Stepping Out of the Comfort Zone

Working in Africa had always been something I wanted to do. This summer I wanted to gain some insight in to what it would be like, so taking part in a summer medical elective with Elective Africa was the perfect opportunity. As I am soon to qualify as a doctor back home, I was keen to experience how medicine differs internationally. I wanted a totally different experience from what I had already got back home, and that’s exactly what I got.

I was nervous and didn’t know what to expect when starting my 6 week placement in Mombasa. This quickly changed ...

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Totally Different; The Psychiatry Elective Experience in Kenya

I completed the first part of my elective at Port Reitz District Hospital in the mental health and substance abuse department. This was an interesting experience and very different from home. Despite it being the second largest psychiatric hospital in Kenya the facilities were extremely limited in terms of staff, medications and other necessities.

While here I spent my time mainly contributing to the ward rounds, handing out medications and taking histories from the patients. The vast majority of patients had been admitted due to the effects of drugs and it was very interesting to hear all of their stories. I ...

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A Rewarding Experience

The stay in Arusha has been very rewarding and I have experienced so much. The accommodation and food was way above expected and everyone has been very helpful to us. We were met at the airport on time and everything ran smoothly on our way to where we were supposed to stay. During the time we were in Arusha we have been on a Safari, visited the orphanage, swam at the hot springs, been to Maasai market and visited the snake park. Our driver has been fantastic. We just had to say the time and place and he would drive ...

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Migori Rural Nursing Elective

My experience with Elective Africa was beyond what I could ever have imagined. My nerves before arrival subsided the minute I was greeted at the airport by an EA staff. I had so much hands on experience in the rural hospital of Migori,Kenya and got an opportunity to to do things I would never have the chance to do in Australia. This is by far one of the best things I have done fro my Nursing ...

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Kenya Pre-medical Elective: A Rural Approach

The staff of EA were so helpful in providing all of the necessary information for the trip, and went above and beyond my expectations when answering my questions. As our departure date neared, I became more confident and comfortable which wouldn't have been possible without their support. Our arrival was smooth and timely... On an educational level, I couldn't have asked for a better experience…The rural setting gave us the opportunity to connect and feel comfortable ...

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Migori Experience

My time here in Migori,Kenya with Elective Africa program has been the greatest experience of my life.I have been on the fence for quite sometime about whether or not I wanted to pursue a career in Medicine but wasn't sure where I would get the inspiration that I needed…David was such a great Program Coordinator. Our experience wouldn't have been near what it was without his expertise and connections.I always felt very safe,comfortable and entertained.Thanks for ...

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Migori Premedical Elective

I could not have anticipated the amount of love and acceptance we received from the hospital staff, in addition to the exceptional assistance of the EA staff. If you're like I was and you're not 100% sure about attending medical school, this experience will be great for you…This program allows you to observe things you would never see as a premed in North America. In addition to the hospital work, we had the opportunity to visit ...

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Migori Experience

My time here in Migori,Kenya with Elective Africa program has been the greatest experience of my life.I have been on the fence for quite sometime about whether or not I wanted to pursue a career in Medicine but wasn't sure where I would get the inspiration that I needed…David was such a great Program Coordinator. Our experience wouldn't have been near what it was without his expertise and connections.I always felt very safe,comfortable and entertained.Thanks for ...

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I had a Good Experience in Mt. Meru Regional Hospital

The overall program has been a good experience which I am happy to have done. The program outside the hospital has been very good with Swahili lessons, Safari and experiencing the town of Arusha.

 The food, accommodation and transportation have all been good. It has been an experience of a lifetime that I am happy to have had.

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My Pre-Medical Reflection

As a pre-med, I was in search of an international program through which to expand my scope of the world and gain unique experiences in the field of medicine. Luckily for me, I found Elective Africa.  Despite never having traveled so extensively in my life, I found Elective Africa to be a welcoming and friendly program that instantly put me at ease.

 Rotations with Dr. Nikita Raval at Mbagathi District Hospital allowed me to experience the full extent of hospital life, which was truly thrilling as before now my experiences with medicine had been purely academic instead of clinical. My first ...

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