FAQ

Accommodation : Do we need linen for the house?
You do not need to take linen with you, the house is well supplied. Sleeping bags on the other hand is up to you, but you'll need some very thick ones if you're going to go camping in the Simien Mountains. Medics Away would recommend simply doing day trips to the mountain range and staying in Gondar the nights, so you probably don’t need sleeping bags.
Accommodation : Do we need to bring Mosquito nets?
The Medics Away house is already furnished with mosquito nets, and they are also readily available in the markets. You may want to bring your own, for perhaps when you are away from the house, but this is not absolutely necessary as most forms of accommodation provide nets also.
Accommodation : How do I phone home when in Ethiopia?
We always recommend students look into Skype as good method of communicating with family and friends at home, but in Ethiopia the internet is not very quick so you will probably struggle to obtain a good line. The Medics Away house does have a reliable telephone installed that is useful for domestic calls, but is not for making international phone calls out on. In saying that however, people from home are more than welcome to telephone this land line and they may want to use Skype themselves to do this as it can still be quite cheap. This will mean you can talk (all night and day if you please) in the comfort of our lovely house.
Anti-Malarials : Do we need them?
For Ethiopia we recommend you take anti-malarials. These are more than likely to be available in Ethiopia itself but medication is probably more reliable from your own pharmacist or community doctor (i.e. G.P.). Please be aware that anti-malarials only mask the symptoms of malaria and in some respects, having the symptoms of malaria makes diagnosis and treatment much more effective. Our Reps have never taken anti-malarials in all the time they have lived there because of that fact.
Discovery Trip : Is there one?
I am afraid that the Ethiopian elective does not currently include a Discovery Trip. Medics Away has never provided a Discovery Trip in the classical sense for Ethiopia as is it is notoriously difficult to keep the level of service for organized trips consistently good. We reduce the price of the elective to Ethiopia to reflect this. We do however; assist students in organizing domestic flights around Ethiopia which substitutes nicely for a Discovery Trip. Medics Away aims to expand the service provided by offering a greater variety of Activity Breaks in Ethiopia. We will publish these in the near future and inform you of them at that time. The domestic flights are clearly one of the best ways of seeing Ethiopia and nearly all students eventually end up requesting Medics Away to help purchase on their behalf. Please refer to the Activity Break page for more details of trips in Ethiopia.
Domestic Flights : Are domestic flights included in the price of the elective?
The Medics Away elective does not include generically the connections needed between Addis Ababa and Bahar Dar. Medics Away does however provide a service by which we can organize domestic flights on your behalf. There are a variety of options available. Please refer to the Domestic Flight page on the website for more details. Alternatively, you can look at the Activity Break page for Ethiopia. The cost of these flights are calculated on an individual basis, hence why the Domestic Flights page does not commit itself to any prices. Medics Away makes no profit on organizing the flights; we believe it to be part of our service to you.
Flights : When will domestic flights be booked?
The purchasing of Domestic Flights is often delayed until all students traveling to Ethiopia in that block have decided. Quite often, Medics Away becomes the middle man, advising on behalf of the group the best dates to travel and the best flights to take. The teams in the U.K. are very accustomed to organizing these flights, and we can often provide the best itineraries. We always welcome students input into creating the schedule; however the tickets are completely flexible and can be changed at any Ethiopian Airlines office. Groups can therefore swap and choose on when and even where they fly to at no extra cost, very easily once in Ethiopia.
Flights : Which International Airline do you recommend for Ethiopia?
Ethiopian Airlines and British Midland both fly into Addis Ababa from London based airports regularly. The Medics Away team has flown with both companies on multiple occasions and we have found the standard of service between each airline to be indistinguishable. BMI flights normally arrive early in the morning at around 2am which allows for an easy transfer up to Bahar Dar on the 7am flight with Ethiopian Airlines domestic service. Ethiopian Airlines on the other hand arrive later in the day and are providing Medics Away with a discount on domestic flights if the international part of the students’ trip is purchased with their airline. Please contact a Medics Away member of staff for further details of this deal. My personal recommendation would be to purchase your flights with Ethiopian Airlines and have Medics Away organize your domestic flights for you. It is definitely worth doing the 5 coupon trip if you are in Ethiopia for anything more than 3 or 4 weeks, and we are very likely to be able obtain a very good deal for these flights (provided there are plenty of other students traveling), which can be as little as $145.00 GBP in total. If you wish to do this then you will need to email the Booking Reference number for the international EA flights (preferably the whole itinerary), and we will handle the rest. We will of course inform you of the details of the flights, in the weeks before the elective, add the cost to your final invoice. All flights are interchangeable at no extra cost from any Ethiopian Airline office in Ethiopia.
Hospital : What is the structure of the elective? What specialities are available?
The medical rotations in Bahar Dar are split into two main areas. Some of your time will be spent in the main Felege Hiwot hospital (this has a full range of specialties and is the main hospital for this area of Ethiopia) and some will be spent in the Fistula clinic (situated right next door to the Felege Hiwot); The specialties available in the main hospital include:

