Elective Africa

Choosing my 3-week rotation at Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital was the best decision I ever made. Elective Africa made it as stress-free as possible, which allowed me to focus on school leading up to this experience. While at the hospital, I learned so much about the similarities and differences between American and Kenyan healthcare. At times in Mombasa, I had to really use my physical exam skills and history taking more than I would at home because the tests aren't always readily available. The doctors were also amazing at making sure I was learning and doing enough. They always kept me involved with the case at hand. I will forever be grateful that I was able to undergo such a wonderful experience, and I would highly recommend this trip to everyone.

I had a fantastic time abroad with Elective Africa. They were present every step of the way, from pre-departure planning to the entire stay. They coordinated our clinical experience, accommodations, transportation, and additional excursions in the area. My classmates and I enjoyed exploring the area and learning more about African culture and lifestyle with a visit to an orphanage, primary school, and a city tour. This was a unique experience that broadened my perspective on healthcare and patient care.

My time with Elective Africa was transformative, giving me hands-on clinical exposure in a resource-limited setting. I learned to adapt quickly, work effectively with local healthcare teams, and provide patient care with cultural sensitivity. Assisting in procedures and observing surgeries strengthened my clinical confidence, while engaging with the community deepened my understanding of healthcare disparities and reinforced my commitment to equitable, global health.

My experience with Elective Africa in Mombasa was an unforgettable one! Their supportive staff members and meaningful activities complement well with my eventful hospital attachment. It has allowed me to maximize my learning opportunities while exploring the beautiful city of Mombasa.

I loved my experience in Kenya. From interning the doctors to seeing the safari, I had a pleasant experience. I became fascinated with how the doctors managed the patient care life without having much of tools we have in US. I may be thinking of coming again some day. I would recommend anyone who wants to have a pre-med internship abroad to do it with Elective Africa

I'm not sure I'll ever be able to adequately summarize my time in Mombasa. There were countless lessons I learned through the opportunities available during my time there. The knowledge I've gained is invaluable and I've learned to value the process of all experiences in life. I saw a lot while shadowing: hurt, pain, agony, etc. However, what I will remember will be the strength of the mothers giving birth, the happiness of the medical student delivering babies, the bravery of the surgeons operating on patients, the tenderness of the pediatricians, and the welcoming arms of everyone in Kenya. Shadowing in Kenya has changed my perspective on life. No matter what career path I choose, the experiences I've lived in Mombasa will stick with me forever.

I had an amazing time during my placement in Mombasa, Kenya. The hospital was extremely welcoming, the people were all very friendly. I am looking forward to being able to go back after I start my career. The other students were very helpful when it came to familiarizing myself with the city and the hospital.

I had the best time in Mombasa with Elective Africa. During my 4 weeks with them, they made sure everything was organized and safe, and I cannot be thankful enough for their generous hospitality and proactive communication throughout. At the hospital, I had the opportunity to attach to the ER and surgical departments, where I participated in daily clinical activities such as ward rounds and case discussions, as well as picked up new skills such as IV cannula insertion and wound care. The doctors and nurses were very accomodating and treated me as if I were one of their medical students. Outside the hospital, Elective Africa provided a secure hostel with a driver and housekeeper, and I felt at home. I also got to experience the local culture through local tours and also join safari excursions in Tsavo East, among many other experiences. Overall, this trip was extrememly rewarding and I would definitely recommend Elective Africa to all future participants.

The program was an eye-opener in global health and medicine. Carol was fantastic and went out of her way to assist and accommodate us. The accommodation was reasonable (we enjoyed the many visits to the Mall). The chefs were very considerate and tried to accommodate all of us - despite me being a picky eater. Camel riding was fun. The hospital experience was informative, and I have a better understanding of the life of doctors in surgeons. The trip to the marine park was excellent - we saw many dolphins and beautiful coral and fish - but the negatives were - the unsuitable music in the mini-van while on our way there - and we would have liked to have our own snorkeling equipment. Without foot covers, I scraped my feet against the coral - and had to get medical attention - the boat captain wasn't exceptional either, nor was the slightly over-rated lunch - which we had to share with people we did not know. They ate all crab (inconsiderate). The safari was incredible - the tour guide, Joseph was the best - it was a memorable experience! The lodge was close to five stars - and the food was super! Overall, I enjoyed the trip - and feel better prepared to make a career decision. Thank you for a fantastic trip!

