As a nurse on Chilubi Island I am learning every day, whether it is clinically in my work at the hospital or about Santa Marias sense of community, culture, and strong faith through each experience I have and each person I meet.

These employees consist of a clinical officer, a laboratory technician, nurses, a radiology technician, and environmental staff. It is a first level reference center, meaning it can provide care for more complicated cases than the local clinics on the island. This provides for a busy work day and a high demand from employees with patients ranging from the local village or those who have traveled miles, most of the time by foot, in order to recieve this higher standard of care.

The hospital consists of four inpatient wards; female, male, children, and maternity. In addition, there is an operating theatre, radiology department, ART (antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS) treatment room, and an outpatient department. The hospital faces many challenges including financial struggles, unrelible electricity or running water, lack of medical supplies, and caring for a poverty stricken community. Consequences of poor diet, living conditions, and hygiene are all evident as being some of the main causes of disease in the local population. Common diseases seen include malaria, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, and tuberculosis to name a few.