'A trip of a lifetime'

If you are looking for a trip of a lifetime then look no further. This trip has truly opened my eyes, not only in the field of medicine but in the world as a whole.

The medical experience I gained over in Tanzania was a focal point of my interviews for medical school this year. However I was glad I had time before my interviews to consolidate my thoughts as when I first got home I couldn’t stop talking about everything I had seen!

You will experience first hand the reality of a lack resources in health care as well as a variety of tropical diseases. You really are involved from day one and there is such a variety of medical issues to discover, from the intriguing science behind some cases to the ethics of how cases are dealt with. As well as actually seeing patients on ward rounds you will have the chance to be lectured by the doctors on a variety of medical conditions. The intimate groups of teaching are a fantastic way to learn more about individual diseases. I saw and learnt more than I could ever have imagined.

Outside hospital hours, you stay in lovely accommodation in Iringa. The house is well equipped for your stay and there is a wide variety of food to eat. Akiba the chef is fantastic at cooking a variety of local cuisine, allowing you to feel you have tasted Tanzania and also cooking food from your homeland to stop you missing home! The staff out in Iringa are so welcoming and friendly and are great at providing you with all the information you need as well as always being there to chat when you need to.

I would rate this trip as one of the best experiences of my life. If there is anything that I would advise it is that perhaps you need to be emotionally prepared for this experience. You see some things that are very difficult and that will stay with you for the rest of your life but that in my opinion will open your eyes to the world of medicine and inspire you do something in the future.

This really is the trip of a lifetime!