TANZANIA.Maternal mortality and family planning: Reaching the Poorest.

The outreach site at Msowero during a MST outreach visit is run by Doctor Mwakgala (Age 44 years) who trained at Dar es Salaam medical school. he performs a tubectomy (a permanent method of sterilisation where the fallopian tubes are cut.) on patient 'Tabu' (Christian name) who is 39 years old. She has six children and wants to be sterilised so she is able to grow tomatoes to sell in the local market and increase the family income. Her husband has agreed to let her do this.

Using only a local anaesthetic, the team uses what is know locally as 'Vocal Local' where the team's driver talks constantly to the patient, to take her mind off the procedure. MST has said that this technique has worked very well, but state that it only works if the driver talks constantly before, during and after the operation.

2009