Health Care for All in the Hadzabe Tribe
Blog Home  

In 1992, when Ruth Matiyas was just a teenager, she met two Westerners, Jeanette and David Bygott, who had recently moved to Lake Eyasi in Tanzania. The Bygotts, wildlife interpreters, had formed a bond with the Hadza people, an indigenous hunter-gatherer tribe. Ruth accompanied Jeanette to meet the tribe and saw her treating minor illnesses and wounds—a moment that inspired Ruth to dream of becoming a nurse. With Jeanette’s help, she began learning anatomy and English, setting her on a path she hadn’t imagined.   

Today, Ruth is a dedicated midwife and registered nurse committed to serving Tanzania’s underserved communities, especially the Hadzabe. Her vision is to “make sure that each individual—regardless of their tribe, color, or economic situation—receives the right quality healthcare service.” Her work has become vital to the Hadzabe, who are considered one of the last indigenous hunter-gatherer communities in northern Tanzania. Numbering around 1,300 people (National Geographic), the Hadzabe don’t raise livestock or grow crops but survive by hunting and foraging.

Ruth has spent years working to improve healthcare for the Hadzabe. She and her team visit their camps three times a month, bringing medicine, offering health education, and providing consultations. Access to healthcare is especially important as their traditional way of life faces serious threats. In the past 50 years, the Hadzabe have lost 75-90% of their land due to modern settlements and agriculture (National Geographic), making it harder to find food and maintain their health.

When Steppin’ Out Adventures guests meet the Hadzabe, they’re welcomed warmly—thanks to the trust Ruth and early Westerners like the Bygotts helped build. Though language is a barrier, gestures, shared activities, and smiles help bridge the gap. Guests have dug up root vegetables with the women and joined the men on hunting trips, even though their presence usually results in modest catches. Despite cultural differences, Steppin’ Out travelers have even taught the children “duck, duck, goose,” adapting the game with sounds for “duck” and “goose.”

Ruth’s journey in midwifery and women’s health began at Haydome Nursing School. Today, she runs her own pharmacy, maternity home, and rural health clinics—all dedicated to providing free care. “I don’t want anyone to feel like ‘today, I don’t have money, so I can’t get treatments,’” she says, although finding the funds remains a constant challenge.

When Ruth first started working with the Hadzabe, many were hesitant about modern medicine. Early on, she even treated a Hadzabe man outside, under a tree, because he refused care in a clinic. But Ruth was patient, taking the time to understand their traditional medicines, like salvadora persica roots for chest pain, wild custard-apple roots for stomach issues, and baobab leaves for eye infections. By respecting their beliefs, she gained their trust, and today, most Hadzabe seek her care without hesitation.

Despite the challenges, Ruth’s commitment remains firm. Her greatest need now is an ambulance to assist women with childbirth complications in remote areas. Her dedication to the Hadzabe tribe continues to create lasting change, inspiring those around her and impacting everyone she meets.