Rewarding Experience

My Name is Tanya Raven a second year Mental Health Nursing Student from The University of Nottingham in England.

Mmmh okey, I was looking for a place in Africa to work within the gender based violence. In the course of my search elective Africa came up and appeared to me as the best opportunity for eme and this opportunity packaged in the way I desired was present in Kenya and Mombasa Kenya to be precise. It was easy for me therefore to choose it as it presented what I exactly wanted.

1. What was your general expectation as you travelled to Kenya, and ...

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An Incredible Learning Experince

My four weeks at Mt.Meru Regional Hospital OBS&GYN Department have been an incredible learning experience.The doctors and staff have been welcoming and willing to teach.The department is extremely busy and there lots of opportunities for hands on including deliveries. Where Elective Africa really shines is with their program Coordinators. Our Coordinator in Arusha has been outstanding. He has gone above and beyond to make our experience here unforgettable. I would recommend EA to any Senior Medical ...

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Forget injuries, never forget kindness

Before arriving at the Elective Africa residence we did not know what to expect, but as soon as we arrived and was greeted by staff, we felt welcome. The program was very well organised, We were given an excellent orientation of the hospital and area. Elective Africa contributed to the great experience we had in Kenya, We were able to make friends with not only the multiple international students at the residence but also with the ...

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An Invaluable Experience

My time at the Mbagathi District Hospital in Nairobi was a challenging but enriching experience. I split my time between the paediatric and newborn units and the hands-on experience I received was invaluable. The doctors were friendly and approachable and willing to explain anything you didn't understand and the resilience and resourcefulness of the staff, often in dire circumstances, was incredible to witness.The program is well organised and the program coordinator in Nairobi was excellent ...

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An elective in Kenya

When I decided to go to Mombasa, Kenya with Elective Africa, I had three years of medical training under my belt – one of which was clinical work. I was excited by the possibility of experiencing a culture much different from my own, and being able to provide care to patients in a limited resource environment. Culture shock is something you cannot prepare for, but must simply embrace and enjoy the experience.

I don’t specifically remember why I chose Mombasa, but I can tell you it was a good choice. Mombasa is a busy, friendly, exciting and beautiful city. There are ...

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Heart wrenching , Exciting and Deeply Emotional

As my second time volunteering with Elective Africa in an African Hospital,I thought I knew what to expect.My experience again was heart wrenching , exciting and deeply emotional as I helped the staff at Mt Meru regional Hospital. The locals are incredibly brave strong and never give up when faced with extreme challenges you would never know about. With the little resources in the hospital the staff work tirelessly for hours to do their best to help. From the fearless mothers in the labor ward to the families waiting patiently in the emergency department it had been a priceless experience ...

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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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