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Adventure Alternatives

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Medical Electives

General Information on Electives in Africa and Nepal

Working in the Clinic / Hospitals

An elective in East Africa or Nepal is very educational, emotional and rewarding but it is also hard work. You will frequently be dealing with conditions that are rarely seen in the West. Saying this you are not alone and will have the emotional support of our staff and the professional consultants to rely upon.

It is possible to specialise, after a few days in the clinic or hospital, however this is up to your consultant who will assess your abilities. Some people prefer to observe, others to be very hands-on.

Before you go out and when applying or considering a medical elective it is possible to talk to our medical elective coordinator, Andy MacDonald who has been working in East Africa and Nepal for several months a year for the last decade. He is very experienced and will give you a good insight into life in an African or Nepali hospital. There are also a number of blogs online from previous medical students, accessible through our website.

Within African and Nepalese culture you will be well respected within society thanks to your education and experience. It is important that you live up to this and behave well. It is easy to cause offence unwittingly in a conservative and traditional society, however we will make sure you are well briefed on this before travelling.

You will be working a five day week, however we try to organise days off around the weekend to allow you to travel and explore the area. Our staff are there to help and travel with you so you can explore and get the best out of everything African or Nepalese in a safe, enjoyable way. The staff are all young, mature and great fun!

Accommodation and living arrangements

Depending on your location the accommodation varies, however you will always find safe and comfortable surroundings with staff close at hand and the ability to go out for a drink in the evening to unwind or neighbours to call on for a cup of tea. You become part of the community and are well respected. Do not be surprised if you end up at the odd local wedding or funeral –both of which are parties by the way!

In Western Kenya, Nairobi and Kathmandu ( see picture, right ) you live in our own houses, which are safe, secure and comfortable. The accommodation varies. In Kathmandu and in Nairobi it is very comfortable and you are close to shops and the staff live close by or even within. In Western Kenya the house is more basic but has all the amenities you need. In Moshi accommodation is in the Umoja Hostel which is very comfortable and is run by the Lutherans.

We give you a budget on arrival, which covers your food and house expenses, and is in the llocal currency. This is for shopping for your food. The staff will show you where to buy food and meals. The choice is quite good and you should try the Kenyan and Nepalese food which is delicious, if you want some goodies from home most of the bigger supermarkets now sell everything that your local store does.

Insurance

You will need to organise your own insurance for your elective. It is now quite easy to get cover from credit cards, brokers or even Tesco’s! You can try STA and also look at the insurance options available online through the AA website. You just need a standard holiday insurance policy.

Bureaucracy / Visas

Andy MAcDonald will advise you on procedures according to the region and the hospital or clinic. We will definitely need a lletter from your college or university confirming your status as a medical student. Andy can advise you on who this letter should be addressed to.

For medical students there is no need for a work permit or letter from the Immigration office. The visa should just be a normal holiday tourist visa. This is because you are not being paid to work in either country, so your status is essentially as a volunteer.

On arrival in East Africa or Nepal medical students will simply fill out the standard entry form saying they are on holiday and pay for a Kenyan visa ($50) or Nepalese visa ($30) or / and a Tanzanian visa ($50 - or $100 for Irish passport holders).

Donations and equipment needed

We have tried to ensure that the clinics and hospitals remain entirely self-sufficient, but in Kenya and Nepal this is often a hard task. Purchase of drugs is an ongoing expense as many of the residents of the area simply cannot afford the cost of some drugs.Adventure Alternative makes a donation to every clinic and hospital where we place students or volunteers and this 'drip feed' aid works extremely successfully, since it generates incentive and doesn't overload the committee with large amounts of cash.If you are interested in helping to purchase some drugs for the clinic then do talk to us.

Then again, there is always a need for replacement and renewal of small items in the clinics / hospitals, everything from thermometers to gluco-strips, to larger items such as microscopes. You may want to bring some of this out with you and that is fine. You yourself will need a white coat and a box or two of latex gloves.

Some medical schools and individuals want to make financial donations to the charity, having seen the work that we do in these countries. We will ask every person to sign a document stating that they accept that any such donations will be used by the charity Trustees according to the plans and procedures of the Trust. Unfortunately we have had too many people trying to do it all by themselves and causing upset and confusion in small, remote communities.

Travelling to Nepal

From Ireland and the UK there are regular flights to Kathmandu. On arrival in Kathmandu airport you will be met by Adventure Alternative’s Nepalese staff Ang Rita Sherpa who will escort you to our Kathmandu accommodation close to the main town and help you settle in. He will be able to assist you initially with all your needs including shopping and phoning home. He will then take you to the hospital and introduce you to the local doctors and hospital staff. There you will work out your routine and begin your elective.

Travelling to East Africa

From Ireland and UK there are regular flights to Nairobi.. On arrival at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta airport you will be met by Adventure Alternative’s Kenyan staff who will escort you to our Nairobi accommodation and help you settle in. This is a big house with all the facilities and is close to supermarkets and the town. It is very safe. They will be able to assist you initially with all your needs including shopping and phoning home. Things are always new and different at first and it will be important to feel you have friends there who can help you integrate a little into society.  There will be people there to offer you help and support.

After a day in Nairobi preparing and being briefed you will go to the location of the hospital or clinic which may be in Western Kenya ( a drive of about 8 hours ), or to Embu (3 hours), or to Nyeri (3 hours). If you are in Nairobi then the staff will show you how to get to the hospital, and there to meet the medical supervisor.

Free Time in Nepal

Whilst in Kathmandu there is plenty to do. The city is full of fascinating buildings and history, great restaurants and temples. The area of Thamel is the main Western hangout where you can relax in gardens or haggle over great bargains in the shops.

At the weekend you can visit the surrounding valley town of Bhaktapur, the monkey temple or go to the KGH hotel just outside town which offers day and weekend relaxation retreats, with a spa, yoga and hot tubs. Kathmandu really has something for everyone, from white water rafting to trekking, from aromatherapy to religious tours. You will find plenty to do at the weekends and the staff are always happy to help you organise things.

If you are doing the trek to Base Camp then you can check all the information here.

Free time in Kenya or Tanzania

It would be a shame to go all the way to Kenya without seeing some of the country and its people. On weekends it would be an easy excursion to visit Lake Naivasha in the Rift Valley or even go up to Mt Kenya. Nairobi itself is a bustling city, an important cultural centre with much to see and do, you can go to Karen Blixen’s home or visit the giraffe orphanage. The list is endless and we can help you with all your transport and/or camping needs. At the end of your stay you may wish to go on a safari and it is advisable to give yourself an extra week or so in Kenya to allow for this. You could go on safari for a week and follow it with a week on the coast to relax. Our safari company supports the rights of workers and we actively educate, train and employ ex-street children in the tourism industry. Anything is possible, you just need to chat to us about your plans, or our Kenyan staff can help you organise this whilst in the country.