Nursing around the world

摘要

Community Volunteer Services—Tanzania (CVS—Tanzania) is a non-governmental organisation that seeks partnership working with volunteers with an overall aim of improving health for all (CVS—Tanzania, 2015). In particular, women's health remains a cause for concern, as gender inequity persists where issues of domestic and sexual violence, early unplanned pregnancy and child marriages have been reported (United Nations Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF),2010). I was very fortunate to be given the opportunity to visit and work alongside CVS—Tanzania for 2 weeks in providing healthcare services for mothers and children in community clinics in the region of Tanga. These health clinics were located in both urban and semi-urban regions where we attended to a range of health conditions such as malaria, sepsis, malnutrition, tuberculosis and HIV in women and children. Many of those who sought healthcare services walked several miles to access health care. Some women chose to travel lengthy distances from their homes to access treatment for HIV for fear of being recognised and stigmatised by their friends and families. Although epochal improvements have been made in reducing HIV in Tanzania due to the increased availability of antiretroviral treatment, there is still significant social exclusion associated with this health condition (AVERT, 2015) .Young women aged 23 to 24 are three times more likely to be HIV-positive than men of similar ages (Tanzania Ministry of Health, 2014).