Obstetrician & Gynaecology, Dr Biten Abebe, Approximately 40 beds

Paediatrics, Dr Dagne, Approximately 40 beds

Medicine, Dr Desalegne, Approximately 40 beds

Surgery, Dr Meku, Approximately 40 beds

Fistula Clinic, Dr Browning, Approximately 40 beds
Hospital : Why go to Ethiopia?
We personally think this is a fantastic opportunity for you to expand your knowledge of medicine and surgery in an African country. All students that have gone to Ethiopia in the past have returned with a much greater understanding of the culture and beliefs of the Ethiopian people and how this relates to the health care needs. This elective is growing in popularity and for good reason. Ethiopia really is one of our personal favourites and rightly so. With beautiful weather all year round and with such beautiful charming people to meet, it makes the perfect location to spend two months on an elective.
Hospital : Will we be able to work in the Fistula Clinic?
The fistula clinic in Bahar Dar is run by a very pleasant Australian couple, who we have made great friends with over the years of running the elective in Ethiopia. The clinic is situated right next door to the main hospital, and is very accessible to all Medics Away students. The couple has kindly agreed to our students visiting and helping out in their facility. They are very knowledgeable of the area and Ethiopia in general and are a very good ally to have.
Safety : Is Ethiopia Safe?
Ethiopia is a very safe country. You have to consider that Ethiopia covers quite a large area and borders onto quite a few unsavory countries (Somalia, Eritrea, etc.) and that these areas on these borders are far from good places to be. Bahar Dar is a long way from these spots and is very secure and there isn't a hint of danger. Students have traveled to Ethiopia for the last 5 years with Medics Away, and none have had any problems what so ever. You would probably be less safe in quite a few major developed cities or countries of the world (namely London, etc.). Ethiopia is very proud to be a country that has only ever been conquered once (by Italy during the second world wall) and is also very religious. These characteristics make the Ethiopian people very humble and honoured to have guests, especially for those who are there to help and learn from a medical perspective. The house is also very secure and has a good perimeter wall and is located in a very well lit and active part of the local community.
Stopover : What should I do if I find myself in Addis Ababa?
Medics Away recommends to all students that they transfer immediately up to Bahar Dar on arrival into Ethiopia. It is where our Representative is and is generally much nicer anyway. If you want to spend the night in Addis Ababa, we would recommend the Taitu Hotel. Every taxi driver knows it; it’s the oldest hotel in Ethiopia, is full of character and is very cheap. This is the kind of accommodation that company members use when in Ethiopia. You may prefer to stay in something more up market like the Sheraton or Hilton. There will be a big difference in price. To get the best of both worlds, check into the Taitu Hotel (always ask for a room in the old house, really grand rooms) and then hop in a taxi down to the Hilton Hotel and sit by there pool all day and drink cocktails. It makes for a fantastic day, and costs practically nothing. FYI : do not eat the ‘Special Omelet’….its really not that special!
Visa : Do I need a special visa for Ethiopia?
You will require a valid passport with at least six months validity. You will also require a Tourist Visa. You will not require a working visa as you will not be paid during your eective and you will not require a student visa as you will not be officially matriculated with a University. For Ethiopia, visas can be obtained on arrival into Addis Ababa. Please remember to carry to passport size photos of yourself and at least $50USD in cash.