I will forever be grateful to elective Africa for giving me the best experience of my life. We were placed in the hospital where we were exposed to so many cases starting from regular cleaning all the way til oral surgeries to removing tumors. I learned a lot and got to experience the beautiful life in Kenya. I recommend this program to everyone. The staff was beyond amazing. They made sure we had everything we needed and supported us through all our ideas and put our visions into reality. I will be back soon Kenya. Asante Sana

I went to Mombasa, Kenya for 4 weeks this past summer and had an incredible experience. The living accommodations, food and help were all exceptional for everything we wanted to do. The time spent at the hospital was incredible as we had incredibly informative first hand experience in seeing all types of different work. The program was very accommodative and worked with our desires and goals for this trip.

My experience with Elective Africa was one I will never forget with this program. I was able to see and learn about medicine in a whole new way at the largest public hospital in Mombasa, Kenya. Elective Africa is an amazing program that provided me with many opportunities that I will be forever grateful for. I would recommend this program to anyone interested in furthering their medical knowledge. The knowledge I gained through my days at the hospital and with the doctors and medical professionals I worked with was truly unforgettable.

This internship in Mombasa exceeded all of my expectations. My prior experience with patient care during my domestic/university placements involved patients and cases far less critical and complex so the knowledge and skills I learnt in Mombasa are invaluable for me completing my degree and moving into my career. Being able to assist with births, resuscitations and see full body electrical burns are things as a student I was yet to even observe so being able to assist in the care was awesome. Not only was the experience in the hospital amazing but the country of Kenya and the people were just as amazing. The cultural activities and the traveling we did on the weekends to beautiful beaches just made the trip that much more enjoyable.

The experience was very educational. I learned a lot about a different healthcare system, which was my goal. The support staff were amazingly friendly, and did everything possible to make sure my experience was beneficial. The apartments where we lived were nice and clean and in a very safe part of town. The hospital staff were also very helpful, and many were great teachers. The only drawback for me was that the doctor who was supposed to be my preceptor went on an unexpected leave, so I didn’t really have one person with whom I worked closely. Instead, I worked with all of the doctors and interns in my department, which was a good learning experience for me.

The only downside is the communication in the hospital, I was supposed to be rotated to different departments but the nurse in charge didn't not respond to my calls or the calls from coach in practice. Overall the experience was excellent with lots of support from coach in practice (Salome) who help me to settle and checked on me very week. She also call on me to make sure I was fine.

I was impressed with the organisation of the program before arriving, and once in Mombassa there was always someone to contact to ask anything if needed. In terms of the actual placement and time in the hospital, the experience was absolutely fantastic, something that I will never forget. I started off on pediatrics, but quickly realised that it was already saturated with student nurses and decided to move to the Emergency Department. I spend most of the time in the Minor Surgery section of this department, and loved every minute, the staff were welcoming, friendly and eager to teach me things, always encouraging hands on work. The department closed early, so myself and the other volunteer tended to have the afternoons off as our department because very quiet. We also dipped in and out of other departments, observing surgery and and maternity. At the accommodation we had the opportunity to take Swahili lessons. The Swahili teacher was very patient and tailored the lessons to what I wanted to learn. But at the same time, you got out of it what you put in because attendance was optional. The location of the accommodation was good and had easy access to shops, cafes, the sea, a swimming pool and locals to make friends with. It was very clean and well looked after. However, if I were to return, I would probably find different accommodation, simply because felt very separated and did not feel immersed in the culture and typical daily life of locals in Mombassa. I think that living with a host family I would have learn more about the cultural differences and felt more involved.

