Sr. Dr. Maria Jose
Sengerema Designated District
Hospital (SDDH)
Catholic Diocese
Sengerema, Tanzania
February 2016
She runs the hospital with a no nuisance, hands-on,
front-line approach that is admirable. She knows every patient in the hospital
that caters to 250 patients at a time. She roams the wards all day long,
reading medical charts, making unsolicited suggestions and imposing impromptu
examinations. Throughout all of this
behavior her intent is crystal clear: the comfort of the patients always matter
first and foremost. The patient comes first.
She starts each day
with a morning meeting between the night nurses and the day crew. The night
shift reports on patients admitted it in the evening. We sit and listen. There
are no HIPPA the regulations that stand in the way of this open forum of
dialogue. Dialogue is misleading really.
The designated staff members talk and then Sister interrupts. “Why did you do
that? I think you’re overdosing child.
The negative effects of this medicine are blindness or kidney damage. Are you
aware of that fact? Next time, call a
doctor. You are working above your skill
level”. She then sits back in her chair
and the humiliated nurse continues to read. She interrupts him some again and
asked if anyone else has an opinion. Siobhan offers a suggestion but the nun
tells her “I know why you’re saying that but I disagree. So let’s stick to my
plan. Any other suggestions?”
Of course no one has any more suggestions. They all sit in
silence and obligation. The meeting ends shortly thereafter. The nun leaves
pleased with herself. The staff members who reported out, leave humiliated. The
rest of the staff leave dazed from an hour of daydreaming and I depart
entertained by the entire experience.
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