Merrick senior ‘humbled’ by Tanzania visit

Calhoun High School class donates to African hospital

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Calhoun High School senior Hadi Aziz, 17, arrived at the crowded reception area of Medewell Health Center at 8 a.m. each day to observe its operations. The hospital lies in the District of Kibaha, in Tanzania, and according to Aziz, it is its “crown jewel.” It wasn’t always that way, however. Before the hospital, the community, dotted by “huts and trees,” had no medical facility.

The Calhoun High School Senior Experience class recently played a part in making sure that the hospital is well-equipped to provide for patients. The class donated roughly $10,000 to Project Safe Motherhood, which works with the hospital to provide pre- and postnatal care for women. The donation also supported construction of a consultation room and clinic.

Aziz stayed with relatives during his visit to Tanzania, from Jan. 22 to 28, when he checked on the hospital on behalf of the Senior Experience class. It was a humbling experience, he noted.

Every year the Senior Experience class stages a fashion show to raise money for a charity of its choosing. Representatives of non-profit organizations visit the class, presenting their goals and recent activities. Students can also pitch charities to which they believe the money should go. The class then votes on the charity of its choice.

Last year Aziz pitched Project Safe Motherhood, and the students embraced it.

In January, students in Calhoun’s Advanced Placement classes had a week off from classes while their peers took midterms. Aziz, who is enrolled in all A.P. classes, took advantage of the opportunity to visit his family in Tanzania and Project Safe Motherhood.

“Visiting Africa allowed me to see our work with my own eyes,” Aziz said. During the first half of his trip, he stayed with his uncle, Dr. Shiraz Datoo, who is also vice chairman of the hospital’s board. Aziz visited the hospital each day, observing how many patients filtered in and out of its halls. Datoo also gave him a tour of the facility.

“In America, we take for granted something as simple as visiting urgent care,” Aziz said. “Certain necessities we have here are luxuries in Tanzania.”

Aziz stayed with his father’s side of the family in the city of Dar es Salaam during the second half of the trip. There he received a tour of a government-run cancer center from a cousin who works there. On Long Island, Aziz serves as a junior volunteer at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, where he works under a set of health protocols and procedures.

“Upon entering this cancer center [in Tanzania], I saw so many violations to these procedures,” he said. “I saw the lack of medical resources that they have. It was really staggering to me.”

Aziz said he intends to pursue a medical education in college and hopes to work with facilities like Medewell Health Center. “I believe that giving back to these communities that don’t have access — there’s nothing better,” he said.

Aziz recently gave a presentation on his Tanzania trip to this year’s Senior Experience class. He then introduced students to Medewell Eye Clinic, another non-profit organization that is associated with the larger health center. Aziz said that in Kibaha, “visiting the eye doctor, the optometrist — that’s a luxury.” Medewell Eye Clinic offers free cataract surgeries and eye examinations to its patients. Aziz said he hopes the Senior Experience class will choose this charity when it votes to spend next year’s funds.