FAME Africa

FAME Africa Advancing patient-centered care in rural Africa. Patient names are changed, explicit consent granted. Dr. Artress is an American physician. Kilimanjaro.

The Foundation for African Medicine & Education is a non-profit corporation registered in the United States. It was created to improve the quality of medical care in East Africa. FAME endeavors to help bridge the gap between a critically under-resourced healthcare system and first-world medicine. FAME is currently focused on improving the quality and accessibility of medical care in Tanzania and making a difference in the day-to-day lives of the Tanzanian people. He has traveled extensively and participated in medical relief projects around the globe. His wife, Susan, is trained in counseling and educational psychology and has worked for many years in school-based mental health and prevention. Frank and Susan have lived and worked in Tanzania since 2003and currently reside in Karatu, Tanzania. They coordinate and oversee the day-to-day operations of all FAME projects. Certain places on the planet can capture a person's heart and alter the direction of one's life. For us, Tanzania is such a place. At the start of the new millenium we found ourselves at a crossroads and began to experience a shift in how we wanted to spend the second half of our lives. For years, we had talked about climbing Mt. Finally in July of 2002, we began our ascent of the highest peak in Africa. At the time, we could not have known Frank would nearly die atop that mountain, nor how those critical moments would shape the rest of our lives. The perseverance, generosity, and resourcefulness of our guide and his crew awakened us to the resilience of the human spirit - that place inside each of us where grace and strength reside. After several months back in the U.S., we decided to return to Tanzania, this time to contribute back to a people whose voice is rarely heard in the rest of the world, a people who have few opportunities to share their wisdom, their strength, and their dreams with the rest of us. From this place, the Foundation for African Medicine and Education was born. Board of Directors

Frank Artress, Co-Founder & President
Susan Gustafson, Co-Founder & Vice-President
Jeanne Artress, Secretary/Treasurer
Graham Pierce, Director
Jack Paddon, Director
Nancy Paddon, Director

We are delighted to celebrate with mom and dad on the arrival of their precious newborn! Their babyโ€™s arrival is a momen...
11/21/2025

We are delighted to celebrate with mom and dad on the arrival of their precious newborn! Their babyโ€™s arrival is a moment they have held in their hearts for a long time, and now their joy could not be brighter.

FAME has been proud to walk alongside them throughout this journey. Our Reproductive and Child Health & Maternity Center teams offered care, reassurance and guidance at every stage, and we are grateful to have played a small part in welcoming their new baby.

Congratulations to the family! โค๏ธ

๐ŸŒŸ

 Every year, mothers in our community face the uncertainty of early delivery from complications like premature rupture o...
11/17/2025



Every year, mothers in our community face the uncertainty of early delivery from complications like premature rupture of membranes, gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced hypertension. While many pregnancies reach full term, others take a more fragile path, reminding us just how critical high-quality newborn care is in rural Tanzania.

One of these brave little fighters is Yohana. Born far too soon and weighing just under one kilogram (2lbs), his start to life was delicate, yet his tiny heartbeat proved louder than any doubt. Today, he has passed the one-kilogram milestone, a hopeful moment for him and his family and a reflection of the attentive, round-the-clock care heโ€™s receiving at FAME.

Thanks to generous support, FAMEโ€™s NICU is equipped with a continuous monitoring systems, modern incubators, CPAP machines and phototherapy for jaundice, all supported by a dedicated team of nurses and doctors who continue to build their expertise through weekly education sessions and hands-on mentorship.

On this World Prematurity Day, we honor the tiny fighters, the families who stand beside them and the caregivers who make progress possible. Together, we can ensure that every preterm baby has a strong start toward a hopeful future.๐ŸŒŸ

On  , weโ€™re highlighting FAMEโ€™s commitment to supporting patients living with chronic illnesses. At FAME, our weekly dia...
11/14/2025

On , weโ€™re highlighting FAMEโ€™s commitment to supporting patients living with chronic illnesses. At FAME, our weekly diabetes clinic provides steady, reliable care for patients managing both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This year alone, weโ€™ve seen more than 400 clinic visits, offering ongoing counseling, regular check-ups and medication management.

In a rural, resource-limited setting, diabetes care can be especially complex. Many patients travel long distances, rely on medication that requires consistent refrigeration or need frequent adjustments to their treatment plans. Our team works closely with each patient to find solutions that work for their lives, helping them stay healthy, supported and informed.

Social workers, play a vital role during FAME's morning ward rounds.They ensure that every aspect of a patient's well-be...
11/11/2025

Social workers, play a vital role during FAME's morning ward rounds.

They ensure that every aspect of a patient's well-being is addressed, from medical care to emotional support ๐Ÿค. They bring warmth, empathy and expertise to each patient's bedside, making every morning brighter โ˜€. And they epitomize FAME's believe in patient-centered care.

The Social Worker team is present in all of FAME's departments, including our Inpatient Ward, Surgical Ward, Maternity Center, Outpatient Clinic, Reproductive and Child Health Center, Emergency Room and more.