Really well organised programme from the beginning - Justina was quick to answer all my questions and concerns. Then when on the ground Phabian was amazing. Always around to help if I had any issues and to sort out logistical stuff. Our drivers Peter and Richard were wonderful and cared so much about us. Harriet our Mama who did all our cooking was like a mum away from home. I miss her so much already!!! The hospital was a whole different world and although it was shocking at times I don’t regret going and am so grateful for the experience.

It is difficult to believe the disparities in healthcare. If you want to experience this for yourself you must intern in a developing country and discover ways you can make a difference. In my opinion, I feel blessed to have had such an inordinate experience.

I'm a med that came here for a medical elective and I have to say that I've had a lot of clinical experience being here. The CPGH has a lot of great doctors willing to accommodate and educate you. The people of Elective Africa are super nice and I enjoyed my time with them a lot. Accommodation was nice and spacious. Carol, one of the coordinators, really made sure that my time here was as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

I had a really fantastic time working in Coast Provincial General Hospital in Mombasa, Kenya through Elective Africa. When I arrived, although it was a long day of travel, my supervisor and driver were there to meet me at the airport and immediately made me feel at home in Kenya. Our housing is very comfortable with a nice bedroom, kitchen, and living room. Likewise, it was wonderful to have another girl from the US there with me to spend time with and learn from both inside and out of the hospital. Each of the doctors I worked with was very kind and some allowed me to try new tasks such as drawing blood and taking vitals of patients. While the Swahili language barrier was a challenge, many of the doctors explained cases later in English so that I was able to comprehend. On the weekend, I had a very exciting once in a lifetime experience on the Masai Mara safari and was able to see the big five while learning about the Masai tribe. I definitely recommend going on the safari with a friend as it is a very long day of travel to Nairobi and a seven-hour drive afterward to get there and back. Overall, one suggestion to improve the program would be to advise students when the best time is to come to Mombasa so that there are other students of similar age in Mombasa with them. This certainly made my adjustment easier and I wish I could have had my friend there for the entire three weeks. Overall, I had a great experience and want to thank you elective Africa for introducing me to the beautiful culture, people, and world of medicine in Kenya!

This internship was a great way to gain experience, learn in a medical environment, and a way to help local people in need. Throughout this program I got the opportunity to met and work under amazing doctors who have inspired me beyond my expectation. I was able to work hands on with patients and interact with them on a daily basis where I felt a sense of community. Learning in this environment is very enriching.

Elective Africa organized an amazing few weeks in Tanzania! I was able to have hands-on learning experiences while working in the health clinic. I was also immersed in the culture. I got to interact with many people, and see many different aspects of the country.

I had an awesome experience with EA. I learned so much during my placement at a regional hospital there and met friends that I continue to keep in touch with even while home. I hope to return one day and would recommend this program to anyone.

My time in Africa was a life-altering experience that I'm grateful to have had. From the moment that I got off the plane until the day I left, the people we're always welcoming, kind and willing to help. I made friendships and built relationships to last a lifetime. It was incredible getting to work at the second largest hospital in Kenya as well as experience the local culture through activities such as camel riding, feeding giraffes, jet skiing on the Indian Ocean and eating at local restaurants! I was so grateful and thankful to work with the amazing staff at the hospital who really took me under their wing and allowed to rotate in various departments. You will get to experience a wide variety of medical conditions and attain hands-on experience unlike anything else. I had so many wonderful experiences that is hard for me to summarize. I look forward to the day that I can give back. <3

I have had the opportunity to be part of a community based research internationally specifically in Kenya, 2018 through elective Africa. My experience over there has really shaped and harness my character, knowledge and wisdom. Over the years, people tell me USA has the best education or things in the world in terms of everything. This cliche stacked with me that i never saw myself partake in any research/ internship whatsoever however, my internship/ research and stay in Kenya refuted my biased idea that other countries do not have anything compared to the USA. During my few stay in Kenya, I got a practical sense of researching and even had the opportunity to shadow physicians in the OR. It was unfortunate that my stay in Kenya was brief but it was worth it because now I have another family in Kenya who will always have their doors open for me whenever I want to go back.

