Gap Medics
Programs and Reviews
Gap Medics is a specialist company that is dedicated to arranging hospital work experience placements for students who are applying to medical or nursing school. Our Head Office is in Newcastle upon Tyne in England, but students join us from all over the world - in particular the UK, USA, Canada, Australia. Our placements offer students from age 16 upwards a genuine insight into the work of doctors and nurses in Africa, India and the Caribbean.
Programs Abroad
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Reviews
100%Overall
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90%Overall
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I went to Tanzania when i was 16 with gap medics! I thought that because i was so young id have trouble fitting in and socializing but i didn't i had exactly the same experience as everyone else.
I made friends about three months before going by going on the gap medics facebook and searching for people going around the same time, this really helped as i then got on the flights with them and was never alone from England to Tanzania and back!
The medical experience i gained was amazing, we saw so many more births and Cesareans in just a few hours than i had ever seen in my whole life. Generally you finished on the wards at one and then could do whatever you wanted, we all went out for lunch everyday and then did a bit of shopping or something.
The locals are very friendly and as long as you're in a group you don't feel unsafe.
I would definitely recommend going on the weekend safari, I saw every animal i could ever imagine seeing in Africa and got a lovely meal everynight.
Critical Feedback:
Before you book remember costs such as jabs and clothes, my relatively cheap trip soon turned into a trip of double the price as i had to go out and buy everything! But definitely worth it.
Also take chocolate with you, it helps with homesickness but it costs a lot over there and doesn't taste the same at all!
100%Overall
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Going to Tanzania with GapMedics was one of the best things I have ever done. I met amazing people, saw amazing things, went to local markets and little local restaurants hidden away from the tourists, went to safari and on top of all of this I learnt so much. It's difficult to be able to capture how amazing the trip was in just a few words, but it was simply amazing and I would recommend it to everyone. Before going I was scared about my safety, but as long as you are careful it isn't a problem, and the staff are super helpful and sweet. I'm still in contact with the people I met there, and some have turned into great friends. At the end of my trip I spent 3 nights in Zanzibar which was the perfect end to an amazing trip. I definitely recommend doing the full weekend safari, and going to Zanzibar if you get the chance. The food was great, and once a week there was a big bbq night after which we would go out for a bit. Sometimes we would also go into the village in the afternoon after we were done at the hospital for late lunch or a snack.
Critical Feedback:
Showers were cold unless you showered in the afternoon, and the room was a little bit drafty (but I know that only applied to two of the rooms and some warm pyjamas could solve that).
It also turned out to be a lot more expensive than said as you need vaccines, first aid kit, scrubs, flights etc. however in retrospect I would have payed that and much more to go back.
90%Overall
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Going on this trip was honestly the best decision I have made in my life.
A typical day involved waking up and attending ward rounds or watching operations in close proximity. This ended at about 1pm usually, leaving the rest of the day for sightseeing, visiting orphanages, going to nightclubs, having meals out or the weekly football games/BBQ nights! Everyday was completely different. Experiences here will not be matched anywhere else.
Do not miss out on the Safari!
Critical Feedback:
I wish I got more involved with every activity.
80%Overall
Rating
things i liked:
- how there was time to interact and make new friends
- the different activities we could do
- independence we gained
- food in the house
- staff members in the house
- hospital experience
things i thought needed improvement:
- taking autos everywhere (most money spent on autos)
Critical Feedback:
maybe hire a bus so we can travel as a big group - more safe
I travelled to Iringa, Tanzania in September last year. I stayed in the gapmedics rock house for three weeks and can safely say it was the best experience of my life so far. The accommodation is fantastic, the rock house is the biggest and is really comfortable and I definitely felt at home. The town house is slightly closer to the Iringa regional hospital and is smaller but is also quite comfortable and safe - I managed to get to have a look at this house! The staff really support you and make you feel safe, on the first day going to placement they will walk with you, show you around the hospital and show you around Iringa.
The hospital placements are incredible, with the chance to get involved in lectures, surgeries and (in my case) delivering babies !!!
Usually, your placement at the hospital will end at around 2, and you then have the chance to visit the local orphanage or go to the masai market in Iringa town centre - there are also some lovely places to have lunch such as Neema's cafe, who sell chocolate brownies..!
At the weekend you also have the chance to explore - don't miss out on the Safari Weekend.. you travel by jeep (a fun journey in itself!) to the Ruaha Hilltop Lodge on the edge of Ruaha National Park. The safari day on the saturday is brilliant, just like the lion king haha. On the sunday you will get to travel to a masai village before heading back to Iringa.
An absolutely fantastic experience..six months on and I am planning on going back to Africa. It gets under your skin !!!
Critical Feedback:
Make sure that you are always walking in a group when walking from the house to the hospital/around Iringa. Also due to being in the highlands Iringa can get quite cool at night so pack some warm pyjamas! Showers are run by solar tanks so are usually very cold in the morning/evening.. but just take a shower after placement in the afternoon - apparently this system was going to be changed so this may or may not be a problem :-)
You don't get accompanied on the bus journey back from Iringa - Dar, which I remember being quite worried about. However you always travel with everyone else, and get taken to the bus station and met at the other end in Dar.