Tanzania

Country

Political status: Republic Fertility rate: 5 children born/woman
President: Samia Suluhu Hassan Life expectancy: 66 years
Surface: 945.087 km² Infant mortality: 36/1000 births
Language: English and Swahili Doctor/patient ratio: 1:20.000
Population: 62 million HIV prevalence: 4.8% (15-49 years)

Itinerary

  1. Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)
  2. Arusha
  3. Tarangire NP
  4. Magugu
  5. Karatu
  6. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
  7. Karatu
  8. Lake Eyasi
  9. Karatu
  10. Arusha
  11. Zanzibar

Participants travel on tarmac- (500 km) and maram roads (400 km) in a bus and comfortable 4 x 4 Land-Cruisers (extended version) with experienced English-speaking drivers. The section Arusha – Zanzibar (500 km) is by air.

Curriculum

Schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis, malaria,  amoebiasis, typhoid fever, shigellosis, cholera, brucellosis, leprosy, HIV/AIDS and related opportunistic infections, Dengue Fever, Chikungunya Fever, West Nile Virus, Ebola, occupational medicine in the tropics, DD of fever and diarrhoea in the tropics, poisonous snakes, traditional medicine, medical botany, laboratory diagnosis for tropical infectious diseases.

Teaching CME Hours
Ward rounds and case presentations 20
Field excursions 15
Laboratory manuals 10
Lectures and round-table discussions 15
Total CME Hours 60

Program sequence (click every single day)

Day 1: Sunday
Arrival at Kilimanjaro International Airport
Transfer zur Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge, Arusha (60 km)
23.00 Briefing on the TROPMEDEX excursion (Dr. Schaefer)
Meeting point: Reception of the Arusha Coffee Lodge
Day 2: Monday
Drive to St. Elizabeth Hospital, Arusha (10 km)
08.00-09.00 Lecture: DD of diarrhoea in the tropics (Dr. Rohela)
09.15-10.15 Lecture: Update on HIV/AIDS in Africa (Dr. Mushi & Dr. Schaefer)
10.15-12.15 Rounds in St. Elizabeth hospital: Focus on diarrhoea, AIDS and related opportunistic infections (Dr. Christina)
13.00-15.00 Laboratory manuals: at St. Elizabeth Hospital: Diagnosis of infections in the blood and stool (Dr. Prayod)
Drive to the Arusha Coffee Lodge (10 km)
16.00-17.00 Field excursion: Occupational Health in the Arusha Coffee Plantation (Mr. Nassor)
Day 3: Tuesday
Drive to the Old Selian hospital, Arusha (20 km)
09.00-10.00 Lecture: DD of fever in the tropics (Dr. Amon)
10.15-11.15 Lecture: Update on malaria (Dr. Schaefer)
11.15-14.15 Rounds on the paediatric ward in the Old Selian hospital. Focus on children with malaria and other febrile ilnesses (Prof. Steve Swanson)
Drive to the Flying Medical Service (FMS) headquarters (5 km)
15.00-18.00 Field excursion to the Flying Medical Service: Medical care from the air in the Maasai areas (Dr. Pat Patten)
Drive to Arusha Coffee Lodge, Arusha (25 km)
Day 4: Wednesday
07.00-08.00 Lecture: Update on poisonous African snakes (Dr. Schaefer)
Drive to Meserani Snake Park (30 km)
09.30-10.30 Field excursion in Meserani Snake Park: African snakes and reptiles (Dr. Rashid)
11.00-13.00 Rounds in Meserani Snake Park Clinic: Treatment and care of patients with snake bites (Dr. Jenny)
Drive to Tarangire National Park (50 km)
15.30-17.30 Field excursion in Tarangire National Park: Prevention and control of  sleeping sickness. Observation of the habitat of Tsetse flies (vector) and antelopes (Dr. Mofulu)
Drive to Octagon Lodge, Karatu (80 km)
Day 5: Thursday
07.00-08.00 Lecture: Update on Ebola (Dr. Schaefer)
08.00-10.00 Rounds in the Fame hospital, Karatu: Focus on patients with sepsis and ckle cell anaemia (Dr. Artress)
10.15-14.15 Laboratory manuals in Fame hospital: Diagnosis of malaria, African trypanosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis, Fame hospital (Dr. Anthony)
Drive to Lake Eyasi (50 km)
15.30-17.30 Field excursion to the Hadza tribe. Traditional medicine among the bushmen tribe around Lake Eyasi (Dr. Barjeda)
Drive to Octagon Lodge, Karatu (50 km)
Day 6: Friday
Drive to Endulen hospital in Ngorongoro Conservation area (80 km)
08.30-09.30 Lecture: Update on Dengue Fever (Dr. Schaefer)
09.45-10.45 Lecture: Update on brucellosis (Dr. Schaefer)
11.00-15.00 Rounds in Endulen hospital: focus on Maasai patients with brucellosis, malaria, TB and typhoid fever (Dr. Magdalen & Dr. Ben
15.30-17.30 Laboratory manuals: Diagnosis of brucellosis, TB and typhoid fever (Dr. Mameso)
Drive to Octagon Lodge, Karatu (80 km)
Day 7: Saturday
Drive to Arusha Airport (150 km)
Economy flight from Arusha to Zanzibar (500 km)
Drive to Mangrove Lodge, Mwambini Beach (30 km)
18.00-20.00 Lectures: Update on Chikungunya- and West Nile Fever (Dr. Schaefer)
Day 8: Sunday
08.00-09.00 Lecture: Update on leprosy (Dr. Schaefer)
09.15-10.15 Lecture: Update on lymphatic filariasis (Dr. Schaefer)
Drive to Kizimkazi/Dimbani (50 km)
12.00-14.00 Rounds in Kizimkazi Health Center: Patients with lymphatic filariasis and leprosy (Dr. Fatma & Dr. Saada)
Drive to Jambiani Beach (15 km)
15.00-16.00 Field excursion: bed-net study. Control of malaria in Jambiani district. (Dr. Yako)
Drive to Mangrove Lodge, Mwambini Beach (60 km)
Day 9: Monday
09.00-10.00 Lecture: Update on schistosomiasis (Dr. Schaefer)
10.15-11.15 Lecture: Prevention and control of schistosomiasis in Zanzibar (Dr. Simba)
Drive to Kinyasini (40 km)
13.00-15.00 Field excursion: Schistosomiasis transmission site and visit to a school in Kinyasini (Dr. Simba and Dr. Ali)
Drive to Stone Town (50 km)
16.00-18.00 Laboratory manuals: Diagnosis of schistosomiasis in the prevention and control center, Stone Town (Dr. Ali)
Drive to Mangrove Lodge (10 km)
Day 10: Tuesday
08.00-09.00 Lecture: Update on cholera in Africa (Dr. Schaefer)
Drive to Global Health Hospital, Stone Town (10 km)
10.00-15.00 Rounds on the paediatric ward in Global Health Hospital. Participants take the history and examine children with tropical infectious diseases. Diagnosis and treatment is discussed with the doctor in charge (Dr. Sanga)
Drive to Mangrove Lodge (10 km)
Day 11: Wednesday
Drive to the Jozani Forest Reserve (60 km)
09.00-12.00 Field excursion: Medical botany in the Jozani Reserve (Mr. Shabaan)
Drive to Zanzibar International airport (60 km)
Changes may occur without prior notice!