I did my electives in Mombasa. And for an individual from a city with so many things similar to that of Mombasa it didn’t make much of a difference especially in the hospital. However there are a couple events worth mentioning. Tourism in Mombasa is A1. We learnt a lot in the hospitals. The supervising doctors paid very close attention to us to make us we get saturated with whatever is being taught but the out-of-hospital activities made the electives so much fun. Elective Africa has like a schedule for its students that’s all extracurricular- The Mombasa tour and site seeing, the night life; the beautiful beaches, the giraffe feeding exercise but the major highlight was saving lives beyond Medicine as a doctor. Elective Africa made us go to orphanages and community schools to do humanitarian work. I was moved. The activities were so much that I even wanted to pass up on a few. But overall, it was a great experience. Worth every single shilling!

In January of 2018, I went to Mombasa, Kenya for two weeks to volunteer in Coast General hospital as a pre-nursing student. The experience I had while in Kenya was absolutely life changing. Each day we helped in our assigned wards from 8am-1pm. As a pre-nursing student from the United States, I was able to do things at Coast General that I wouldn't be able to do here. I helped in the labor ward with giving injections, delivering babies and placentas, and cutting the umbilical cords. Seeing how different the healthcare system in Kenya was compared to the US helps to make me a well-rounded nurse. Getting such hands on experience before starting nursing clinical helped me when I was being taught them this past semester. The doctors and nurses are able to communicate with you, but may have some broken english. However, twice a week we had Swahili lessons held at the apartment, which helped with identifying certain words when listening to the doctors communicate to each other. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming, I never once felt unsafe while on the trip. Aside from the hospital, the other students and I visited "the slums" and an orphanage. On the weekend, the students and I decided to travel to Diani Beach, about two hours away! We also went to the movie theatre, restaurants, and the mall during our free time. The apartment was spacious and felt like home. There was a cook who prepared three hot meals for us each day. We also had transportation to the hospital, and paid a small fee to take a tuk-tuk back after the shift ended. I would recommend this trip to anybody, especially health science majors so that you can get a safe experience seeing how other countries medical systems work.

I am currently a registered nurse in Melbourne, Australia and recently returned from volunteering in Migori, Kenya with Elective Africa. I don't think anything could have prepared me for what this experience was. Being the only white person in this rural village made me extremely nervous. However, as soon as I arrived, I was warmly welcomed and could not have been looked after better and feel more safe. I arrived in Nairobi, where I was collected by Richard, from elective Africa. He took me to a very comfortable hotel for the night. The following morning Richard again collected me from Hotel and took me to the local bus stop and helped me buy a ticket and get on the right bus. About a 10hour trip I arrived in Migori, and was met by another team member, Salome and Violet. They both took there time in showing me the town and took me to my apartment. Here I had someone assist me with washing, and cooking me meals. The apartment was very safe and had a 24 hour security guard on site. I was collected each morning and taken to the hospital and chose to walk home daily (approx. 30-40mins), which was a great time to reflect on the day. I was given the option for many activities on my days off by Salome which included visiting Victoria Lake (Africa's largest lake), local women's group, church, and a local orphanage, all incredible experiences and a great way to feel apart of the town and get involved in the local culture. My time at the hospital was something so special to me and something I will hold close to my heart forever. I saw so many things and got involved in so many procedures that I wouldn't get to experience here in Australia. A real eye opener, and something I believe has made me stronger and more aware of people living in such poverty. I spent my time there experiencing many departments including the causality department, children's ward and Maternity. Though I am not a midwife, I was able to assist and deliver babies!! It was so special. And even got to spend a day in the theatre with one of the surgeons. The experience was also very challenging due to lack of resources to what I am used to back home. Seeing people and especially children suffer so much with the lack of pain relief was quite hard to see at times, and sometimes all you can show is compassion and wipe away the tears. I could not recommend Elective Africa more for volunteering in Africa. From the day I sent my first email enquiring, it was very easy to talk to them in the organising process leading up to it, and everything was made clear and simple. It was also very easy to talk to them while I was in Kenya if I had any queries or concerns. I honestly believe every nurse should experience this in their career at some point!!

