Midwife on a Mission

It started with a request for theater shoes from Sister Dr. Helen director of St. Joseph Hospital in Moshi, Tanzania. I had already planned a safari in Tanzania in January 2025, so I thought I might be able to plan a medical mission experience in addition to my trip. Executive director of Mission Outreach Erica Smith put me in touch with Sister Helen with whom I shared my CV along with my experience as a Certified Nurse Midwife at SIU Center for Family Medicine. I had also previously gone on a medical mission trip to Ghana with Dr. Eden and June Agamah in 2023.

I was met at the airport on January 23, 2025 by Sister Helen and Sister Inviolatha who belong to the Order of the Sisters of Mount Kilimanjaro. During my time at St. Joseph Hospital I was able to attend rounds with the interns and Dr. Dues (one of the OB/Gyns), first assist in a C-section and a hysterectomy, deliver a couple babies, see one of their outpost clinics, and provide education about labor at their morning staff meeting. I was also able to tour the new five story addition to the hospital which will have two floors dedicated to OB.

What I found interesting was they were still using fetoscopes (which are either plastic or wooden) to listen to the baby's heartbeat. Since then, Mission Outreach has shipped handheld fetal dopplers along with three electronic fetal monitors. I was fortunate to return to St. Joseph Hospital in September where I taught the physicians, midwives, and nursing staff how to use the fetal monitors and interpret the fetal tracings. I was also able to identify medical supplies that are needed by the hospital that Mission Outreach can provide.

The Sisters as well as the hospital staff were all so welcoming during my time at St. Joseph Hospital. They even tried to teach me Swahili, especially Henri, one of the drivers. They also took me to both the English and the children's mass at Christ the King Cathedral in Moshi where over 800 children were present.  I found the people of Tanzania to be very focused on faith, family, and education.



This story was written by Helen Moose, a volunteer at Mission Outreach and a Certified Nurse Midwife.