AfyaVision

Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

In June 2025, GHSEN Global Research was awarded a $10,000 Citizen Action Diplomacy Fund (CDAF) grant by the United States Department of State. This funding enabled the launch of AfyaVision: English for Tanzania’s Next Health Leaders, a specialized English language program designed to prepare Tanzanian students for healthcare careers, including roles as doctors, nurses, clinical officers, and community health workers.

about AfyaVision

English proficiency in Tanzania is generally low, as Swahili is the national
language. Many students in Tanzanian government schools face difficulties with English, which can hinder their ability to access medical education since it is delivered primarily in English. This language barrier limits the number of students able to pursue healthcare training, which further exacerbates the country’s severe shortage of healthcare providers. Currently, Tanzania has only three doctors for every 100,000 people.

the challenge

AfyaVision Provides a Bridge to Global Medical English

AfyaVision directly addresses this challenge by providing students with the English language skills they need to succeed in medical fields. The program uses interactive classes, workshops, and practical simulations to boost students’ medical vocabulary and their ability to communicate with patients. Each week, the curriculum centers on a specific health topic such as infectious diseases or maternal health, strengthening students’ understanding of both medical English and global healthcare standards.

AfyaVision was implemented at Kiusa Secondary School in Kilimanjaro. Over ten weeks, the program engaged four local English language teachers and three international volunteers to work with 50 Tanzanian students from local government schools. The initiative resulted in significant improvements in the students’ English proficiency and overall confidence in using medical terminology.

Summer 2025 Impact

Program Directors

  • Mr. Humphrey Nicholaus

    Hometown: Arusha, Tanzania

  • Ms. Maimuna Mwamlwale

    Hometown: Arusha, Tanzania

  • Mr. Joseph Sarimbo

    Hometown: Arusha, Tanzania

  • Mr. Jaylan Juma

    Hometown: Arusha, Tanzania

  • Faraan Rahim

    Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA, USA

  • Sydney Wishner

    Hometown: San Francisco, CA, USA

  • Sameer Abbasi

    Hometown: Champaign, Illinois, USA

Summer 2025 AfyaVision Curriculum

Week 1: Preparation

June 9 – June 13

● Arrival in Moshi and settling into apartment
● Meet with local partners and finalize plans
● Train KCMC facilitators on materials and presentation skills for English classes
● Recruit students for in-person classes

Week 2: Patient Demographics and the Body

June 16 – June 20

Tuesday, June 17 (lecture-based class):
● Practice greetings and asking demographic questions.
● Review important grammar structures in English
● Learn vocabulary related to the human body and organs
● Final essay assignment introduced: 500-word essay in English on a health issue in the community.
Thursday, June 19 (conversation practice):
● Role-play describing body sensations

Week 3: Cold and Flu Symptoms and Infectious Diseases

June 23 – June 27

Tuesday, June 23 (lecture-based class):
● Vocabulary quiz: Body components
● Continue reviewing English grammar structures
● Learn about common cold and flu
symptoms and determining severity
● Introduce vocabulary for infectious diseases
Thursday, June 26 (conversation practice):
● Role-play scenarios of giving symptoms for different communicable diseases

Week 4: Non-Communicable Diseases and Injuries

June 30 – July 4

Tuesday, July 1 (lecture-based class):
● Vocabulary quiz: Infectious diseases
● Learn vocabulary for non-communicable diseases
● Learn vocabulary for injuries
Thursday, July 3 (conversation practice):
● Role-play asking about injury mechanisms and disease onset

Week 5: Medications and Scheduling

July 7 – July 11

Tuesday, July 8 (lecture-based class):
● Vocabulary quiz: Non-communicable
diseases and injuries
● Learn common medication names, dosages,
and routes of administration
● Learn common vaccines and uses
Thursday, July 10 (conversation practice):
● Practice discussing follow-up appointments
and future visits
● Role-play medication counseling and
administration with patients

Week 6: Nutrition and Maternal Health

July 14 – July 18

Tuesday, July 15 (lecture-based class):
● Vocabulary quiz: Medications and scheduling
● Learn about major food categories and special diets
● Learn about common maternal health conditions and treatments
Thursday, July 17 (conversation practice):
● Role-play discussions on diet and maternal health

Week 7: Mental Health and Labs

July 21 – July 25

Tuesday, July 22 (lecture-based class):
● Vocabulary quiz: Nutrition and maternal health
● Learn about mental health topics and patient discussion techniques
● Understand types of tests and labs and their uses
Thursday, July 24 (conversation practice):
● Act out conversations about mental health challenges

Week 8: Comprehensive Patient Interview Practice

July 28 – August 1

Tuesday, July 29 (lecture-based class):
● Vocabulary quiz: Mental health and labs
● Prepare integrated knowledge and skills for patient interviews
● Final essay reports due
Thursday, July 31 (conversation practice):
● Students role-play as patients and
physicians in interview simulations

Week 9: Final Evaluation and Review

August 4 – August 8

Tuesday, August 5 (final evaluations):
● Conduct final evaluations, recap sessions,
and a Q&A seminar
Thursday, August 7 (feedback and celebration):
● Gather feedback, conduct comprehensive
reviews, and celebrate progress
● Issue AfyaVision certificates of completion