This opportunity was given to me by a partnership between my university (Princeton University) and Elective Africa. I worked in Levolosi Health Center, a public clinic in Arusha, mainly in the minor theater, where I assisted and later oversaw other performing minor procedures such as cleaning/dressing wounds, sutures, and circumcisions. The doctor in charge of the theater, Dr. Jonas, was very informative and kind, and instructed us in basic skills such as changing dressings and wrapping wounds at first, and later more complicated tasks such as assisting directly in circumcisions. Since I had an 8 week internship, for the first few weeks I was mainly involved in observing the doctor, but later felt more comfortable to assist the doctor directly, such as handing tools needed during circumcisions and stopping any bleeding areas. Later the other interns and I organized a fundraiser from friends and family to raise money, which was then used to by supplies that the hospital constantly lacked, such as gloves, gauze, and surgical tools. The accommodations are quite nice, and the staff does a good job to make sure everyone is well taken care of and has all they need. For example, despite having electricity and water problems, our local coordinator would be ready to answer our phone calls and come to the residence to fix the issue.

I spent 4 weeks at coast general hospital In Mombasa and it was truly a unique and life changing experience. I don't think I was initially prepared for the stark difference that this public hospital had from hospitals in the United States. I rotated through medical wards, pediatrics, obs/gyn, and the ER while I was there. At each area I was able to practice skills and become proficient at them. I was able to learn about how treatments for certain diseases are different and the same here to the United States. I think that this is a great experience to really get better at your physical exam techniques as many of the testing resources that we so quickly turn to in the United States are either not available or to expensive for patients. It was also interesting because there are no physician assistants here, but the role is likened to the clinical officer. There are many medical, nursing and clinical officers rotating throughout the hospital. As far as my time outside the hospital, I was a little disappointed that there was no other students which would have made my experience more fun to have someone to go explore the city with, but I came at time where there was recent travel advisories for Americans visiting so I understand that there is nothing the program can do about that. I did meet a previous elective africa student while here and he expressed how much fun it was when there were other students. The apartment is an easy 20 minute walk to the beach which was amazing and you could easily go after a day at the hospital. Overall I had a great experience and would recommend it to anyone!

I wouldn't trade my time in Kenya, Mombasa specifically, for anything in the world. I was very nervous going into it, and the culture was certainly hard to get used to at first. But I cannot praise the program (Elective Africa) enough for going above and beyond for the participants. You are not just another volunteer to them, they get to know you personally and do whatever it takes to make sure you get the best experience and the experience that you want. I had no medical experience going into it, so I was comfortable with just learning and absorbing as much as I could while I was there. There is no pressure to do something outside of your comfort zone, but if you want to, you fully can. The experience can be whatever you want to get out of it. We did some other community activities, we went to an orphanage and a school. We had Swahili lessons although most people in Mombasa are fairly fluent in English. I went on safari at Masai Mara, I cannot stress how important it is to take advantage and do these. The safari was easily one of the best weekends of my life. Overall, my experience was amazing, I would recommend anyone to book a volunteer/medical trip with Elective Africa, I made incredible friends from around the world and I'm already planning where I'd like to go next with them.

I cannot speak highly enough about my three weeks in Arusha, Tanzania in Summer 2014. I'm a final year medical student in London,England and thanks to Elective Africa I had the best summer of my life. The housemates were all medical trainees from America, England,Norway and Australia. They were caring individuals who only added to my experience. The accommodation was western and safe. The town offered many tourist attractions besides Mt Meru, Mt Kilimanjaro and Safari. There are many restaurants, snake parks, camel rides, schools,nightclubs and orphanages to visit. The locals are beyond friendly. They are welcoming and positive. Elective Africa provides a driver who is always the same driver. He is a friendly and open man, who is always willing to help and give advice. There is also the elective Africa representative who visits the house frequently to check on how you're doing. He's a cool dude and he picks you up from the airport when you land. I really liked him and keep in contact with him to this day. I think the media does a horrible image painting all of Africa in negative light. The town is far,far from what the western media would have you believe. It was safe,developed and far better than I could have dreamed. I can never forget the great and memorable time I had, and neither will you.

