK, studying in my second year at the University of Hertfordshire. I have chosen to write this blog, because I am lucky enough to be a winner of the 'Society and College of Radiographer's International Elective competition.' 

For the uninitiated, that means I entered a competition with the professional body that represents Radiographers in the United Kingdom; for which I am a student member. The competition operates in cooperation with Work the World, for two students to undertake a month-long international placement in a developing nation. Myself and the other competition winner +Kim Balsdon, had to write an 800-word personal statement, outlining the reasons that we would be the people to make the most of this opportunity.

In my statement, I outlined my personal interests in international healthcare development; especially for the provision of radiology services. Furthermore I explained my past-experiences of travelling to Nepal, for the purposes of the Scout Association's Explorer Belt award; where we planned, funded and undertook an expedition to that country. I wrote my statement with the intention of travelling to Kandy, Sri Lanka. However unfortunately due to changes being implemented to Work the World's programme, this is no longer the case... Positively this means that we had to find an alternative: therefore I shall be travelling to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

I have to admit that when making my application, it was a real tossup between Sri Lanka and Tanzania; therefore I am not to disappointed about this change in destination. The country of Tanzania has intrigued me ever since hearing of my sister's travels there: with its reputation for beautiful national parks and diverse, friendly people. Furthermore I was lucky enough to be present at the SCoR's student conference 2012 to hear from David Evans – a previous winner – talk  about his experiences as a Therapeutic Radiographer in Dar es Salaam: where he had both high praises for Work the World and Tanzania itself.

And with that, we are led to the present and the need to outline my intentions with this blog.
Firstly I intend to update on at least a weekly basis during the buildup to travelling to Tanzania. This stage will follow my research into the country, whilst exploring to some of the concepts relating to my time there. This could range from reports from the WHO, to learning the basics of the Swahili language. Following this, I shall be using this blog to fully detail my actual time spent in Dar es Salaam; documenting both my experiences as a Radiographer and of the country itself. Finally upon my return, I will use this space to writeup my reflections about the time that I spent there... Therefore hopefully giving your good-selves a comprehensive overview of my entire experience, so I hope you care to join me on this journey!

(I feel that I have hopefully covered the main aspects up to this stage. It is my intention that this blog shall remain professionally-relevant to healthcare and radiography, I am therefore aware of maintaining a strict level of patient confidentiality. Therefore within this space I intend to keep details extremely limited and where necessary apply some creative changes to the exact nature of events. As I develop this site, I shall outline my feelings and thoughts on this topic in more detail.)