Welcome back or Karibu!

This first week has been incredible here in Dar. Upon arrival, our mentor Joel picked us up from the airport and showed us to our stay for the next two months. After getting situated, Aryun and I then traveled to a local street corner for some much needed grub. We then had one of the best meals I have ever eaten with a dish known as Chicken Sekela as well as some fries. The best part is, both of our meals along with some soda came out to a total of around $5 USD!

The first day, our mentor Joel showed us around the Dar es Salaam Institute of Technology (DIT) campus as well as the design studio where students design and develop incredible technologies. We spent the first two days learning how to operate the different machines in the design studio as well as download any necessary software. We also received lessons from DIT students on how to use Solidworks which which will definitely come in handy over the course of the next two months. We were also able to explore the DIT Spare Parts Factory where DIT students learn skills in manufacturing and retrofitting certain vehicles in order to better prepare them for future occupations. We were also able to meet with our other on-site mentor Dr. Msumba who explained a lot of efforts DIT is undergoing as well as future, expansionary goals they have in mind.

 

As far as projects go, the first half of the week we spent discussing the design process. After getting introduced to all of the DIT interns Aryun and I would be working with, we began learning some of the fundamental ideals that go into developing an effective product. This included lectures and group discussion on needs-finding and truly understanding the problem at hand, human-centered design processes, as well as all the necessary criteria to keep in mind when designing a working prototype. One portion of this process stood out to me. It was fascinating to see the level of attention the students and mentors placed on identifying and understanding the need or problem at hand. In addition to conducting needs-finding, there was a large stress on empathy and truly placing yourself in the patient’s shoes in order to better understand and truly feel the problem they are dealing with. I believe this is critical as in order to develop a constructive solution, you must try your best to feel the needs of the patients.

We then split up into two groups where my group was tasked with improving the newborn environmental temperature sensor from Rice360 and the infant transport incubator from DIT. In the latter part of this week, we began brainstorming potential modifications and improvements and documented them in order to share them and receive feedback once we visit more hospitals next week.

 

This past weekend, our newfound friends Joshua and Florence took us to Coco Beach where we rode in our very first Bajaji (Swahili for three-wheeler). We then walked along the beach and witnessed an extremely entertaining game of beach soccer; there were no refs and as such there were no fouls. After walking back to the city center, we then had time to catch a movie and relax after a week of brainstorming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the next week, we plan on meeting with nurses and health professionals at the different hospitals here in Dar as we begin to conduct needs-finding. Just today, we visited Muhimbili National Hospital, the largest hospital in Tanzania and it was fascinating to see how large the actual hospital campus was in order to support the large patient population they see. By observing the hospital settings and how it functions over the course of this week, we will be able to identify key gaps in care and potential ideas for future endeavors.

 

 

 

 

This week has been incredible to say the least and I cannot wait to see what the next two months has in store for me and Aryun.

 

Thanks again for joining me on my blog… Asante Sana!

 – Suran