AFRICA - ETHIOPIA MEDICAL STUDENT ELECTIVES

The enduring image of Ethiopia is of horrendous drought and starvation, exacerbated by war. The reality, however, is quite different. A beautiful land of desert in the far North, the Simien mountains and Lake Tana in the centre and African bush to the South, the first thing that strikes the visitor is the incredible richness of the vegetation and the severity of the landscape. The truth about Ethiopia is that this fascinating country cradles a unique living culture, with its roots in an ancient empire and the landscape embracing the extremes of forest and desert, highland and lowland.

Students will be placed at the main public hospital in Bahir Dar. This hospital has a wide range of medical and surgical specialties, as well as dentistry, ophthalmology and a new section of the famous fistula hospital. Students are expected to take a full role in a variety of specialties and are expected to be hands-on and helping wherever they can. You will see a huge range of medical conditions, most of which are only seen in the UK in textbooks. Patients often have to walk for many weeks to reach the hospital and are often very sick on arrival, diagnosis is based on clinical acumen since most tests are not available and treatment can be improvisational in a setting where modern drugs are very limited. Students will quickly find that they are able to make a real difference to people’s lives in a setting where the work is challenging but definitely rewarding.

Bahir Dar is to be found on the shores of Lake Tana which is famous for its island monasteries. It is a well supplied town, with a large market and access to some Western amenities. It is one of the main tourist gateways to ancient Ethiopia and the Nile gorge, made particularly popular by the Blue Nile Falls, which are Africa’s second largest waterfalls and situated very close by. Ancient treasures and books are kept in the monasteries on the lake and are said to hold the secrets of the Lost Ark and King Solomon's Mines. This is a starting place for many antiquarian quests, and students will be able to spend their free time exploring the lake and spotting hippos.

Bahir Dar is close to the town of Gondar, which is situated in the foothills of the Simien mountains. The ancient capital of Ethiopia, it is now one of the country's great historical sites and is famous for its medieval castles built by Emperor Fasilades in the 17th Century. The Simien’s are perfect for those with an adventurous spirit since very few people have trekked through them and the views across the Rift Valley are simply stunning.

A medical student visiting Ethiopia can expect to be making a very real difference in people's health with even the simplest of interventions. Ethiopia offers the opportunity to work in another culture with people who have a such a great need that the student will instantly sense the value of their work. In a country where only about half the population lives within 12 miles of a clinic or hospital, it is not surprising that cases presenting at hospitals are often quite advanced and serious. Western travelers in Ethiopia can expect a lot of favour with the weather, land and locals but need to bear in mind that the nation's infrastructure is still quite poor. Everything will be cheap but not everything will be available. The temperature should stay around 20 degrees Celsius and it is pleasant all year round although heavy rains are expected in June and July. The country is not heavily tourist orientated and will appeal particularly to the adventurous in search of something a bit different.

Accommodation is provided at our 5 bedroom house. It is an excellent retreat from the hospital and has a kitchen and hot water. With beautiful front and rear gardens with banana trees, figs and papayas the house attracts a multitude of birds, especially weavers, and students can sit on the veranda late into the evening enjoying Africa’s amazing wildlife. We have local representatives in Bahir Dar, most of whom work for the UN, or NGO’s, who will look after the students and ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable time. The house also has a maid who visits twice a week, as well as a day watchman and a night-time gardener! This means that someone is at the house 24 hours a day should you need anything.

Our Ethiopian elective costs £1200 for 1 month (4 weeks) and £1300 for 2 months. This includes hotel and airport transfers in Addis Ababa, hospital placement and accommodation, as well as visa and vaccination advice. We advise that all students take out travel insurance and we strongly recommend the BMA elective travel insurance as the most suitable. We are unable to supply flights, but we will advise you on the best options, this is mainly because we find that students can usually get their own flights easily and cheaply through the internet. Students should fly to Bahir Dar, via Addis Ababa where the elective will take place. This is an elective for the adventurous student who wants to make a real difference to the lives of people in Africa. There are very few tourists, and you will certainly be one of the only medical students ever to visit this safe, fascinating and beautiful country.

Contact us for further information: info@medicsaway.co.uk