My Medical Project in India
Published on Monday 24 October 2016My Pre-University Hospital Experience
Katie
Over the summer I travelled to Trivandrum, India for a two week pre-medical placement with Global Medical Projects. I was eager to gain more hospital work experience and the opportunity to observe a foreign healthcare system really appealed to me.
Leading up to my trip I was very nervous and found the thought of travelling by myself to an unknown city, far from home rather daunting! However, there was so much support from Global Medical Project’s staff, particularly the coordinator Kevin Dynan. Any concerns I had were addressed and questions answered, ensuring that I was fully prepared for the adventure ahead.
Before I arrived in India, Babu the director who is based in Kerala had already received my CV and from this he organised all of the hospital placements for me, according to my interests. On arrival in Trivandrum airport, I was greeted by as friendly staff member who had arranged transport to take me to my accommodation. The Volunteers house is comfortable and well equipped, I enjoyed relaxing on the balcony in the evenings after placement.
In India I experienced a number of medical specialties. I spent most of my time in the NMS Mission Hospital where I shadowed consultants and nurses who were very accommodating, answering any questions I had and explaining patient illnesses.
The highlight of my work experience was the A&E department, where I developed great friendships with the staff, who were very passionate about their work. I witnessed some intense medical emergencies, including a Cardiac Arrest and an epileptic seizure. I loved learning how to take an ECG of a patient’s heart and to identify an abnormal rhythm caused by a myocardial infarction.
I also had the opportunity to volunteer at the Palliative Care Charity called Pallium. I got to join the medical team in their home visits of rurally placed patients who didn’t have access to a hospital. It was exciting travelling in the 4×4 jeep on narrow dirt tracks with stunning scenery of backwaters and coconut trees all around. We delivered essential medication, bandages and food to rurally isolated patients and it was so rewarding to see how grateful they were for our support. Many of the patients had type 2 Diabetes and it wasn’t uncommon to see amputations and diabetic bed sores. At the end of the day, the medical team treated me to some traditional indian snacks and coffee in a local Restaurant.
I volunteered in the leperosy clinic, helping post-surgery patients with muscle exercises. My wish to experience Genecology is India was also fulfilled. Not only did I get to shadow a senior gynaecologist but I also had the opportunity to see an emergency Cesarean Section and care for the premature babies in the Neonatal Ward.
At the weekends we had free time to travel. My favourite experience was visiting a region called Alleppey, which had some of the most beautiful backwaters in the world! The group hired a houseboat and we got a guided tour of the area, I didn’t stop taking photos as everywhere was so beautiful. We even got to stop off along the canal and buy fresh coconut milk from a local and take pictures with his pet Falcon! It was a great opportunity to get to know other volunteers and we really bonded with each other. If you like to experience weird and wonderful foods, then India is definitely the place for you! At the weekend we were spoilt for choice as where to eat dinner, and price wasn’t an issue as the average feast cost us about three pounds each! At the volunteers’ house, “Chef Babu” ensured we didn’t go hungry and made some really delicious meals for the volunteers coming home from placement. My favourite dish was Samba, served with an indian pancake called a Parotta.
In all, my trip to India was a once in a lifetime experience and I would encourage anyone interested in gaining work experience to take this unique opportunity to explore another healthcare system, an exciting new culture and make new friendships in the process.
To follow in Katie’s footsteps, find out more about our Pre-university hospital programs in India here
My name is Emily Haines, and I have embarked on two unforgettable experiences in Africa. My life-long ambition is to become a doctor, and watching medical volunteers in Africa on BBC news TV channel one day motivated me to get in touch with Global Medical Projects to find out more. I was instantly hooked on the idea of embarking on an unforgettable lifetime experience in a Third world country! Although my trips took much planning in terms of finances and dates, it was certainly worthwhile. On my gap year prior to university, I took a month long trip for a medical and orphanage project in Ghana. Central Regional hospital in Cape Coast was where I spent the majority of my time, and it really opened up my eyes to the large differences between developing healthcare systems and the developed. In the evenings, I visited a small orphanage in the village of Ansapetu, where I met many children that were grateful for even a friendly face showing up at their door. It doesn’t stop there though! 2 years after reflecting on my time in Ghana, I could not wait to begin another project in another African setting, so I chose Tanzania. I was in Tanzania for 3 weeks, where I did another project, set in Meru District Hospital, and ‘Cradle of Love’ orphanage. People may think the two African projects I did were almost the same experiences, but I would definitely disagree. I came back from both experiences having learnt different practices, cultures and languages!