I had a great experience with Elective Africa in Mombasa at Coast Provincial General Hospital. I spent one week in a medicine ward and one week in the labor ward, and both places I had a great deal of autonomy and responsibility that really pushed my skills and knowledge to the next level. All the doctors and staff were very friendly and pleasant to work with. It was well worth the trip to see how medicine works in a developing country and a different culture.

Just a couple years ago, I spent four weeks in Mombasa, Kenya, volunteering through the Elective Africa (EA) Pre-Medical program. I didn't know what to expect, coming from South Florida in the United States, so it's hard to say if the program met any expectations. However, I can confidently say that the program was incredible, and altogether a "once in a lifetime" experience. I stayed in a converted home that housed bunk beds, couches, a television, kitchen, pool, and an overall feeling of comfort and friendliness. Each morning, we were met by a driver who would take us to Coast Provincial General Hospital, just a 10-15 minute ride away. We were given the opportunity to rotate in three different wards during our volunteer stay. I chose Accident & Emergency (U.S. equivalent to an Emergency Room), Surgery, and Maternity. I was able to shadow the various physicians, and was even given a chance to assist in some procedures, such as incision & drainage, labor and delivery, etc. I learned so many things and gained a few friendships along the way. We were a mere 10 minutes walk from the Indian Ocean, and on weekends we would braze the coast or take a short trip into town to see a movie. I never felt unsafe or unwelcome during my stay in Mombasa, and left with a feeling of reward and renewal. In just a few months, I will be starting my third year clinical rotations in medical school, and look forward to the possibility of another medical trip as I so enjoyed my first experience with EA.

My name is Simon, I undertook a medical elective in Mombasa, Kenya in 2013 with two other friends through Elective Africa. I can honestly say that it was one of the best experiences of my life. Not only was I able to have the experience of working/learning and helping in one of their hospitals, but they provided the opportunity for us to volunteer at a local primary school. We taught children and partook in school activities like dancing, athletics and sport. To see young and poor children having such joy in their lives really helped us reflect on our own lives. The program also offers trips to the masai mara where you can try your luck at spotting the big five. Accomodation was all provided for and secure with breakfast, lunch and dinner provided. The chef was exceptional, lovely and deserves a special mention, you're the best Dollas! All the staff are kind, helpful and friendly. I honestly could not have asked for a better experience and cannot recommend them more highly.

The four weeks I spent in Arusha, Tanzania was an amazing experience! The accommodations were very comfortable and Neema provided us with groceries regularly. Phabian came to the house regularly to see if we needed anything - he was a great help and always available to help us if we had any questions. Phabian also took us on a nice tour around the town and invited us to come watch his basketball games. He also facilitated a visit to an orphanage which was awesome! He also helped to set up internet and phones, so it is no trouble to contact your friends and family. At the hospital, I volunteered in the dental department. Here there were three dentists as well as three-four other assistants. Everyday was an opportunity for me to get involved. The staff was super friendly and provided a lot of assistance to me. They taught me many things in my four weeks. On my last day at the hospital, the doctors even took me out to lunch which was a really nice, sincere gesture. Overall, the experience was absolutely amazing and unforgettable. I would definitely recommend this program, and I would like to get back there myself someday.

