Medical,Nursing and Dentistry Electives (In-Person & Online)

Overall, this has been a wonderful experience. The group of volunteers has been fantastic, and the staff at the medical post have been incredibly kind, friendly, and welcoming. There hasn’t been anything negative about my time here. While the local culture took a little getting used to, everything else has been great, and I’ve truly enjoyed every part of it. The positive atmosphere and the people made this experience unforgettable.

One of the aspects I've enjoyed most about my time at EcoSwell has been the complete immersion in the close-knit community of Lobitos. Getting to know everyone has been wonderful—both the EcoSwell team and the town itself are incredibly welcoming. It’s clear that the locals appreciate having us here, not just as volunteers but as individuals, which made me feel part of something special. From day one, it felt less like a group of coworkers and more like friends, almost like a family. This warm, inclusive atmosphere has made my experience truly memorable.

I've really enjoyed the past few weeks—it’s been such an interesting experience. Being part of the medical program has been eye-opening, allowing me to gain valuable insights. But, without a doubt, the highlight for me has been surfing. I've had so much fun catching waves and truly enjoyed every moment out on the water. This mix of professional learning and personal enjoyment made for an unforgettable experience.

Overall, my experience was very positive. Over the four weeks, I felt incredibly welcomed by everyone. Although I faced a bit of a language barrier, Junior was a fantastic help, and Leslie was super kind. The highlight for me was definitely the people—those at the EcoSwell house and at the medical post. Getting to know everyone and making an effort to learn Spanish added to the experience. Leslie and Louisa made me feel so included, proving that kindness and body language can go a long way in bridging language gaps.

I had a great time during my stay. The best part was meeting people from all over the world and participating in many activities together, which made it a very social experience. Getting to know the other volunteers was really enjoyable. Jesús, in particular, has been fantastic, and we got along really well—he adds a lot to the sense of community. It truly feels like a little family here, and that sense of closeness has been one of the highlights for me.

This experience has been amazing overall, and it's hard to pick just one highlight, as there were so many great moments. However, the standout for me was the school trip we took today. Visiting the school, going into classes, and meeting the children was truly special. The atmosphere at the medical post has also been incredibly supportive, and everyone is so caring. It’s been such a fulfilling experience, and that school visit really captured the essence of what made this time so memorable.

My name is Joshua Hinton and I have just graduated with a medical degree from the University of Bristol. As part of our degree, we are given a two month period to undertake a clinical placement either at home or abroad. It was always my ambition to use this opportunity to travel to South America to experience medicine in a Spanish speaking country and so I started my elective journey searching for placements matching that description. As part of EcoSwell’s Medical Elective Programme, I was aiming to travel to Lobitos to assess the health needs of the town in order to provide a platform for future health professionals to build on. I was also hoping to work closely with the Health Post to treat common conditions. However, in the days running up to my departure the goal posts shifted. The North-West of Peru was hit by ‘el Niño’, a weather front that brings a devastating amount of rain to Peru’s coast and with it, severe flooding. The two empty river beds that sit either side of Lobitos had flooded, leaving the town cut off from the mainland. Lobitos usually relies on water to be delivered by a lorry tanker. However, none of the water trucks could pass the floods to reach Lobitos and so the town had to rely on rain-water as their source of water for drinking, cleaning and cooking. As I arrived, EcoSwell carried out house-to-house visits in the most vulnerable to analyse what support was badly needed. It was obvious that access to clean water had to be the priority. The team sourced water filters from Lima and distributed them throughout the town. They also established a refuge centre at the Fisherman’s Guild, a building that EcoSwell previously fitted with solar power. Here, people could come and filter rain water and discuss any health issues. As the rain subsided and the temperature increased, there was also a looming threat of various waterborne diseases. EcoSwell has organised donations of medication and insect repellent and we distributed these, along with information to prevent an outbreak dengue, chikungunya, malaria, cholera and further gastrointestinal infections. Unfortunately, there were a number of cases of diarrhoea accompanied with stomach cramps, as well as suspected Dengue. However, I’m sure that the supply of clean water helped to prevent anyone from having to be transferred to the local hospital which is a 20 minutes’ drive away in dry weather. As well as been extremely exciting, this elective placement was hugely enriching. It was fun, stimulating, challenging and rewarding. It demands a hands-on approach, but EcoSwell and the health post provide a supportive environment in which students can work, learn and thrive. Everyone is very friendly as the town is extremely grateful for any outside help, especially as the Ministry of Health only places a doctor in Lobitos for 6 months of the year. During the other 6 months, the town relies on a wonderful midwife and a nurse. Therefore, elective students can offer essential medical assistance for half of the year. I can’t speak highly enough of this elective placement. I’ve learnt so much and I’ve made so many friends. The EcoSwell experience is an extraordinary one.