Flying to Ghana was the first time I had ever travelled abroad alone, which was I must admit, quite daunting to begin with. Going into the unknown I really did not know what to expect, but I remember the day I arrived in Ghana like it was yesterday. From meeting Eric, my host, at the airport in Accra, I immediately felt like I was in safe hands. Seeing the bustling capital city of Accra, I instantly had culture shock, but my fascination over-rode my initial worries. The 3 hour journey to Cape coast was an interesting one, seeing the poverty stricken people in mud huts without sufficient clothing on their backs, confirmed what I’d seen in the media was real. However, I also noticed the wealthier side of the area, no longer did I see mud huts but well- constructed houses made of brick. Following this journey to Cape coast town I had arrived at my accommodation in Abura, and Mary, Eric’s wife, and Ruth, the housekeeper, were there to greet me. I was overwhelmed with how friendly and helpful they were and our personalities clicked right away. I also met one of a few volunteers I would be staying with; she helped me settle in by giving me advice, one being a warning of the frequent power-cuts that occur in the house, which I definitely got used to! However, the house had a lot more to offer than I’d expected, there was internet access so I could contact my family easily and a warm shower! Having the weekend to settle in before beginning placement allowed me to take in my surroundings and immerse myself in the different culture. George, the house supervisor and guide took me around Cape Coast educating me about the tourist attractions, including the beaches, Cape Coast castle and local customs and religions, and this really helped me to bond with the locals and shop owners straight away! I was overwhelmed by the friendliness of the locals, greeting strangers in the street was indeed a novelty. I often heard the words ‘Obruni!’ called out to me by the children in the street, I was told it meant I was foreign to them and I would hear it often during my stay. Trying the wonderful African food for the first time was also a new experience; my adjustment to the spice was certainly comical for my host family!
As I began working in the hospital on the Monday, I was greeted by the matron of the hospital who asked me what areas of medicine I was interested in. After this I was allocated to the female medical ward for the first week. I asked doctors them what time they began their ward rounds each day, which was around 10 o’clock, and I soon realised that Ghanaians sense of time was very different to people’s in the UK, as it was different every day, there was no strict schedule. Whilst the doctors had not arrived yet I assisted the nurses with drug administration, dressing changes, and I probed them with questions. I learnt that Malaria was a common condition amongst the women on the ward; Ghanaians taking prevention medicine for it was rare as many could not afford this. Another ailment I observed was particularly prominent in the area was Anaemia, which highlighted to me the diet of many Ghanaians was insufficient in iron-rich food. As a result, I asked doctors if they could improve this by encouraging patients to eat a healthier diet. One thing that interested me was the treatment of Alzhemier’s disease; Ginko Giloba extract was used as a herbal medicine to prevent brain degeneration. Nurses told me of the healthcare system in Ghana, which meant that it isn’t free at the point of care like the NHS. People have to pay for their healthcare insurance, and in a number of cases I saw the distress of patients who could not afford to pay for treatments, they simply got turned away. As doctors arrived on the wards I observed their bedside manner, asked the doctors questions, and despite some language barriers between me and some patients I communicated with many. I was even lucky enough to mix in with the medical students on the wards and once in a class, where I got taught clinical skills and participated in question and answers sessions based on clinic consultations, this was challenging having only completed A levels, but I learnt a lot! The doctors could not have been more helpful and were extremely motivating whilst educating the students. The paediatric ward was a favourite of mine, and following ward rounds I joined the doctors in the clinic where I observed a wide range of various conditions. I noticed that Malnutrition was a serious issue amongst young people, many children had to be put on a treatment called ‘plumby nut’ to increase their nutrition and weight. There was an obvious lack of privacy and confidentiality during patient consultations, although patients had a completely laidback attitude about this which was surprising. In the surgical ward, I soon began to notice the limited resources present in Ghana, as many patients waited a long time to be admitted to surgery, since there was only one operating room in the hospital. One day I was able to directly treat school children’s wounds in a rural village, this was extremely gratifying and the children were even excited to receive a plaster! I felt I gained a broad insight into the healthcare in Africa in Cape Coast hospital, and one day when I qualify as a doctor, going back to treat patients would be even better.
