What inspired you to travel abroad?
I moved to Limerick, Ireland in 2019 from my home in Lagos, Nigeria for a masters program in advanced healthcare practice at the prestigious University of Limerick. After settling in, I had started inactively but simultaneously searching for volunteering opportunities in-country and abroad, and hospitals for my dietetic internship.
Juggling lengthy applications with a masters degree was not a walk in the park, so I put my internship and volunteering applications on hold and focused on my degree. In 2020, the global pandemic hit and the world raged like a convulsing child. I watched from the confines of my bedroom during the lockdown as the highest standards of healthcare systems across the world crumbled.
The virus had no respect for age, qualifications, societal status, experience, immunity, family, religion, gender, or nationality. Nothing else mattered, the priority was fighting back with sustainable solutions to manage the fastest most dangerous pandemic we did not think to prepare for. The news was mentally draining, gloom and despair covered the earth like thick darkness in an evil forest.
As the number of deaths increased globally, it seemed there was no end in sight. One night in July, amidst the unending battle between insomnia and lethargy, I remembered my beloved continent, Africa. My thoughts were, if developed countries with the best healthcare systems, technology, manpower, education, machinery and economies were crumbling, how is Africa surviving? This question puzzled my heart until dawn.
Then, I started the search. There was not a more auspicious time to volunteer in healthcare than in the year 2021. Hospitals were overwhelmed, healthcare workers were mentally, physically and emotionally spent. I was determined to assist however I could, to the best of my ability. At the time I started my application in 2020, I had completed a Bachelors and a Masters degree, so I was qualified to proffer valuable manpower and expert opinion wherever I would be assigned to.
This was when I found the International Medical Aid website during one of my numerous google searches. "You will never get in,'' the familiar voice of discouragement whispered to me as I clicked on the "apply" icon. I have achieved quite a few things in my life, and this voice occasionally poses as a hindrance but, I am stubborn, I have instilled the dogged determination to achieve anything I set my heart to, especially when it relates to my interests, career or the things I am passionate about, I never listen to that voice.
In summary, a 300-clinical practice hours prerequisite for the national qualifying examination, a long overdue vacation and a desire to volunteer where the need was greater inspired me to seek volunteering options outside Ireland, the place I now call home. As a West African native, the rich culture, lavish traditions, distinct languages and exquisite dishes exclusive to Africa are not novel to me.
But, there was something about East Africa, something intriguing and exhilarating. In the pool of options, I knew East Africa would have my heart the moment I landed. Kenya, the home of the Big 5, breathtaking scenery, luxurious beaches, and delicious food. Frankly, no other option could measure up.
Dental hygiene session with the pupils at Pentrose community school
Why did you choose International Medical Aid?
While researching organizations who offer volunteering options for international students, my personal inclusion criteria were: cost effectiveness, accommodation, reputable affiliations, inclusivity, core values, scale of impact, circle of influence, outreaches, positive testimonials, in-country support, and finally security.
International Medical Aid, founded by a Johns Hopkins alumni, is one of the leading medical internships in the world. Their core values; integrity, mutual respect, and commitment, set the pace and have maintained optimal standards of guidance in clinical practice and mentorship in international volunteering spheres. The most important deciding factor for me was the inclusivity of other healthcare professionals.
I find that most medically inclined volunteering and internship organizations only have opportunities for medical doctors, pre-med students, nurses and occasionally physician associate programs.
The International Medical Aid recognizes and acknowledges the impact of the multidisciplinary healthcare team in ensuring the holistic and optimal recovery of the patient. They demonstrate this understanding through the inclusion of internship programs for dietitians, physiotherapists, psychologists and other allied healthcare professionals. Commendable!!
What was your favorite part about Kenya?
Mombasa city is the cultural heritage of Kenya. With historical monuments like the Fort Jesus Museum, Old Town, the Vasco da Gama Pillar, the Malindi Historic Circuit etc. Something about the incredible fusion between a modernized society and the local natives made Mombasa the ideal tourist and international volunteering destination for young people.
Throughout my internship in Mombasa, Thursdays were the days for exploration. We visited museums, UNESCO world heritage sites, historical chapels, churches and religious worship centers. We learnt about the significance of Mombasa in propagating Christianity in Kenya, the war against oppression and slavery, how they fought to preserve their culture, lifestyle and beliefs.
