This program is best suited for midwifery students seeking significant hands on experience to solidify and integrate theoretical knowledge by working closely with midwives in hospitals and community health centers in Africa. The primary differentiator of our midwifery elective program is that it strongly complements the theoretical training with significant hands on experience in areas like prenatal and postnatal care, assisting in deliveries, family planning and continued maternal health. Check out our blogs and testimonials for the different learning experiences by our past students.

The overwhelming demand for healthcare services in Africa, coupled with extremely limited resources, provides midwifery students who participate in our program a rare opportunity for significant hands on experience.

While we do placements for various kinds of students and go an extra mile to customize placement whenever possible, students who gain the most from this program already have the basic theoretical knowledge and have completed some clinical courses.

The benefits of this midwifery elective program include:

• Provide more hands on learning experience than a student would typically get in a developed world – participants leave the programs having enhanced their experience levels with various skills
• Provide opportunity to enhance essential midwifery skills essential for caring for women, babies and their families
• Compare and analyze healthcare access and delivery in a different setting
•  Opportunity to practice general medicine and midwifery in particular in a developing country
• Meet elective clinical requirements under the supervision of a clinician who evaluates the student during and at the end of the program
• Satisfy independent study abroad or internship abroad for credit
• Demonstrate and satisfy global intellectual curiosity
• Safe and secure program experience while abroad
• Cultural exchange and exposure, particularly from peer students in host country and community
• Travel

We work with prospective participants to assist with designing their own program if desired, but our standard midwifery elective provides broad hands on experience for students at the tail end of their studies. The program usually runs for 4 weeks, but can be extended to 8 weeks depending on student requirements and preference. Students work closely with and under the supervision of a qualified midwife and are evaluated at the mid and end of their placement. Sessions are structured, regularly scheduled, and usually in a government community health facility. To get the most out of the program, participants should be willing to work some weekends, holidays and night shifts – past participants have found these shifts to offer even more learning experience. A proactive liaison with the hospital staff and doctors and nurses is recommended.

We also organise for the students safari add ons at the end of the program to parks in either Kenya or Tanzania, including a hike to Mt. Kilimanjaro. See the safari link at http://electiveafrica.com/safari