Every day after 6 hours at the hospital, I would retreat home for a quick lunch break (watermelon!) and head off to Ansapetu, where the orphanage was located. This would involve getting a taxi straight from Abura which took around 15 minutes but was very cheap! The children were aged from around 2 to 18 years, which allowed me to interact with differing abilities and interests. James was the founder of the orphanage, who my financial contributions were directly going to. It was satisfying to know that the orphanage was receiving some financial help, as it was very basic, with an obvious air of limited resources. Helena was the other coordinator and she and James were extremely welcoming upon my arrival each day. I would create games with the children after school, such as ‘hide and seek’ with the girls, football with the boys, and I frequently helped the children with homework given to them from school. It was interesting to find out the various future aspirations of the children, and it was refreshing to see they had great ambitions despite being in a situation with money difficulties. I would often help Helena set out dinner for the children, this included fish and banku, this was an interesting food with a white, gooey consistency, which I tried and definitely approved of! Table manners were very strict, as eating only with your right hand and not with the left was the accepted etiquette. Praying before food was a regular occurrence, and I really enjoyed taking part in the children’s respect for god. I helped the children to wash the dishes each day following dinner, and another great opportunity to bond with them was knocking down oranges from the trees in the garden! Learning the children’s names was at first a challenge, but getting to know each child individually it became second nature. Going back to the orphanage to see the children would most definitely be something I am thinking about.
My time in Ghana did not only involve working hard, I also visited many tourist attractions on the weekends and relaxed in local volunteer hotspots in the evenings. There were about 5 of us volunteers coming and going at different time points, but we all managed to spend time with each-other outside of our busy schedules. Going out and meeting new people was a regular Friday night event, Oasis bar was always a great place for ‘westerners’ and the locals to mix, I met many people from Canada, Australia, and other European countries! Going out for food was always a way us volunteers treated ourselves, and some of us missed the odd plate of western food; ‘The castle’ restaurant was a personal favourite of mine! On weekends, I would always think of buying some souvenirs from the local markets. I came back with wooden masks, printed bags and jewellery. One weekend we visited Kakum national park, this involved walking through the forest with a tour guide and over an arial walkway over the canopy of the trees, which I would recommend if you want to conquer a fear of heights! Hans cottage was another place I visited, this was a hotel that overlooked a small lake with crocodiles here, me and the other volunteers had the chance to watch them being fed, and I even had a photo sitting with one! I visited a couple of beach resorts to indulge and swim in the sea; Coconut Grove and Anomabo beach resorts had wonderful staff service and although food prices were higher than what you would get in central cape coast, they were still pretty cheap! One of my favourite attractions was Elimina Castle, where I learnt a bit of African history and the slave trade. Learning the bongo drums each week was an exciting new activity, yet it was harder than it looked! I also went along with Mary to a Christian church service on a Sunday, people’s energetic attitudes and singing during church was inspirational. I will never forget the experience of going solo to Ghana, it was not what I expected but even better, I most definitely recommend it!
My name is Jack and I’m a 2nd year BSc biomedical science student preparing for postgraduate entry into medicine. Of the many choices that Global Medical Projects offer – I chose to take the 2-week volunteer project away in the small village of Meru, Tanzania.
Zablon and Pretty were fantastic hosts and cooked us meals every night. I wont ruin the experience for you by telling you what they made us, but I will say that we tried some of the traditional Tanzanian dishes and they were delicious!
