The Reaching Children’s Potential Program (RCP) is a child-focused, parent-driven, family-centered, volunteer-assisted and community-led comprehensive effort which begins with pregnancy, and extends to the 18th birthday; with a focus on the first 1,000 days of life. The new Ipalamwa Health Clinic (IHC) focuses on child and maternal primary health care. The emphasis is on the first 1,000 days of life - building further support for young children so that they may reach their full potential. The IHC serves Ipalamwa and surrounding villages.

Global Volunteers constructed a general clinic in Ipalamwa to provide primary care for between 16,000 and 20,000 people with a focus on maternal and child health care. Staffed by two physicians, two nurse-midwives, a lab technician, a pharmacist and support staff, the Ipalamwa General Clinic (IGC) has two examination rooms, a delivery room, a 4-bed maternity ward, a 4- bed inpatient ward, a lab and a pharmacy. Nearly every healthcare professional can be engaged at this facility. The Mental Wellness Initiative was launched in 2021 to integrate mental health interventions into the primary care system. Mental health assessments, therapy and education is conducted by volunteers at home visits, group counseling sessions and the RCP Center.

Volunteers:

• Provide direct physical and mental health patient care
• Assist staff physicians and nurses in the clinic
• Help with well-baby assessments and measurements
• Counsel parents and children on mental wellness interventions
• Administer health screenings and checkups
• Conduct hand washing with soap & water campaigns

Volunteer healthcare professionals work alongside their Tanzanian counterparts, providing care to village residents and making available the latest research, techniques and information in their areas of expertise.

For more information about the Reaching Children’s Potential Program (RCP), please visit the dedicated webpage here. For details regarding the trip to Tanzania and the fees, please visit to following webpage: Volunteer in Tanzania - Help Raise Children's Potential (globalvolunteers.org).