Time of my life experience. At the airport I was picked up by one of the staff members to assist me to the accomodation. First night at the residence: was exhausted and wanted to sleep and felt a bit awkward as one of the staff members wanted me to go out to town with the others, but we luckily we ended up staying home. Made a good connection with some of the staff members and allso the other students. In Malindi we were too many girls and some troubles arised. This was not very well handled by the staff. It was quite a different experience to see the town and the hospital for someone coming from Scandinavia. At the hospital the staff were superb, so gentle and welcoming for the students. I had the possibility to assist on different types of surgery which I could never have done in my own country. Amazingly well treated by all the staff, it was completely fantastic. Allso so heartbreaking to see the patients.. We went on a safari and saw the Masai people(?). Nice trip but the bus was terrible as they changed it from an exelent air conditioned bus with snacks to a hopeless bus with open windows, so much dust(!) and minimal comfort. I felt that they took advantage of our payment. But the trip otherwise was very cool. We saw some hippos on a frightingly close distance, and all the other elegant animals on the african plain. Generaly on the residence: very nice dinner(!), delicious fruits, lack of different types of food for breakfast & lunch, someone was stealing our money(!)- should have been some kind of locker for it. The accomodation was nice, exept for lots of mosquitos by the water so I would recommend the house in the height, and there was lack of hot water sometimes. Aircondition in one of the rooms was programmed for a sleeping bag ment for mountain hinking and this made me ill. Allso I had a stomach infection from the kitchen. The staff aided me to get to a hospital. I was prepared to clean my clothes in a washing mashine, but as there was none it would have been nice to know beforehand that you wash your clothes by hand, (soaking them in an hour is the trick and you have to either buy a bucket or agree with other students to reserve the bidet for cleaning- wich is an exelent solution). All in all: met some great people and had a very special experience which I will never forget.

My experience in Kenya was absolutely amazing and I would go back in a heart beat. I went to Mombasa and worked in Coast Provincial General Hospital. It is a larger hospital and you have a lot more opportunity. I was worried when I first found the program that I would maybe just be observing or something. That was definitely not the case at all. As a Pre-PA I was paired with a Clinical Officer there, which is our equivalent to a PA pretty much. I spent my four weeks going around the different wards seeing and doing a bunch of things I could never do here in the States. When I was there there were 4 English, 4 Australians, 6 Norwegians, and 2 American interns. Most of them were studying to be doctors. Having them around and in the hospital really helped as well because I would go with them some days to minor theater (where minor surgeries are done) and would first show and then teach me how to do it and then I was able to do it. I was able to do Catheters, injections, IVs, sutures, resuscitate a baby, watch C sections, watch a major surgery, and examine women in the AnteNatal ward. I found that for the first week I was just getting used to the hospital and doing a lot of observing and learning. It took me just a bit to get comfortable actually touching and physically examining patients because I had never really got to do that in the States. So the first week was a lot of observing but also getting to learn how to examine patients. The weeks following were when I got to do minor surgeries and other exams. Besides the hospital though you do so much with the program. We volunteered at two schools and one we went 2x a week and taught in their classrooms (just simple math or something) and then played sports with them after or sang and danced. Then on Wednesdays they would come to our residence and we would teach them how to swim. This is where I found I learned the most about the people there, the culture, and a lot about myself was during this time with the children and adults. You also get a chance to go on safari which I definitely recommend. It will give you a break and is so amazing. I found that I enjoyed the hospital even more after my safari.

I completed the past four weeks at Mt Meru Regional Hospital as my final elective in community medicine. I came into the program with an open mind and the willingness to learn and the program itself exceeded my expectations. Phabian was a wonderful coordinator and was there every step of the way to help in whatever I needed. I went through multiple areas in the hospital and Phabian was able to coordinate everything I needed and responded promptly to my requests. I was able to get what I wanted to from the experience at the hospital as well and went through various wards. I know I would have never gotten this experience at home and can go home knowing that this will carry on with me through my career as well. I thoroughly enjoyed the Tengeru coffee plantation recommended by Phabian and seeing the children at Neema's House. Phabian showed up in the afternoon and escorted us there. It was great and I would highly recommend taking advantage of those opportunities. It is great to see so many people putting forth the time and effort to help others in need and I'm glad I could experience that while I stayed here.