Welcome to our June Newsletter Edition.

In this month's edition we will highlight one of our popular elective destinations Arusha,Tanzania with a focus on Mt Meru Regional Hospital. This facility provides great learning opportunities for clinical rotations. A placement in this center  will allow you to participate in relevant activities related to your career interest.

Mt. Meru Regional Hospital was built in 1926 as a military hospital for the treatment of casualties in the first world war during the Germany colonial in Tanganyika. 
Presently, the hospital serves a population of over 1.6 million people and is a referral center for over 18 districts hospitals spread out across the region. It has a bed capacity of around 450 and has an outpatient visit of approximately 500 daily. 

Core departments available for your clinical rotations include:

i) Internal Medicine - this department handles variety of cases ranging from the tropical illnesses to other minor ailments, there are two doctors working with the healthcare team to deliver health services in this department. 

ii) Surgery Department - this department addresses the operation cases and conducts approximately 10 general surgeries, 25 obstetrics and gynecology surgeries and 8 minor surgeries in a week. 

iii) Obstetrics and Gynecology department has the maternity unit the new born unit and the gynecological and general obstetrics units. There is an average of 25 deliveries in a day and both the spontaneous vertex deliveries and the Caesarean sections 

iv) Pediatrics and Child Health This department address most of the child illnesses this include Malaria, Pneumonia, acute Respiratory infections and Diarrhea diseases. 

v) Casualty and Emergency the department handles various medical emergencies within the hospital with an average of 100 patients in a day. Motorcycle accidents are the most common 

vi) Dentistry covers basic dental care procedures undertaken in this department include, gum treatment for bleeding and swollen gums. Restorative dentistry (permanent filling in decayed teeth) The extraction of erupted teeth and the removal of fractured roots, Management injuries of the teeth and the soft tissues of the mouth among others. 

Other departments include: 
• Physiotherapy 
• Radiology 
• Pharmacy 
• Mental Health 

Besides the clinical rotations in the various department that you will undertake, you will also have the opportunity to:  

1) Gain extensive shadowing experience on various clinical operations such as history taking, diagnosis of diseases, ordering of treatment and the determination of patients treatment plan.

2) Learn to be innovative and resourceful through observation of diagnosing and treating conditions without the benefits of advanced laboratory services or medical equipment

3) Participate in Shared learning through interaction with other students on a healthcare program from various universities in the world.

4) Experience Professional mentorship from healthcare professionals at the hospital who act as your go-to person while on placement, explain in detail the various observations you make.

5) Participation in consultant ward rounds which help you understand the formulation of treatment plans  and review of patients progress.

6) Participate in Global Health Tutorials which are sessions of discussion with the healthcare professionals which help in understanding the global perspectives in healthcare delivery.

From the highlight provided, the hospital is hence one of our most preferred placements centers offering a unlimited exposure to a very unique healthcare system different from the one found in your most countries. 

To take part in an enriching healthcare internship at Mt. Meru Regional Hospital book your slot today and our program advisors will guide you through the application process.

This Experience was Wonderful.

Andrea James Describes Her Experience As A Physician Assistant In Arusha, Tanzania 

This experience was wonderful. I am so glad that I came here. I loved every minute at Mt Meru and feel blessed to have had the opportunity to work alongside and learn from such naturally gifted doctors. I never realized what a valued resource, but also the crutch, technology was for us. There is so much information that I don’t have to bother to memorize because I don’t have to. However, the doctors here know it all, because they don’t have a choice and don’t have the luxury of looking it up on the internet at a moment’s notice. They’ve made me realize that I could be so much more than I am and that I can do so much better than I have been doing. It’s so unfair that we have so many resources in the US, and they have so few, but the patients here are truly blessed with the best minds Tanzania has to offer and for that I am grateful.

I have developed such a deep admiration, respect and love for this place and its people. While here, I’ve often been mistaken for a Tanzanian, but I felt honored. The western world paints such a monochrome view of Africa, only showing its needs, but never its beauty, history, spirit or feel. I thank God for this opportunity and pray that I have the ability to come back one day soon. I don’t want to forget Tanzania, and I want to remember it’s people. Until then I hope to help in the best ways I can with what I have where I am. I don’t want to sound cliché, but I’m definitely not the same person I was when I came here, and that’s a blessing in and of itself. Thank you for your hospitality. I pray your program continues to flourish.

Andrea James a Physician Assistant Participant from Mississippi College in United States.
 
Program Undertaken: Physician Assistant Internship  
Program Duration: 4 Weeks
Program Location: Arusha, Tanzania

A Great Enrichment To My Education

Amy Owen Talks About The Kind of Exposure She Got In Arusha, Tanzania

I had a really lovely experience during my four weeks in Arusha with Elective Africa. Mount Meru Hospital was a great learning experience with a wide range of pathology. The nurses and doctors I encountered were so friendly and welcoming and they went out of their way to ensure I got a lot of hands on experience. There was great support on the ground - our coordinators was always available when issues came up. He also helped us get involved in the local community - I so enjoyed the weekend hikes, coffee tours he suggested. On the whole, this was a great enrichment to my education and I highly recommend it to anyone.

Amy Owen a Medical Elective Participant from UNT Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in United States. 

Program Undertaken: Medical Elective Rotations
Program Duration: 4 Weeks
Program Location: Arusha, Tanzania

A Perfect Ending To Medical School

Sarah Kennedy Narrates Undertaking A Medical Elective In Arusha, Tanzania

I had a really lovely experience during my four weeks in Arusha with Elective Africa. Mount Meru Hospital was a great learning experience with a wide range of pathology. The nurses and doctors I encountered were so friendly and welcoming and they went out of their way to ensure I got a lot of hands on experience. There was great support on the ground - our coordinators was always available when issues came up. He also helped us get involved in the local community - I so enjoyed the weekend hikes, coffee tours he suggested. On the whole, this was a great enrichment to my education and I highly recommend it to anyone.

Sarah Kennedy a Medical Elective Participant from UNT Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in United States.

Program Undertaken: Medical Elective Rotations
Program Duration: 4 Weeks
Program Location: Arusha, Tanzania

Our destinations are adventure laden. As part of the program you can undertake a safari with other medical students. As our sole focus today is Arusha, Tanzania we are going to outline some exquisite adventure travels available for your consideration: 

1) Mt. Kilimanjaro - This is the most frequented attractions in Tanzania. It is the highest peak in Africa and also considered one of the "Seven Summit". Climbing this mountain will give you the chance to enjoy seeing the beautiful landscape scenery and abundant wildlife

2) Serengeti National Park - This is the largest national park in Tanzania.It has the highest concentration of large mammals on this planet and its famously known for its annual migration of wildebeest and zebra across the Mara River.

3) Ngorongoro Crater - Visit the largest intact caldera on the planet, nearly 3 million years old. The crater hosts thousands of wild game for viewing and also home to pre-historic discoveries.

4) Arusha National Park - Unlike other national parks in Tanzania, this one is small in size offering you a unique experience to see the herds of  buffalo, zebra and warthog grazing and the chance to climb the second highest mountain in Tanzania which is Mt. Meru. 

5) Tarangire National Park - The park is popular for day trips and is also close to our placement center Arusha, Tanzania. The park offers the opportunity to see wildlife such as elephants, huge baobab trees, lions and many species of birds, 
 
To learn more about these and other available adventures outside the hospital that you and your friends can engage in; reach out to us. 

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Good luck starts in the morning  ~ Tanzanian Proverb