International Work Tanzania, East Africa
WHERE IS TANZANIA?
Indian Ocean to the east. Dar es Salaam, where my paternal family is from, holds a special place in my heart. Although I grew up outside of Tanzania, I was fortunate to have a vibrant Swahili community here in New York City that, together with my family, immersed me in Swahili culture, cuisine, language, and religious traditions. My father always referred to Tanzania as “back home,” and the familiarity of its people, food, material culture, and traditions resonated deeply within our New York home.
Tanzania is a country of extraordinary cultural and geographic diversity, rich in languages, religions, landscapes, and wildlife. Yet alongside this richness are significant disparities in access to education and healthcare. Many communities, particularly in underserved areas, continue to experience high rates of maternal and neonatal mortality. On the island of Zanzibar, where geographic isolation from mainland Tanzania presents additional challenges, there is a particular need for skilled midwives and physicians who can provide accessible, high-quality maternity and gynecological care. Limited healthcare resources, gaps in education, and preventable disease can make pregnancy and childbirth significantly more dangerous for both mothers and their babies.
These disparities, alongside my personal connection to Tanzania, have shaped my desire to contribute to improving maternal and reproductive healthcare in the region.
In response to these healthcare disparities, WAJAMAMA Family and Women’s Health Center is working tirelessly to provide high-quality prenatal and perinatal care, counseling, and education to villages across Zanzibar, a culturally vibrant island off the coast of mainland Tanzania. As a trained midwife and Tanzanian-American, I feel a deep responsibility to use my skills and voice to support these efforts. Each year, I spend several months away from New York City and my homebirth practice to live and work in Tanzania. I serve as a clinical consultant at WAJAMAMA, where I work as a midwife, educator, and preceptor, supporting both patient care and the training of local healthcare professionals.
COMMUNITY WORK
Providing prenatal care at WAJAMAMA clinic in Zanzibar, Tanzania
Running a workshop and acting as a mentor for nurse-midwives working as Group Care Facilitators (CGM) in local villages in Zanzibar
My global health work has also brought me into collaboration with Zanzibar’s Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and other nongovernmental organizations working to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes. Through these partnerships, I hope to positively contribute to efforts focused on improving maternal health and hygiene, childbirth, essential newborn care and disease management and prevention. I see this work as a way of giving back to my father’s community while honoring the traditions, values, and Islamic beliefs that have shaped my upbringing.
Working on a WAJAMAMA-led campaign with the First Lady of Zanzibar
Me attending a conference on quality improvement in healthcare with leaders in the Ministry of Health in Zanzibar, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other NGOs working in Zanzibar, Tanzania
My commitment to Tanzania extends beyond clinical medicine. I also support organizations working to improve access to clean water, including efforts to build wells in remote communities with limited or no access to electricity. I have also found it deeply rewarding to support skills-training initiatives, community support groups, and religious education. These experiences have reinforced my belief that improving health requires more than medical care alone—it requires investing in education, infrastructure, and the overall well-being and self-determination of communities.