During the first weekend, Luke and I decided to rest for half of it to get over our lack of sleep on the flight, and then visit the market in Usa River. Zablon came with us to show us around and find our feet. He also showed us where we would be taking the Dala Dala (the public transport) to the Meru district hospital on the Monday. From this point onwards we could find our way round Usa relatively well.
To begin with, Luke was placed in the Male ward and I was placed in the female ward. My first impression was that compared to the hospitals in the UK, the facilities (as expected) were very limited. Privacy was a luxury and had to be paid for, ward rounds and scheduled times were rarely stuck to and everyone there had a serious problem (you generally wouldn’t find a local going into hospital unless it was of great importance).
Interesting note – many women get pregnant in Tanzania due to incorrect use of the contraceptive pill. They take it just before or during the act – hence they often get pregnant.
After Paediatrics I decided to spend the afternoon in Minor surgery – having said this – some of what was thought as minor surgery there could be deemed as major surgery in the UK! (I have only put in what I think are the minor ones):
Tanzania is an amazing place and the sheer quantity of things you can do there is practically limitless! Luke and I thought we would take advantage of the fact we were so close to the Serengeti and after our final week working at the hospital we went on a safari.
This project will open your eyes to what all those charity programs are trying to raise money for! You will experience what its like to be a Doctor in Tanzania and see what its like to be a patient there too. You will see what limited resources the hospital has and what they do the try and get round their limitations. You will have hands on experiences with patients and apply some of the things you’ve learnt in the past. You can’t get a purer project than this when it comes to the basics of medicine!
My 3 weeks in Tanzania was certainly another eye-opening experience, which I completed this summer before my final year of my Pharmacology degree. As the plane touched down in Kilimanjaro international airport, seeing the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro was absolutely breath-taking. By this point, I was eager to meet my host family. Arriving in Usa River, the children in the street were already greeting me and I knew I was going to settle in well. Pretty and Zablon, a couple who were hosting me made me feel at home right away, Zablon told me and the other volunteers about his sugar cane growing in the front garden, which was delicious! One thing different from Ghana was the cold shower and a hole in the ground for a toilet, which wasn’t such a bad thing as I may have expected. The food I was given by the lovely house maid, Neema, were in such generous portions, and I found myself eating a lot of rice, chicken and avocado! Chips mayai- a chip omelette was definitely a popular option with 4 of us volunteers staying in Zablon and Pretty’s house. Being called part of their family throughout the weeks was a great feeling and frequently watching the world cup with them during dinner time was always a good laugh! Sometimes we joined our host family and their friends in choir practice, I was overwhelmed by the amazing voices I heard, and it was great fun. Pretty also showed me and the other volunteers her and Zablon’s wedding photos and told us stories of how they met, I was very interested to hear about the culture of relationships in Tanzania.
For my medical placement in Meru District Hospital in Tengeru, I was told to catch the Dala Dala bus with the other volunteers, which was an interesting; sitting close to Tanzanians was a great way to meet the locals! A journey from Usa River to Meru hospital cost only about 300 Tanzanian shillings, this was about 10 pence, so very cheap. I had some expectations of what the hospital may be like since previously working in Ghana, but it was different in some ways. It was a lot smaller and underprivileged than Cape Coast hospital. There were also some problems I noticed such as dangers in transporting the female patients from the maternity ward to surgery for their Caesarean sections, but building a safe walkway was funded by an American charity. Throughout my medical project, I visited the male ward and encountered various conditions, with HIV/AIDS being the number one disease in terms of occurrence. From speaking to the nurses I picked up a lot of medical terms in the native language- Swahili. This helped me to understand medical notes to find out what patients had and what treatments they were on. The follow up of a malnourished, heart failure patient with a doctor and medical student is one that will stick in my mind- devising a treatment plan using our combined knowledge, really gave me a chance to learn some clinical skills with a patient-based approach. Another patient that stays with me was a victim of a motor cycle accident with major brain injury; his affected memory meant it was impossible to contact his family and he could not afford an MRI scan, which was a serious problem that we aimed to tackle. Using a clinical handbook and the BNF as a prescribing guide, me and the other volunteers formed a strong relationship with the doctors; they taught us the practice of medicine and we discussed best treatments for patients.
