Zanzibar – Expanding Horizons

Zanzibar is every bit as idyllic as it promised to be. Exploring Stone Town at the weekend was fascinating, not least because a visit to the slave museum provided a gripping insight into the far from idyllic history of the island. One of the main ports for slave export from the continent of Africa, the museum holds a harrowing account of what humans are capable of doing to one another. It is remarkable to think that the tail end of this industry continued into the 1920s.

One of the three pools

After lunch, we said goodbye to my wife’s uncle – his schedule only allowed a very brief visit – and we set off for our hotel on the northern tip of the island. The SeVi Boutique Hotel is truly magnificent. It overlooks a beach which has sand of the most remarkable quality. It is so white and so fine, it is almost like walking upon flour. The hotel ‘complex’ is extensive with three pools and the modern twist on traditional bandas (thatched huts) is delightful. We have our own family house (complete with a personal plunge pool) and are being treated to genuine luxury for a few days. As almost the only guests here (we are very close to the start of the rainy season and so most hotels start to close down for a couple of months) it is also delightfully quiet. All the hustle, bustle and constant ‘best price, very good price, cheapest taxi’ of Stone Town thankfully behind us. 

Our beach cottage - the whole thing! and The bed greeting us!

Over the past few days, I have also had some space and time to think about and discuss a number of ideas that have been evolving over these past few months. I am immensely proud of the work we have done in Muheza and do believe that many of the developments we have worked upon are sustainable. Furthermore, the new local links and commitment for ongoing collaboration that emerged will be invaluable for the hospital. All these things will make a big difference to the quality and safety of the surgical service provided in Muheza. So in many ways, I could walk away in a couple of weeks’ time and justifiably feel that not only has our time here been worthwhile, but that we are leaving behind a valuable legacy too.

However, these five months have opened my eyes and given me a much deeper understanding of global healthcare. This experience has ignited within me a fascination and passion to do more. I have learned so much during my time here and my unexpected travels within Tanzania have further uncovered abundant potential opportunity. There is much that Western practice (and life in general) can learn from countries such as Tanzania, and there is of course so much more that can be done here to ‘raise the bar’ and narrow the gap in global healthcare provision. Having dipped my toes in the water (and perhaps immersed myself in the depths for a short while) I would like to continue to be involved.

When I return to the UK in a few weeks’ time I hope to continue to support and expand the work we have started here. Through my eyes as a surgeon, clinically such things seem eminently possible. Of course this may be ambitious, expansion will require many different resources and also greatly increases complexity. It will be challenging. But many steps have already been made towards such an endeavour and my network of contacts and willing help is growing. Through sustained and co-ordinated collaboration, I believe we can continue to help the productive development of surgical services here. Now, I just need to lay out my proposals in a more formal fashion and to begin to find ways to fund all this future work.

Best not to get bored on holiday!