Your Travel Buddies
  • info@tiritose.com
  • +263 787 360 924
    CONTACT US
Tiritose Sustainable Travel
  • Intern Abroad
    • Global Medical Health Internship
    • Veterinary and Animal Conservation
    • Medical Practice Internship
    • Business and Professional Skills Internship
  • Volunteer Abroad
    • Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation
    • Early Childhood Development and Health
    • Wildlife Environmental-Conservation Game Park Management
    • Wildlife Conservation Volunteering
  • Customised Groups
    • Study Abroad
    • Special Interest Groups
  • Resources
    • Travel Trips
    • Health and Safety
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Covid FAQs
  • Experiences
    • Harare City Sightseeing
    • Full Day Experiences
    • Overnight Trips
    • Extended Long Trips
  • About Us
    • Responsible Travel
    • Blog
    • Podcast
    • Reviews
    • Contact
Logo
responsive icon
Tiritose Sustainable Travel

Leave Only Your Footprints

All our programmes are designed with the locals in mind first and foremost, and then volunteers and interns come to fit into the local setup, which ensures that the programmes will continue beyond the stay of external partners and volunteers. The programmes and experiences are also designed to ensure our core value of knowledge exchange takes place seamlessly.
We denounce with righteous indignation and dislike men who we are to beguiled demoralized by the charms of pleasures that moment, so we blinded desires, that they indignation.
News & Updates
Travel Zimbabwe

How long in advance do I start planning for a trip abroad?

Conservation

What is Sustainable Travel?

EXPLORE THE ALOE ROUTE IN ZIMBABWE
Leisure Experiences

EXPLORE THE ALOE ROUTE: ZIMBABWE’S INDIGENOUS TREE CAPITAL

GET TO KNOW HARARE: THE SUNSHINE CITY
Travel News & Insights

GET TO KNOW HARARE: THE SUNSHINE CITY

Travel With Us

REFLECTIONS FROM MY ENCOUNTER WITH THE ZIMBABWE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM AS AN AMERICAN PRE-MEDICAL SCHOOL STUDENT!

Author image
admin
November 23, 2021
Internships Abroad
20 Views

Imagine being told that there is a problem that needs to be addressed, but you have no idea the extent of the problem, where to start, or even if you are a part of the solution. That is how it felt for me, the daughter of two Zimbabwean immigrants, embarking on this journey back to my roots. Everytime I visited my family in Zimbabwe, I made new observations. My rose-colored glasses were starting to come off, and I began to witness disparities in the quality of life in Zimbabwe in comparison to the States. While every country has its challenges, I saw an opportunity for growth within the health care system of Zimbabwe.

A meaningful encounter took place in the Children Rehab Unit of Harare Central Hospital. Early on I was exposed to the process a pediatrician undertakes while diagnosing a patient. With that exposure I learned of the obstacles that come with not being able to use an MRI machine or CT scans with contrast to help confirm the diagnosis. The physicians relied on their ability to quickly assess the patients and make an educated assumption of their condition based on prior cases they have seen. Furthermore, I started to notice gender inequalities among the parents. Almost all children were brought in by their mothers, rarely a father in sight. 

Another recurrence was the manner in which mothers carried themselves. Even while receiving the news that their child has cerebral palsy, there was a stoic calm about them. It was not until I sat in on a counseling session with a brilliant family counselor that I learned of what lies beneath the exterior. Listening to the story of a mother, watching her raw emotion as she told her truth, was a transcendent experience. She reminded me why it is so crucial to have medical professionals advocating for patients in health care. Women are often blamed when children are born with disabilities. They are forced to bear the weight of the world, while their male counterparts are free to go find another wife who will fulfil her marriage contract and bear him healthy children.

As heartbreaking as that reality is, I saw strength. The women courageously carried on in spite of the obstacles placed before them. In spite of their community believing their child is a result of ancestral curses or God willed punishment for a past wrongdoing, they were able to hold their heads up high. Throughout the experience the counselor made it clear that her goal was to empower women and their spouses to embrace their child. A career in medicine is emotionally and mentally draining, especially when you care for your patients. However, it is that passion for the wellbeing of my future patients that continues to push me to become a physician. Although there is not one easy fix in regards to Zimbabwe’s health care system, I refuse to lose hope. For it is the fire within us that fuels us to keep journeying into the unknown.

By Vongai Tizora.

For more inspiration, follow us on our social media handles: 

Facebook: Tiritose Sustainable Travel – Home 

Twitter: Tiritose Sustainable Travel (@TiritoseTravel) 

Instagram: Tiritose Sustainable Travel (@tiritose_sustainable_travel) 

Pinterest: Tiritose Sustainable Travel (tiritose_sustainable_travel) – Profile  

LinkedIn: Tiritose Sustainable Travel | LinkedIn

Tags :
internship abroadpre-health internshippre-med internship in africasustainable traveltiritose sustainable travelzimbabwe
Share This Post
Previous Post

PUT YOUR THEORY INTO PRACTICE WITH A 4th-YEAR MEDICAL ELECTIVE ABROAD!

Next Topic

REFLECTIONS FROM MY MEDICAL INTERNSHIP IN ZIMBABWE

Categories

  • +263 787 360 924
  • info@tiritose.com
  • 194 Baines Avenue Harare

IMPACT AREAS

  • Environment & Wildlife Conservation
  • Medical & Healthcare
  • Business & Innovation
  • Volunteer Abroad
  • Intern Abroad
  • Customised Group Trips Abroad

HELP

  • How it works
  • Travel Advice
  • Scholarships
  • Payment Plans
  • Terms and Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Information For Parents
  • Health and Safety

Policies

  • Refund Policy
  • Child Protection Policy
  • Sustainability Policy
  • Ethical Travel Policy
  • Travel Privacy Policy

Travel & Explore Zimbabwe

  • City Sightseeing (2-4 hours)
  • Full Day Excursions (5-8 hours)
  • Multi-day Overnight Excursions

Contact Us

  • +263 787 360 924
  • info@tiritose.com
  • 194 Baines Avenue, Harare

© All rights reserved

Twitter Facebook-f Instagram Youtube Pinterest Linkedin