I always looked forward to volunteering at ‘Cradle of Love’ Orphanage every day from 2 til 5pm. I would catch a Dala Dala from Tengeru to Usa River, and walk 5 minutes to the orphanage. One thing I did not expect when I arrived was the security of the orphanage; there were iron gates with a security guard outside, which were certainly reassuring for the owner! Being introduced to the toddlers and babies was an exciting experience and I had never looked after children at such a young age! I was told some of the children in the orphanage were abandoned or some parents could not afford to keep their babies, the latter made me realise many of the parents put their children in Cradle for good reasons. Some children had HIV infection and one had rickets, but the dedicated attitude of the nannies provided the best care for them. Usually when I arrived the toddlers and ‘wobblers’ would have woken up from their afternoon naptime, when they were full of energy to say the least! The babies loved attention from all the volunteers there, and this made me feel I was making a difference. Playing in the garden was a favourite activity for the children; this was obvious from their immediate excitement when we got out the shoebox to put on their shoes! One thing I did find challenging whilst working in the orphanage was dividing my attention to the different children, and many wanted a turn on the swing-set at the same time. But there were other activities for the children to do, such as playing on the slides or with the toys inside the home. Once I had the chance to change a little boy’s nappy, which to be honest, I had never even done before! Throughout my time at the orphanage, I got to know the children’s personalities very well and so I knew what they did and didn’t like, which was essential to make their day a happy one. Seeing the children laughing from a small game of ‘chase’, I noticed even in a place with little resource the children could enjoy themselves. Dinnertime each day was very eventful. With the other volunteers, I would assemble the table and chairs for the toddlers to sit at a small table together. Some days if the children were in a mischievous mood they wouldn’t want to sit down but make me catch them first! This was initially difficult, but through learning each child’s preferences and from gaining their trust, it became a lot easier. The words ‘Jakula’ meaning ‘food’ in Swahili was always a trigger for their excitement! Being at Cradle of Love, I realised that giving some attention and loving communication to the children was definitely a way to brighten up both mine and their day.
I definitely recommend taking a trip to Ghana or Tanzania, these were both life-changing experiences that really put aspects of life into perspective. I have definitely grown as a person as a result of these trips, and I will forever cherish my memories and the many things I have learnt. I chose Global Medical Projects because they really do care about you making the most of your experiences. Throughout my stays in Ghana and Tanzania I felt a great sense of security with Global Medical Projects, despite being in a foreign area. I’d like to thank Kevin Dynan for giving me so much advice prior to my journeys and for making the application process a smooth one. I also thank Eric and Mary Essuah, who were fantastic in ensuring my stay in Ghana was safe, organised and enjoyable. Zablon and Pretty Mgonja were two amazing people who made sure I made the most of my stay Tanzania, which I am very grateful for.
On the first day, after 16 hours of grueling travelling through three countries, I arrived at Kilimanjaro airport, in dire need of the weekend to recover. However, a fellow volunteer had other ideas, and I ended up at Arusha National Park the following day, a thoroughly enjoyable trip, even if I was asleep for half of it! After being collected from the airport by Charles, a local taxi driver who we would see many more times around Usa River throughout our trip, we made our way to the Mgonja household in Usa River. We were met there by two of the loveliest people I have had the fortune to meet- Zablon and Pretty. Pretty was pregnant while I was visiting, and I hope to go back soon to meet the latest member of the family! Throughout the first weekend, I noticed the stark contrasts between daily life in a country such as this and what I was used to back in the UK. However, the close knit community feeling was apparent from the beginning; from the way everyone greeted each other as they passed, to how well Zablon and Pretty knew their neighbours from all over Usa River!
Viewing major surgery was another major highlight for me; seeing my first caesarian section was exhilarating, the baby’s first cries were wonderful to hear, as a new life was brought into the world. Again, differences between here and the UK were on show, with some aspects such as equipment and drugs used completely different to those used in the UK. For instance, I was initially surprised to see ketamine used as a local anesthetic, but was quickly informed that the one in use here was the non-recreational type. I also saw a vaginal cyst removal during my time in Major ops, and was impressed with the speed and precision with which the doctors completed the procedure.
