With these words, Guido Rumberg, senior consultant for vascular surgery at Benedictus Hospital in Tutzing, said goodbye after his first assignment at St. Walburg’s Hospital, the partner clinic of Artemed Stiftung in Tanzania. In October 2024, he traveled to Nyangao for the first time to exchange knowledge.
He was already working as a doctor in the neighboring country of Malawi in 2007. "As soon as I arrived in Nyangao, I noticed that all the staff now have cell phones," says Rumberg. "Of course, that was different in Malawi in 2007." However, despite some technical advances, major challenges remain in everyday medical care. The medical instruments suffer from the weather conditions, and the necessary care and hygiene of all materials is difficult to implement. Rumberg also finds the comparison with Germany interesting: "We are also familiar with some of the problems here in German clinics," he says, making it clear that some issues, such as optimizing processes and communication, are universal - regardless of location.
During the preparatory discussions with the medical colleagues from the surgery specialist group at Artemed Stiftung , it became clear that it would be helpful if Rumberg took a closer look at the structure and hygiene of the smaller operating room - the so-called minor theater. This is where emergency care, dressing changes and plaster treatments have been carried out for many years. "This area is often the first point of contact that patients have with the hospital and is therefore crucial for the reputation of the hospital," he emphasized and identified several specific starting points for improvements.
Michael Fakharani, orthopaedic and trauma surgeon from Bremen, who arrived in Nyangao shortly after Rumberg's stay, seamlessly followed on from the points identified by Rumberg. Thanks to the lively exchange between the volunteer medical supporters within the specialist groups at Artemed Stiftung , continuous further developments can be achieved in the projects. "It was my first time in Nyangao, but not the last," promised Guido Rumberg on his departure - and emphasized how enriching the exchange with the local medical staff can be for both sides.
