Language

The official language Zanzibar is Swahili.

Stone town is a popular tourist destination and as such many people here will speak at least some English. You can easily get by around town without any Swahili at all, although your attempts to use the native tongue are generally appreciated. At the very least, you will get a laugh out of the locals.

At the hospital, language can be more of an issue. Mnazi Mmoja services a large catchment area and many patients will come from more rural parts of Zanzibar. Most patients you will encounter on the wards and in the outpatient clinics will not speak English.

Although the doctors all speak and keep medical records in English, if you can’t speak Swahili you will be limited in your ability to interact with patients independently. At the very least you should try to learn some basic greetings and phrases that will allow you to examine patients (‘sit up’, ‘roll over’, ‘where is the pain?’ etc).

Ideally you should take some lessons before you come to Tanzania but tuition can be arranged through the local university. It costs around ten dollars an hour per student.

The more Swahili you learn the more rewarding your time will be, both in and outside the hospital.

Some useful phrases
How are things? (lit. news?) Habari
Good Nzuri
Fine Safi
My name is… Jina langu….
I am a student doctor Mimi ni daktari wanafunzi

Lie down Lala

Do you have… Una...
Diarrhoea kuharishe
Vomiting katapika
Coughing kukohoa
Fever homa
Pain maumivu

Where? Iku wapi?
Here Hapa

Yes Ndyo
No Hapana
Thankyou Asante (sana)

Remember, in Swahili the stress is placed on the second last syllable.
Ha-pa-na A-san-te