Nonprofit
Public Health Internship in Tanzania
Details
Description
Public Health Internship in Tanzania — Art in Tanzania
What is it? The Public Health Internship places international students and volunteers in community-level public health work in Tanzania — spanning HIV/AIDS, malaria and TB, maternal and newborn health, digital health and data, and community-based interventions. It is based in Madale village, near Dar es Salaam, and is run by Art in Tanzania (AIT), a community-development NGO founded in 1996.
Where? Madale village, 30 km from Dar es Salaam city centre — close to urban health facilities, rooted in community-level public health.
How long? Flexible — open year-round; you choose your start date and term length.
Who joins? Students and graduates in public health, medicine, nursing, nutrition, epidemiology, and related fields. AIT typically hosts 15–40 international students at a time, drawn from over 1000 partner universities worldwide.
What is Tanzania's public health landscape?
Tanzania's health system is organised as a referral pyramid — from village health posts and dispensaries, through district hospitals, to national and specialised facilities. At every level, there are gaps, and your contribution matters. The key challenges this programme addresses:
- HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis — Tanzania runs one of Africa's largest antiretroviral treatment programmes, but prevention, community education, counselling, and care remain critical ongoing needs.
- Maternal and newborn health — maternal and newborn mortality remains high, particularly in rural areas, requiring sustained community-based antenatal, birth, and postnatal support.
- Digital health and data — Tanzania is investing in digital health technologies, and interns with data, IT, or communications skills can contribute directly.
- Community-based interventions — many of Tanzania's most effective public health gains have come through community participation — are the model AIT has worked within since 1996.
Which partners and institutions does the programme work with?
Tanzania's public health sector benefits from a network of international and local partnerships that intersect with the work you support, including:
- USAID and CDC — international donors supporting disease control and health system strengthening.
- Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health — a research partnership advancing public health knowledge and practice in Tanzania.
- Africa Academy for Public Health (AAPH) — facilitating north-south and south-south collaboration in public health research and training.
- Tanzania Centre for Public Health (TCPH) — research, community intervention, and health policy advocacy.
- National Public Health Laboratory — diagnostic services, quality assurance, and outbreak response.
- Data Use Partnership (DUP) — a government-led initiative to improve healthcare by better using health data.
- Tanzania Public Health Bulletin — the primary platform for evidence-based public health dissemination across the sector.
Working within this ecosystem gives your placement professional credibility and exposes you to how public health systems are built and sustained in a developing-country context.
What does the Public Health Internship involve?
Your placement is tailored to your academic background, interests, and the needs of the communities and facilities you work with. Tasks typically span:
- Community health education and awareness campaigns
- HIV/AIDS counselling, testing support, and advocacy events
- Maternal and child health outreach activities
- Data collection, analysis, and reporting for community health projects
- Support for digital health and health information initiatives
- Collaboration with NGOs, government health workers, and international partners
- Field documentation, progress reporting, and visibility work
How does the placement work?
The internship is based in Madale village, 30 km from Dar es Salaam city centre, and is open year-round with a start date and term of your choice. Public health, medicine, nursing, nutrition, epidemiology, health policy, social work, and data science are all well-suited, and students at any stage of training are welcome.
Who runs the programme, and since when?
Art in Tanzania (AIT) has supported Tanzanian communities since 1996, hosting approximately 250 participants annually. The Public Health Internship is based in Madale village, close enough to access urban health facilities and rooted enough to experience community-level public health in its most authentic form.
What is life in Tanzania like during the placement?
Madale offers a genuinely immersive experience of Tanzanian village life — peaceful, welcoming, and rich in culture — while keeping Dar es Salaam and its facilities within easy reach. Beyond your placement, Tanzania's wildlife, landscapes, and coastal beauty are on your doorstep, and affordable, sustainable safaris and tours are available for you and visiting friends or family.
Can I get funding?
Yes. Erasmus+ funding may be available for this placement. Speak to your student or international office about grant options that could make the experience fully or partially funded.
Frequently asked questions
What public health challenges does the internship address?
HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis; maternal and newborn health; digital health and data; and community-based interventions.
Which institutions does the programme work within?
A public health ecosystem including USAID and CDC, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Africa Academy for Public Health, the Tanzania Centre for Public Health, the National Public Health Laboratory, the Data Use Partnership, and the Tanzania Public Health Bulletin.
Who can join the Public Health Internship?
Students and graduates in public health, medicine, nursing, nutrition, epidemiology, health policy, social work, and data science, at any stage of training. AIT hosts 15–40 participants at a time from over 400 partner universities worldwide.
Where is the internship based?
Madale village, 30 km from Dar es Salaam city centre.
When can I start?
The programme is open year-round; you choose your start date and term length.
Is funding available?
Yes — Erasmus+ funding may fully or partially cover your placement. Ask your student office about grant options.
Ready to apply?
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Get in touch
Tell us about your public health background and what you want to focus on — we'll shape a placement around it.
📧 kari@volunteerafrica.fi · 📱 WhatsApp: +255 767 777 73 · 🎥 Schedule a Zoom call
Location
Madale village