In addition to the hospital, I visited a local orphanage in the afternoons, which offered a different experience entirely. Cradle of Love, an orphanage halfway between the hospital and Usa River, was fairly well funded, with good facilities and plenty of staff and volunteers, which surprised me initially, as I was expecting a far more degraded infrastructure. After visiting a far less privileged orphanage later on the trip, I realised that the children at Cradle were lucky to be here, but no less deprived of the most innate human craving- attention and care. Over the next three weeks, I cared for children from babies to around age 3, playing with them and assisting feeding. I had worked with children before in the UK, but not this young, and was surprised in many ways. The children were split into four groups depending on walking ability (and age): babies, crawlers, wobblers, and toddlers. I spent most time with the wobblers and toddlers, as I enjoyed the more hands on and busier style with the older kids. Full of energy and very clingy as children of that age are, I proceeded to build such strong relationships with some kids that I didn’t want to leave at the end of each day! I can honestly say that there are not many better feelings than giving attention to children that are so obviously deprived of care, and not many worse feelings than leaving at the end! Unfortunately, some of the kids weren’t used to men at all, and proceeded to cry whenever I went near them, which was the opposite of what I intended! Ultimately, although I know the kids won’t remember me, I will always treasure the time I had with them, as they brought out my inner child, and made me realise how lucky I am to have parents.
On another note, before I began to research Tanzania as a country, I didn’t realise how rich it is- not in monetary terms, but in culture, in natural wonders, and in surprises. Unfortunately, I could not visit the Serengeti, or climb Kilimanjaro, or stay on Zanzibar, but I plan to do all these things when I go back, as I have heard amazing things about them. In fact, I wouldn’t have been able to do all those things in the time that I had even if I tried! Instead, I went on safari to Tarangire and Ngorogoro National Parks, and can honestly say it was unbelievable. The pictures don’t do it justice; you must visit yourself!
My name is Chris and I spent one month volunteering on a medical project elective in the village of Meru,Tanzania. During my time in Africa, I worked in many different departments at Meru District Hospital, but I enjoyed my experiences in the ER and major surgery theater the most. Meru District Hospital was situated near the heart of third world Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, an area impoverished with limited resources in many aspects of health care, whether it be the medicine distributed, sterilization supplies, or the way the public was educated on healthcare. In an area where health insurance didn’t exist, people of all shapes and sizes would crowd the emergency room daily with many different health concerns. It was during this month I learned exactly what it would take to work as a medical doctor in an area of unwarranted variation.
As my first week at the hospital began, I was introduced to the Dala Dala, a public transport van that would travel from village to village to take me to work. At the hospital, I was greeted by the hospital matron and after reviewing my resume, the matron requested I deliver a presentation on immunology to the entire hospital. Before the matron gave me permission to begin my work, she showed me every department within the hospital. As we walked along the district hospital I saw how every department resembled a piece of a puzzle; it was like the hospital was a village in itself. Some of the departments included pediatrics, major and minor surgery (ER), female and male ward, AIDS ward, and even a TB ward. The matron permitted access to every department, but because of my passion to become a surgeon, I immediately dove right into work at the ER department. When I began my work, the staff treated me very much like a medical student; the nurses and doctors were so
As my time in Africa grew, I was finding myself more and more involved in the ER and surgery department, so much that even ethical issues in medicine were starting to surface amidst my experiences. One of the most startling issues was that many of my patients were young females who had given themselves abortions. Because abortions were illegal in Tanzania, young women would often damage their bodies by giving themselves an abortion; it was my duty to make sure to clean out the reproductive tract and make sure the woman would not have any further health issues down the road. These kind of situations made me aware of how politics and social situations can influence certain factors in healthcare and it made me understand how my only view was simply to help a person in any way that I could. My time in the ER helped me deal with injections, POP casts from broken limbs, auscultations, catheters, stabbings and wound cleaning, seizures, gunshots, and even motor vehicle accidents. I was getting so involved and with the amount of trust and responsibility that was bestowed upon me, it just felt right to keep going. Sometimes I would clean out an infection, whether on an infant or an elderly man, I knew how bad it would hurt to make that incision to flush out the abscess, so I would sometimes just let the patient hold onto me and squeeze my arm whenever it would hurt them just so I could hurt a little bit too and feel their pain. In my mind It was all definitely a case of learning fast, being confident, and embracing any challenge with a grain of salt, but I wanted all of that so bad…I wanted to keep learning; It was like I had something to prove. The ER shaped me the most out of all the departments, but it was being able to assist with both suturing during a cesarean and hernia surgery in the major surgery department that really made my experiences most memorable.
