My trip to Arusha Tanzania
Laura Murray (Physiotherapy)

My three years as a student were coming to an end and a life ambition to travel to Africa coincided perfectly with an elective placement. Originally I started to organise a placement independently but due to the relaxed, slightly disorganised nature of Africa I came across a number of difficulties. Thankfully I found Work the World who were very helpful and sorted every aspect and concern.

I arrived to a very friendly and sociable house in Tanzania, which was followed by a day in Arusha town centre where the staff showed me everything I would need from food to internet to padlocks. My first day at the hospital was a bit of a shock when compared to hospitals at home, but all the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. I soon got into the swing of things and completed a highly interesting and variable placement. In-patients included paediatric burns, fracture management, trauma, stroke and elderly care. Out-patients was a flexible environment where we treated patients with head injuries, back pain, post-polio complications and children with cerebral palsy. I was joined by another UK student physio and together we worked our way through the language barrier with the use of Kiswahili lessons provided at the house and from our supervisor. By using the correct Kiswahili greetings we gained some trust from our patients and by learning practical words such as stand, sit, turn and body parts we could successfully complete treatment sessions. However, this was less useful in general conversation with the locals! The physiotherapist's role also included reading x-rays and occasionally applying casts. Our supervisor was very supportive and encouraged us to make use of every opportunity possible. We observed surgery (somewhat different to the UK), as well as, visiting a school for disabled children where we met one of the four occupational therapists in the whole of Tanzania.  

The house was a great place to relax, make friends and reflect on the day by gaining perspectives from the various medical professionals who were living there. The work the world staff were amazing and went out of their way to help us as and create a happy atmosphere.  The food... well simply most of us put on weight because it was so good.

Within and after my placement I had time to travel around Tanzania, visiting Zanzibar, climbing Kilimanjaro and experiencing the Maasai medicine trip all of which engraved emotional, stunning and breath taking moments that I will never forget.