We visited tribal homes, learnt their traditional dance steps, and religious rites of passage. The most exhilarating was the visit to the Bamburi Haller Park. I was on edge the entire time as I have zoophobia. The tour guide delivered detailed explanations and historical references on the significant preservation of the endangered species housed in the park in maintaining the circle of life. I may have heard some of the explanations, but I spent more than half of the tour running away from the "blue butt" monkeys amongst other species.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Throughout the 2-month period I spent in Kenya, not a day went by that I did not go to bed grateful. Yes, there were difficult days where things happened which made me really sad, especially at the hospital, when patients whose treatment I had been actively involved in passed, I was devastated.
But, the experience was extraordinary because of the PEOPLE. Now, when I say people I mean different cohorts. The first cohort would be the program staff. The heartwarming welcome we received upon arrival, the kindness and warmth exuded by the residence staff, the kitchen staff and transportation staff helped me get through difficult days.
From, the morning rides with short conversations on the government's enterprises and the economy in Kenya, to the rides home from the hospital where they listened very keenly to our experiences everyday gave me a sense of purpose and belonging, much like I was meant to be there and I made the best decision to come to Kenya.
The daily debriefing sessions were soothing to me, having the room to unpack my emotions and difficulties as well as triumphs of the day, while also listening to the experiences of my fellow interns helped me realize that healthcare is really about passion and diligence to service. The second cohort would be my fellow interns. Those crackheads were the absolute best humans I had ever met, most of them were kind, honest, hardworking, diligent and always down to have a good time.
Since moving to Europe, I have had my fair share of experience with subtle racism, but these guys were phenomenal. We had honest conversations about our upbringings, family, faith and religion, challenges and very importantly, our foreseeable future. They were respectful of the Kenyan culture, team players and always brought their A-game to every task we had to complete.
The final cohort is the hospital staff. I was the first black African to arrive in my cohort, so, there were 2 assumptions about me in the hospital. The first was that I was black American and the second was that I was Kenyan. The beautifully surprised faces and hearty laughs I received when they found out I was Nigerian was the ice breaker every new intern needed.
Kenyans love Nigerian movies, so, it was slightly embarrassing when they would ask if I had seen a certain movie or met a certain actor and I would say no. The primary healthcare team in every hospital is a tightly knit well oiled machine, they know each other's strengths and weaknesses, they can communicate without words and they make decisions very quickly.
As a new member of any team, it can be quite intimidating on your first day, but, for every day that I exist as a clinical dietitian, I would forever be grateful for my experience at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital. All they ask of you is the eagerness to learn and they will flood you with their wealth of knowledge.
My schedule would have been constrained to certain wards and departments, but by showing that I desired more and was willing to learn, I observed minor and major surgeries, I was hands-on with patient diet therapy regimen and my opinion was sought after, valued and respected.
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
I strongly believe that the legacy the International Medical Aid has built over the years in several cities in diverse countries is owed to their incredible staff who uphold their core values. Prior to my arrival, I had a zillion questions for my program director, and worse yet, I never compiled them into one email.
I would send a bunch of random emails as soon as I had a new question at odd times of the day and Christabel never complained. Instead, she would ensure me that I could always let her know if I needed anything else. Upon arrival, the program coordination team would send our individual schedules every week and respond to any adjustments we would request throughout the week.
They were supportive of all our endeavors, welcoming and kind. The residence staff were always understanding and executed their duties around our schedules, they tried their best to handle our laundry and common areas. The kitchen staff were very inclusive and considerate. Within our cohort, we had vegans, vegetarians, people who were lactose intolerant and others with allergies.
They made every meal with love, on several occasions, they sought our opinion on what we wanted for breakfast, snacks, etc. On a few occasions, when I was ill or tired, and one of the kitchen staff observed that I was not at lunch or dinner, she would come up to my room to check if I was okay and ask what I wanted to eat. They were remarkable. The transportation staff were always considerate and worked around all our schedules and hospital shifts. The local staff are arguably the best part of the program.
