My trip to Arusha Tanzania
Hannah Rawlins (Medicine)

There were a number of reasons why I chose to do my elective in Africa. I wanted the opportunity to see conditions you don't normally get in the UK, to work in a healthcare system that is completely different to our own, to visit somewhere I'd never been before and to experience a culture like no other. Africa did not disappoint!

I'd always planned to do my elective alone, to exert my independence!  And although I was happy to travel by myself, I didn't want to be on my own so far away from home in a place where I didn't speak the language. Work the World solved that dilemma! It was so useful to have help throughout the elective process - the team were able to advise about everything from visas to clothing and local culture. As I only had a week between exams and my departure, it was a relief not to be worrying about last minute elective details during the exam period. The knowledge of the staff in Africa was invaluable - they knew which tour companies were best to go with, had all the local taxi numbers, helped us orientate ourselves during the first few days and generally made everything easy. I definitely felt paying a little extra to go with WTW was worth it, just to have that local knowledge and support!

In Tanzania, I was working in general medicine on the female ward at Meru District Hospital. Apart from the fun (but slightly squashed) ride on the public bus, I really enjoyed being at the smaller district hospital. There are fewer students so we were free to go into any department and there was also more opportunity to assist in theatre. Most of the staff had great English and were very friendly and happy to teach. They loved to discuss how we do things back home! The notes are also written in English. The only problem I found was communicating with the patients, most of whom had very little English. It's definitely worth learning a few phrases before you go!

In Zanzibar I spent two weeks sitting in on different clinics (Dermatology, HIV, Diabetes etc), which gave me a great overall impression of their healthcare and another 2 weeks in a smaller maternity clinic just across town. The hospitals were not how I'd imagined it at all! With Africa being a third world country and everyone telling me how brave I was to go there, I guess I had this naïve image that I'd be "making a difference". I quickly realised it wasn't going to be like that. The hospitals are very basic but they still carry out the same treatments and the doctors are all highly skilled. The conditions I saw were at a more advanced stage than they would ever get to in the UK due to the lack of screening and I saw some really interesting cases - tetanus, Kaposi's sarcoma and anthrax being most memorable!

The one thing I really wish I had thought about before travelling was raising some money to take with me. Several other students had done some fundraising before their trips and were able to buy supplies out there to aid the departments they'd been working in. Some of the staff expected us to have brought something with us, so this would be useful to consider before you leave!

Outside the hospitals I had ample opportunity to experience African life. Safari in the Serengeti, a weekend living with the Maasai and learning about their culture, the Maasai market (prepare to be harassed!), various trips to Prison Island and the local sandbanks, not to mention the numerous idyllic beaches on offer in Zanzibar! I've been back four weeks now and am already thinking of excuses to go back!