Accommodation

Travel preparation

Health

You should be in good health and fit.

COVID-19: You have to be vaccinated several times with an efficient vaccine in order to participate at the excursion (TROPMEDEX condition). You need to carry the written proof of your vaccination throughout the excursion in order to visit health facilities in the country. Prevention and control measures for COVID-19 are implemented throughout the excursion. TROPMEDEX will inform you about 2 months before departure about the policy of Corona testing in your home country and in Africa.

Other vaccinations: You need to be vaccinated against yellow fever. Custom officials check upon arrival your yellow vaccination booklet. It is highly recommended to be vaccinated againt polio, diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid and hepatitis A and to take malaria prophylaxis (malarone or doxycycline). Check wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/tanzania.

Carry essential medicine with you, and if you like, bring masks, syringes, gloves etc., which are always in need in hospitals! If asked at the customs on arrival, explain that the medicines are for “private use“.

Tourist Visa
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months. Keep copies of the relevant pages of your passport separately. Two months before departure I will send you information where and how to apply for the tourist visa (Single entry). Until then you don’t do anything.
Luggage
light trousers hand sanitizer
jeans mouth-nose-mask
shorts/skirt mosquito repellent
shirts sun cream
t-shirts flashlight
light sweater alarm clock
light impermeable wind jacket universal travel adapter
comfortable sport shoes with proper soles light rucksack
slippers bathing suit
sunglasses small umbrella
hat

Should be packed in a soft, lockable travel bag (not bulky suitcase). Maximum luggage weight is 15 kg per person. You don’t need a mosquito net, white coat or stethoscope.

Medical literature

Oxford Handbook of Tropical Medicine, Robert Davidson et al., Oxford University Press, 5th Edition, December 2021, ISBN: 0198810857

Amazon

Travel guide
Tanzania, Lonely Planet Travel Guide, 7th revised edition, June 2018, ISBN-13:  9781786575623, www.lonelyplanet.com
Laundry
Service is provided in all hotels.
Money
It is recommended to carry approximately US$ 400,- cash (bills dated after 2010) for meals, drinks, tips and personal expenses. You can withdraw Tanzania Shillings cash with your VISA-credit card (don’t forget your pin number!) from ATM machines in Tanzania. Other credit cards are less popular.
Insurance
You should have your own comprehensive travel insurance (health, accident, baggage, cancellation etc.) www.worldnomads.com.
Internet, Mobile phone
Wireless is offered in some hotels. Mobile phones (Vodafone) work here as well.
Airlines to Tanzania

Book the open yaw flight as follows:  arrive at the latest 3 hours before the start of the excursion at  Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) and depart not sooner than 3 hours after the end of  the excursion from Zanzibar International Airport (ZNZ).

  • 12th March 2023,   Sunday:         excursion starts at 23.00 pm
  • 22nd March 2023, Wednesday: excursion finishes at 12.00 am

Many airlines (KLM, Turkish, Emirates, Qatar, Ethiopian etc.) fly to JRO and ZNZ.

The flight from Arusha to Zanzibar is included in the tuition fee.

Airport transfer

A free airport shuttle is provided from Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO) to Elewana Arusha Coffee Lodge in Arusha (60 km). The taxi driver will wait for you in the arrival hall of the airport building holding a blackboard with your name. The transfer takes about 45-60 minutes, depending on the traffic.