Menstrual hygiene session with the pupils at Maweni Community School
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
Hmmmmm!! While I explored Mombasa with the aid of the schedule provided by the program mentors and coordinators, I wish I explored more. There were several historical monuments, restaurants and delicacies I did not get to try.
I get food poisoning very easily, so this discourages me from trying new delicacies and dishes. I wish I was more open to solo and group trips. Likewise, I wish I started participating in the afternoon and night shifts earlier than I did.
During these shifts, when there aren't that many emergencies, the consultants and registrars are more relaxed and ready to answer questions as opposed to the morning rounds with the swarm of multi-disciplinary professionals surrounding them. When I eventually started signing up, I learnt so much and was able to pick the brains of the senior consultants we barely saw on the wards. It was really awesome!
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
Fun fact: I actually filmed a video for a day in my life as an intern with the International Medical Aid. I might consider posting it on my Instagram (theonlypade). So, my day typically begins at 6:30am with morning devotion, then I take a shower and brush my teeth, pack my back, fill my water bottle, put on my scrubs, my army-print bandana, shoes, perfume then I head downstairs for breakfast.
Breakfast is usually toast, eggs and sausages. There were other options on the menu, but yours truly always has these every single day. Then I pair this iconic combo with a cup of coffee/orange juice or a cocoa drink depending on the vibe of the morning. Then, I head to the car with the dental interns, we are usually the first batch of interns to arrive at the hospital.
The car ride time is around 15-30 minutes, depending on local traffic. We disembark the vehicle, I say goodbye to my friends and head to my unit of the day. In dietetic practice at every hospital, the workload differs based on the department. The most tasking department would be pediatrics, because we have to do anthropometric assessment on the children in addition to everything else daily.
As I arrive at my unit, I keep my bag and head to the ward. It is important to always bring positive energy and joy whenever you show up to work, especially in a hospital because it can be a very depressing and gloomy environment. So, I greet everyone good morning in Swahili (Habari za subuhi)and ask how they are? (habari yako).
Then I pick up the ward round book and sit with the dietitian assigned to the ward and the dietetic intern and we start discussing the cases. We occasionally do our own mini ward round before the consultants come for a major ward round or the medical interns could be in-charge of the ward round for the day.
After the ward rounds, we sit to discuss the cases, review hemograms, do any necessary calculations, prepare feeding regimen for new patients, write referrals for oral nutritional supplements and prepare the general diet sheet for the ward. The events in this short paragraph can take up to 3-6 hours, depending on the day of the week, the number of ward rounds, the complexity of the cases on the ward and the number of patients.
The final business of the day is to take the diet sheet to the kitchen, and the referrals to the pharmacy to pick up the oral nutritional supplements, write the appropriate prescription and discuss the feeding times, and quantity with the nurses, caregivers and/or family members with the patients.
At the end of the day shift, I pick my belongings and head to the vehicle to meet an ever smiling member of the transportation staff waiting to hear all about my day. We arrive back at the program residence and have lunch. At 2:00pm, we have the daily debriefing sessions where we discuss our experiences of the day and share knowledge with our colleagues.
On Wednesdays, we have hygiene education outreach and menstrual hygiene sessions at the local primary and secondary schools, on Thursdays we would have local excursions to the UNESCO world heritage sites and other touristy attractions in Mombasa. Fridays are for major clinical debriefings. The day typically ends at 6:00pm with dinner. Then we could do anything else we liked.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
My days were pretty busy throughout my internship, because I was working on a few things for school. So, during my free time, I would rest, read, catch up with family and friends in Ireland and Nigeria.
A few times, I played card games with fellow interns, charades, etc. I especially enjoyed our conversations at the pool. We were from diverse backgrounds and had distinct stories and experiences, so, it was refreshing to listen to them talk about their passions, goals and dreams.
The experience made me realize that everyone around you is struggling with something or has overcome something. Therefore, kindness and honesty are necessary for human interaction because what could be permissible in your culture and upbringing could be offensive in another. In general, we should all be kind, cheerful, patient, understanding and loving.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
Our program residence was basically a resort. In addition to our conducive rooms, we had living areas with a television and Netflix (very essential), WiFi, a dining room, a nice kitchen, a pool and a great view. I really loved the air conditioned spaces, because Ireland is pretty cold throughout the year, so adjusting to the humidity in Kenya was really difficult for me. So, I was thankful for the air conditioning units at the program residence. Our pool was pretty awesome too.