Their dedication and love for the work make a significant difference in patients' lives. Patients feels comfortable and at ease to receive treatment and care at FAME. Thank you to our incredible social work team for making this possible ๐Ÿ’–.

As the sun sets today at FAME ๐ŸŒ…, we reflect on a day well-spent serving over 300 people across our comprehensive departm...
11/06/2025

As the sun sets today at FAME ๐ŸŒ…, we reflect on a day well-spent serving over 300 people across our comprehensive departments - RCH, Maternity, OPD, Emergency, Surgical and Medical Wards. With a significant proportion being children, our team has been privileged to care for the young and the young-at-heart alike โค๏ธ.

Our commitment to patient-centered care is thriving, and we're dedicated to ensuring seamless access to our services for all.

A huge thank you! ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ™Weโ€™re so grateful for our friends chemchemsafari whose generosity continues to make a direct impact ...
10/27/2025

A huge thank you! ๐Ÿ’™๐Ÿ™

Weโ€™re so grateful for our friends chemchemsafari whose generosity continues to make a direct impact on patient comfort at FAME. Over the years, theyโ€™ve donated cozy robes and pajamas for our patients. And just this week they delivered six brand-new wheelchairs to help those with limited mobility move safely and comfortably. ๐Ÿ’•

These thoughtful gifts bring dignity and care to every patient experience, and weโ€™re proud to have such a compassionate local partner supporting our mission in the Karatu community. ๐ŸŒฟ

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ฟ

On  , we're proud to share FAME's remarkable progress in immunizing our future generations! ๐ŸŽ‰ This year alone, 2,845 chi...
10/24/2025

On , we're proud to share FAME's remarkable progress in immunizing our future generations! ๐ŸŽ‰ This year alone, 2,845 children received their polio vaccines at FAME, safeguarding their health and well-being. ๐Ÿ™

Our dedicated nurse, Mama Mshana, explains:

โ€œWe administer the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) zero-dose to newborns within a week of birth, followed by OPV 1, 2 and 3 at 6, 10 and 14 weeks. A booster dose of the Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) is given at 9 months.โ€ ๐Ÿ’‰

Let's work together to and ensure every child in our community receives the protection they deserve! ๐ŸŒŽ๐Ÿ’ช

World Health Organization (WHO) World Health Organization African Region World Health Organization Tanzania

10/21/2025

A Huge Shoutout to Our Unsung Heroes! ๐Ÿด๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐Ÿณ๐Ÿ‘

On we celebrate our incredible kitchen staff at FAME who work tirelessly behind the scenes to fuel our team of 230 employees with delicious and nutritious meals every day! ๐Ÿ›๐Ÿฒ

Thank you for all that you do! ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿ’•

10/16/2025

๐ŸŒ

Today, FAME joins the global community in celebrating World Food Day, reaffirming our commitment to building a healthier future for the children in our community.

At FAME, every child who visits the hospital receives a continuous nutritional assessment to support healthy growth and a strong start in life. Children identified with nutritional edema, a condition caused by severe protein deficiency, receive life-saving supplements, and their parents are trained to prepare nutritious meals at home. Each childโ€™s recovery brings renewed hope and happiness to their family.

Featured in this video is Nurse Jacob, FAMEโ€™s full-time nutritionist.

๐Ÿค๐ŸŽ Together, weโ€™re walking hand in hand for healthier meals, stronger families and a brighter, more nourished future. ๐Ÿ’š๐Ÿฅฆ

10/14/2025

We're filled with gratitude! ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ’›Weโ€™ve already received notice of 11 DAF donations coming to FAME, halfway to our goal of...
10/10/2025

We're filled with gratitude! ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ’›

Weโ€™ve already received notice of 11 DAF donations coming to FAME, halfway to our goal of securing 25 DAF gifts this week and unlocking more money to help bring lifesaving care to patients and families at FAME. ๐ŸŒฟ Your DAF gifts - and the additional matching support they unlock - will help mothers, children and patients in need receive the care they deserve.

Weโ€™re still hearing from supporters who have recommended DAF gifts to FAME, so the impact continues to grow! And thereโ€™s still time to do more. You have until the end of the week to submit your DAF donation and to be part of this life-saving generosity. Multiply your gift today!

Click the link below to learn more and make a donation:
https://mailchi.mp/fameafrica/daf-day-8335657?e=60ed26219c

Thank you for demonstrating the power of multiplying generosity - one gift at a time. ๐Ÿ’ซ

Every DAF gift made today will UNLOCK an additional $1,000, thanks to one of our generous supporters. Recommend the gift...
10/09/2025

Every DAF gift made today will UNLOCK an additional $1,000, thanks to one of our generous supporters.

Recommend the gift through your DAF today and multiply the impact - bringing skilled care, safe births and healing to even more people in our rural community.

Would you like to learn more? Below is a link to today's Newsletter:
https://mailchi.mp/fameafrica/daf-day-8335657?e=60ed26219c

Address

4553 Crimsonwood Drive
Redding, CA
96001

Website

https://fameafrica.org/journal

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