Easily the best thing about working at the Meru District Hospital came in my last week of work. Of all the time I spent working, I felt the most experienced in my last week, and as a result the matron and staff allowed me to do rounds in the male and female ward. I would show up to work and begin my rounds around 8am and would finish up by 11am. Some of my cases included stroke, malaria, and AIDS patients. I remember sometimes being amazed at how different such cases were than the standard patient one might see at a hospital back in the US. I took each patient as a lesson, spending time with them, analyzing their treatment regimen, and making sure their condition was on its way to being stable. I must have looked like such an alien to some of those people, but that never stopped me from giving them my best care. My most memorable moment though was when I had the opportunity to deliver a baby in the female ward. It was perhaps the most exhilarating moment in my life, being able to take charge in such a situation. It felt completely natural. I look back on my achievements and realize that I would not have been able to do some of these things in the US. These are some of the moments that I will remember for a long, long time.
On my last day at the hospital, the entire hospital staff showed up to listen to my presentation. During my placement I truly felt that infectious diseases and unwarranted variation prohibited many of the people from being healthy, so I decided to base my presentation on the basics of innate and acquired immunity.The entire presentation lasted about 45 minutes, followed by a series of questions asked by several staff members. Near the end of my presentation, some of the doctors and head staff members made me feel humbled by acknowledging all the work I did in the last month at their hospital. As I write this 3 months since I returned from my trip, some of the faces still stick with me. These people really gave up their time to teach a stranger. Of all the feelings I felt during this trip, I realized that there really are a lot of good people in the world, you just have to carry an open heart. I found that ultimately if you truly pour your heart into what you believe in, even if it makes you vulnerable, amazing things can and will happen.
Even though the application process and the gruelling flight hours may have seemed like a challenge at first, going through this experience with Global Medical Projects helped me to meet some really amazing people that I consider a part of my family now. When you share the same meals, experiences, and a roof under your head with people who are there to take care of you, you establish this connection that can truly last a lifetime if you let it. At first I was a bit concerned being the only volunteer to stay with my host family, but both were fantastic in meeting any of my needs/requests, including picking me up from the airport, assisting me with my bus fare to work when I needed it, and even helping me plan an excursion to the island of Zanzibar for a weekend trip. Perhaps the thing I valued the most that they showed me was an orphanage down the road from where I was staying called “Good Hope.” After visiting the orphanage 2 weeks into my stay, I told myself that I would visit the kids everyday after work no matter what. Seeing those smiling faces really made the trip worth it, and because of the orphanage I made a promise to myself that I would go back to Usa River once my journey to becoming a doctor is complete.
I assume you can organize your own placement directly with Meru hospital if you wanted to, but I would strongly recommend going through a company such as Global Medical Projects the first time around, as this provides you with the safety and security which, in my opinion, truly matters when you may seem like a complete stranger to the country and it is easy to stand out. I am truly grateful for all that the staff at Meru District Hospital went through to teach me how to be a better medical professional and I am forever humbled to be so warmly welcomed by the entire village of Usa River during my placement. When I arrived to Usa River, I remember going to the village church on my second day and feeling like a stranger completely lost in the culture, but as I think back on my journey, I think of Usa River and Tanzania on a whole as a hidden place, tucked safely away from the world, concealed by the high walls of the Meru and Kilimanjaro mountains. It all almost felt like being in a place rich with strange beauty, like being in a dream. I would like to further extend a thank you to my family and friends for supporting me through my journey, the staff at the Commonwealth Medical College for inspiring me to strive past any limit, and to Kevin Dynan of Global Medical Projects for helping me through the entire application process. All of these amazing people have helped me grow in ways unimaginable, but my warmest gratitude goes out to the Mgonja family in Usa River, Zablon and Pretty – for teaching me that you don’t have to be blood related to be a part of a family, I promise to hold onto that bond no matter where my experiences may take me.
