Mnazi Mmoja was built and began providing health services before 1923. It is the main referral hospital of Zanzibar and it has a bed capacity of 586 spread over three campuses. The main campus, MMH, located in downtown Stone Town, has 430 beds. Mwembeladu Maternity Home has 36 beds and Kidongo Chekundu Mental Hospital 120 beds. Both the maternity and mental hospitals are located within the city limits of Stone Town but outside of the downtown area.

It is mandated to provide health care services as National referral hospitals in Zanzibar. The services provided including obstetrics and gynecology, diagnostic services, and more specialized services that are not available on Zanzibar such as neurosurgery, oncology, intensive care, ENT, ophthalmology, acupuncture, advanced physiotherapy and orthotics and prosthetics.  The hospital attends to over 600 outpatients, 71 admissions and 40 deliveries on a daily basis.

Mnazi Mmoja Hospital also acts as a teaching hospital for various cadres trained to diploma level from College of Health Sciences and Undergraduate students from different institutions. Over 500 students each year are provided with practical training and supervision.

Mnazi Mmoja Hospital is hosting the following wards:
Maternity, Maternity, Medical, Mental, OBS & Gynaecology, Paediatric, Physiotherapy, Surgery

Volunteer Guidelines
Clothing
Volunteers and interns get advised to bring their own clothing and clean sneakers or correct shoes. All the other tools are provided and there is a possibility to buy specific cloths if you are not able to bring this.

Safety procedures

There are strict hygiene procedures in the hospital. If a person get infected, within 24 hours volunteers will be brought to the PEP Unit (post Exposure Prophylaxes). This treatment is given and payed by the hospital.

Pictures

In the whole hospital, it is not allowed to take pictures. Only outside of the building, but be careful that there are no persons on the picture.

Lunch

Lunch is not provided in the Hospital, but there is a lunch room/cafeteria where you could buy lunch and drinks. It is even possible for volunteers to bring their own.

Program Guidelines:

• Non-Smoking and/or drinking.
• No shorts.
• Pictures are not allowed.
• Take your own responsibility for your personnel property
• Working hours start from 07:30 AM to 14:00 PM.
• Lunch is not provided. There is a possibility to buy a local lunch.
• The hospital could handle 70 interns and unlimited volunteers
• The hospital works with different volunteers, local and international.
• There is a minimum of four weeks up to two year, depending on the skills.
• Apply early in advance, so you can reserve a place for volunteers.
• Volunteers and interns who stay less than 6 months contribute 75$ a week. Volunteers and interns who stay 6 months+, don’t pay anything.
• Some medical experience and certificates are required to volunteer in Mnazi Moja.
• The hospital is open whole year long.

Tasks for volunteers:

• Participate the morning medical meeting before the shift starts.
• Observe the patients and discuss the treatment with your mentor.
• After the first period, you are allowed to treat more and more.
• Give a helping hand where needed.

Location and transport

Mnazi Moja referral hospital is located in Stone Town, the Capital city of the Island. This hospital is easily reachable by Dala Dala, the local public transport. You will pay $0.50 for one way and it will take approximately 30 minutes from the volunteer house to the hospital including waiting time.

The volunteer house also provides rental bikes and Mnazi Moja is approximately 30 minutes cycle on the main road. During the day it is safe to cycle.

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