What is one thing every future participant should know about the Nutritionist/Dietitian Internship before their program begins?
I believe every participant should know that their experience with the program is largely dependent on them. The program is standardized enough, but to get the most out of it, you need to be receptive, open minded and prepared to learn and ask questions.
You should do your research on the part of the country you would be volunteering in, things like cultural beliefs, dress codes etc. Always be ready to help out and contribute, do not be afraid to take the lead if you are sure of what you are doing. Even if you are not qualified to practice yet, do some research on the most prevalent disease conditions in your field.
There is nothing more satisfying than being able to answer a consultant's question during the ward rounds. Not only does it speak highly of you and your institution, it also indicates that you are ready for what you signed up for and the professionals love this. They would in turn be more impactful and intentional in making your experience the best possible.
Would you recommend International Medical Aid to others? Why?
I would highly recommend the International Medical Aid to future interns because the program is incredible, the local excursions are fantastic, the hospital placements are great but would largely depend on your openness and willingness to learn, the accommodations are fantastic, and the local staff support is phenomenal.
In relation to the Nutrition/Dietetic internship, the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital is the referral hospital for the coastal region. This includes a service area covering 7 counties in this region. The Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital manages nearly 33,000 inpatients, 240,000 outpatients, and 11,300 maternity patients annually.
In 8 weeks, my rotations included: pediatrics, general medical wards, surgical wards, diabetic outpatient clinic, oncology, cardiology, gynecology, new born unit, intensive care, and obstetrics. Every unit has a qualified clinical dietitian and a dietetics intern who would support you on your journey and ensure the best clinical practice.
With the squad at Marafa Hell's Kitchen
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is the change in your mindset you would experience. The human mind is a mirror of our experiences and environment. Something happens when we move out of our comfort zone. Suddenly, we begin to question our thoughts, beliefs, stereotypes, and strongholds.
We begin to notice things we never did. Prior to traveling abroad, I had taken a course on cultural awareness as part of my masters program. The course is crucial for healthcare providers because it is important that we provide holistic care to our patients, and this is never the same in two different countries. Our goal is to discharge a patient who is whole in their minds and their bodies, this can only be achieved through cultural awareness.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I was lucky enough to leave Mombasa at 2am that day, otherwise I don't know if I would have been able to get on the plane back home. I still cried for at least 3 hours after leaving the residence. In life, things happen that make you question your choices.
Your choices on who to love, who to forgive, what career path to follow, if you're making the right decision etc. Healthcare is something of a life choice decision. It takes so many years of schooling that you barely get the chance to just change your career path, because it would seem like you have wasted your life.
My internship with the International Medical Aid provided the much needed clarity I have long sought in relation to my career and life choices. I did things I couldn't believe I was capable of. I realized that I may have been underestimating my capacity in every sphere and caging myself when I am capable of so much more.
My time abroad taught me that wealth does not matter when you are ill, what matters is family, love and healing. My time abroad taught me to be grateful for the life God gave me, for my numerous blessings and luxuries I complain about which most people could only imagine of.
My time in Mombasa taught me the joy in giving, sharing laughter, comfort, love, hope, joy and happiness. I began to believe in the endless possibilities I can avail of for as long as I have breath in my Lungs. Asante sana Kenya, for changing my life forever!
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel begins with a sense of purpose, direction, and a zeal to achieve the goal required for a change of environment. Meaningful travel involves exiting your comfort zone, to immerse yourself in cultural diversity, ethnic significance, and rich heritage while interacting with the natives who will guide you on this journey.
To me, meaningful travel starts with a stress-free airport check-in, a smooth plane ride, great scenery at your destination, delicious food, a welcoming environment, restfulness, happiness, rejuvenation, vitality, good music, great accommodation, peace, drops of happy tears here and there, and ends with a safe return home.
A travel experience is meaningful when you weigh the quality of the experience you garnered at the end of the day, the new friends you gained and the memory that would last a lifetime. 2 months, 8 weeks, 56 days in Mombasa Kenya was meaningful travel.
