For 10 days in Ngaramtoni, Arusha, learning looked very different.
Instead of lecture halls and simulation labs, 22 third-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing students from Aga Khan University's School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa (SONAM EA), found themselves walking through villages, listening to families, engaging with local leaders, and working alongside the Maasai and wider Ngaramtoni community. Here, healthcare became more than clinical knowledge but instead it became about tru
st and understanding.
The community field placement challenged students to see health through a different lens. Every home visit, conversation, and health education session revealed how culture, environment, and daily realities shape people's wellbeing. It was an opportunity to move beyond treating illness and begin understanding the people behind it.
One defining moment of the programme was the community health outreach at Ngaramtoni Market, where 63 community members received free health screenings and education. The outreach focused on the early detection and prevention of both non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and communicable diseases (CDs). Students screened for hypertension and diabetes, provided HIV and tuberculosis awareness and counselling, conducted eye health assessments, and offered mental health support. Those requiring further care were referred to nearby health facilities, ensuring the outreach extended beyond a single day.
The experience reinforced the power of preventive healthcare, not simply identifying illness, but empowering individuals with the knowledge to protect their health before disease takes hold.
“This field training provides students with invaluable real-world experience, allowing them to understand community health needs while developing the clinical, communication, and leadership skills required of compassionate nurses,” said Dr Mary Lyimo, Clinical Instructor at SONAM Tanzania. “By working alongside the community, they not only strengthen their professional competence but also contribute meaningfully to improving health outcomes.”
Beyond the community outreach, students visited Same Quality Foundation, Tanzania’s first Emergency Medical Services (EMS) dispatch centre, where they gained practical insights into emergency response systems, pre-hospital care, and coordinated emergency services. The visit was hosted by AKU alumna Balati Ng’obo, a graduate of the Post-RN programme (Class of 2023) and one of the founding emergency response nurses at the centre, who shared his professional journey and inspired students to explore opportunities in emergency nursing.
The students' journey concluded with an immersive visit to a Maasai homestead of Aga Khan University’s Arusha Climate and Environmental Research Centre (AKU ACER) Adjunct Faculty member Alais Ole-Morindat. He shared his inspiring life story and educated the group on Maasai traditions, customs, and the close relationship between people, nature, and land. His philosophy, “I am because you are, you are because we are, and we are because they are,” reinforced the importance of empathy, cultural understanding, and community partnership in delivering quality healthcare.
For SONAM EA, community placements are more than a learning requirement; they are where compassionate, culturally responsive nurses are shaped. By taking learning beyond the classroom, the University continues to prepare graduates who are equipped not only with clinical expertise, but with the empathy, leadership, and commitment needed to improve health outcomes across East Africa.
