Touliatos Serves in Tanzania

Claire Touliatos, a May graduate from Lee University's School of Nursing, recently returned from Tanzania where she had the opportunity to learn more about the Massai culture and provide health education for women.

"During her time as a nursing student at Lee, it was always apparent that Claire had a heart for missions," said Dr. Amy Jo Perry, dean of Lee's School of Nursing. "She is a great example of how God equips those He has called. I'm so proud of her desire to serve and her willingness to use what she has learned to help others."

Touliatos, originally from Birmingham, Alabama, travelled to the Maasai land in Tanzania this summer where she spent three weeks getting to know the residents and teaching nearly 350 women about menstrual cycles, planning pregnancies, and how to prevent, identify, and treat common infections associated with the female reproductive system. She was also able to provide much-needed products for the women.

"It was eye opening to see how many women have lived so long without knowing anything about their bodies because they have never been taught," said Touliatos. "Some of the women I spoke with had no idea they even had an organ called a uterus."

Prior to her trip, Touliatos contacted Perry for assistance in preparing health information relevant to the Tanzanian community's limited access to clean water and understanding of sanitary practices' impact on women's health.

"I immediately put Claire in touch with Dr. Brenda Jones, a recently retired member of the nursing faculty whose life work as a nurse midwife, family nurse practitioner, and missionary has been focused on improving health outcomes for women in Africa," said Perry.

Touliatos says the most memorable aspect of this summer's trip was sharing her knowledge with others and being able to assist the village members holistically, as she had numerous opportunities to pray with the women and their children in addition to educating them.

Touliatos is currently working for a neuro intensive care unit at the University of Alabama hospital in Birmingham and looks forward to spreading the gospel wherever she is.

"I am so grateful to my Lee professors for equipping me with the knowledge and skills of nursing," said Touliatos. "I've already been able to incorporate God's love for the Maasai through health teaching, and I know the Lord will continue to open doors for the gospel to be spread through promoting women's health."