After being picked up that evening by Alberto, one of the volunteer coordinators for Global Medical Projects (and yes, he spoke English very well), I was taken to my “families” house. Prior to arrival, I knew I was going to be assigned to live with a family in Guadalajara and that the family would be providing me with 3 meals a day as well as a clean, safe living quarters. The coordination with getting to Mexico was effortless. Kevin, the program director based out of the United Kingdom, was very quick at responding to calls/emails and kept me informed with any changes in living arrangements, assignments, and with answering any questions/concerns that I had.
I spent a bulk of my three weeks in the hospital.The hospital experience was perfect. As volunteers, we took the bus and train to the hospital every morning around 7 am. We were “on-duty” from 8 am to 2pm. I was able to assist and perform many procedures (under the guidance of one of the physicians) that are not normally in the scope of practice for a paramedic in the states. Some of the most memorable things that I was able to do included removing and doing stitches, directly assisting in the operating room, helping put casts on patients, assisting with cleaning and wrapping wounds, starting IV’s/setting up drips of medications, assisting during cardiac arrest, and etc. The list could go on. Some interesting cases that I saw included: multiple cardiac arrests, a scorpion sting on a little girl, a traumatic femur fracture, a man stung by hundreds of bees, and a man who went into anaphylaxis due to eating a duck egg.
In the emergency room, as a volunteer if you simply asked, you could learn and assist with almost anything under the guidance of the doctors. They truly wanted us to learn and help as much as possible. Not only was I able to pick their brains about medical procedures, but I was able to understand how their health care system worked. By the end of our trip, the doctors and nurses became close friends to us. We often went out in the evenings together and they truly made us feel like we were part of the hospital family.
As a volunteer, I rode third person in the back of the ambulance’s captain chair. (Let’s just put it this way: you definitely had to buckle in and hold on when they were driving emergency traffic or you risked flying out of your chair!). The director of EMS made sure that we stayed with the same paramedics during our time volunteering. My two paramedics were no different than the hospital staff in the respect that they wanted me to be at home. Between calls, they would often sneak me away to see something “cool” or to eat a traditional meal that I was “required to eat” before leaving Mexico. They made sure I got the true Mexican experience. In the field, similar to the hospital, the paramedics let me function as a paramedic. I noticed in the homes that the residents of the city were extremely respectful and thankful for the paramedics. It was a wonderful experience to see and the respectfulness truly reflected the “Mexican way of life” (as they would often tell me about).
When we weren’t working in the hospital and on the ambulances, we were able to venture around the city of Guadalajara and surrounding cities. The evenings were often full of fun adventures to shop, eat, drink, and enjoy the Latin culture. The weekends were especially exciting because we elected not to work on the weekends (although you could if you wanted or needed to). As a group, we picked places we wanted to go see and would travel to them via Uber or the bus. One weekend, we took a bus to Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta was a neighboring beach city about 4 hours away. We were able to book an “Air B n B” hotel room for extremely cheap to stay right on the beach. Another weekend, we got rained into a “fiesta” in a nearby city and enjoyed some local drinks and festivities- not so bad to be rained in with good food and company!
After my three weeks were up, I found it difficult to leave. The culture was incredibly inviting, I felt part of the hospital and EMS staff, and I had made wonderful friends. I’m already looking forward to the next opportunity I get to go back. Thank you Global Medical Projects for providing a safe, fun, and invaluable learning experience that was, and is, an experience of a lifetime!”