Program Reviews

Although Africa is an area of great poverty, it was brilliant to be part of a hospital that aimed to help all people in need. There was a wide range of economic statuses staying at the Morogoro Hotel and I was ecstatic to be a part of giving medical aid to all of these people. Furthermore, every person was so grateful and respectful to our mentors and us, which just made the whole experience more enjoyable.

The experience was invaluable to my outside the classroom learning, as I got to learn practical skills, people skills and more in depth information about diseases that were prominent in the Morogoro area.

The people we were spending time with both inside and outside the hospital also made a huge impact on the enjoyability of my time there. The house staff were so lovely and welcoming - it felt like we were all a family by the end of the week. The mentors in the hospital were all very helpful, (but by far Dr. Alex in the surgery department was the best), so I got to learn a great deal, and I didn't feel uncomfortable about asking questions.

I was in a surgery placement and I couldn't have asked for more than what I got. I got to see so many close-up surgeries and interesting cases - I really felt part of the medical team.
On a side note, it is not all fun and games, as there are many tragic stories that come with the placement, but it cannot be helped, and I am glad I could see the more difficult side of the job.

I am looking forward to joining the programme again.
My only regret is not staying for very long!

A week in paediatrics involved ward rounds presenting cases such as malaria, tuberculosis, anaemia, pneumonia etc, sitting in on outpatient clinical practice (where we would sometimes ask questions ourselves in Swahili), and learning in the neonatal clinic. My mentor was helpful, provided you demonstrated initiative and asked questions. I also enjoyed learning from 5th year medical students also doing rounds.
Obstetrics and gynaecology was exciting! Plenty of cesarians; a highlight was catching the baby, cutting the cord, weighing it, assessing its health and tending to after care. Around 6 natural labours throughout the week as well, which was incredible to be apart of. I also participated in the ward rounds of antenatal patients and gynaecology patients, and I can't forget watching a total abdominal hysterectomy...where I was kindly granted permission to dissect the tumour.
The staff are beautiful, as is the country. Food is delicious, bring warm clothes as it gets windy at night! Houses are more than comfortable! Would recommend this experience, definitely get your money's worth with midweek entertainment at night, Swahili lessons and global he lath tutorials as well!

If you have the opportunity to go on a gap medics placement, do it! For me it was such an amazing experience. I made great new friends from all over the world and had valuable time in hospitals watching amazing things. You really will have the time of your life!

On arrival in Pula the programme manager and the housekeeper met me. Although the housekeeper was very welcoming, the programme manager was not, as when I arrived at the Gap Medics house he gave me a very brief tour of only half the house and just left me to it. I understand that food is not provided at weekends but he made no effort to explain where I could buy food considering I had a long journey.

Food was a serious issue as Gap Medics gave me the impression that there would always be some sort of food in the house. However, this was not the case most of the time. There were no bottles of water and no one explained whether I could drink the tap water. In the end I had to drink the tap water from the bathroom. During meal times there were also no fruit juices, etc. Breakfast was okay, but most of the time not sufficient. Often there were days where there would be no milk or the milk would be warm. On one particular day there were no teabags even after reminding the chef on the previous day to buy them. There would always be fruit in the house but it was always rotting and never edible and the food in the fridge had clearly been there for a very long time therefore I was always scared to eat anything. Lunch option was ridiculous, as you had to make your own lunch, which was 2 pieces of small bread and a piece of cheese every day. There was never anything to eat in the day. The kitchen was dirty and very small and I was expected to wash my own dishes, which seems unfair seeing as I paid so much for the placement! However, the evening meal was great!

Gap medics gave me the impression that someone would always be in the house at all times. However, this was not the case and the programme manager would often leave for ‘an hour or two’ this meant that if I needed anything there would be no one to contact. I think this is ridiculous as there is no form of security! Also, when Leila came to stay, she didn’t even ask my name or introduce herself, therefore once again I felt like there was no one I could approach.

Taxis were a big issue. I understand on the first day that we had to walk to the hospital so we can get a local tour but the next few days taxis were not provided unless is was ‘very hot or raining’ This is really unfair seeing as everyone the previous week were provided with taxis! The hospital was around a 45 minute walk, which meant I arrived sweating as it was very hot and I felt uncomfortable and faint all day due to being so tired. There was no sense of organization. I couldn’t deal with this and ended up having to pay for the taxis myself.

Although I saw some pretty valuable things on the actual placement, the mentor didn’t understand English properly. The nurses always talked about us students in Croatian as they believed we didn’t understand. They were rude to us and deliberately blocked our views. Most of the time there was nothing going on and I had to sit around doing nothing. This is so unfair considering how much I paid for the actual placement! I believe the staff should be more welcoming!

The whole placement seems very overpriced and not worth half of what I paid for it. I don’t understand why we should have to pay extra costs for things like scrubs and the return taxi to the airport. There are a lot more hidden costs than Gap Medics make out.

I sent my complaint to Gap Medics but they have not done anything about the issue therefore I am going to escalate this further. My overall experience of the trip was much worse than I expected. My friends are looking to travel with Gap Medics soon and it is a shame that I will have to share my experience with them. I also requested a breakdown of the cost I paid to see where the money is actually going, but again I was ignored!

I participated in the program to Iringa, Tanzania for two weeks last year.
The program was very well organized!
I enjoyed the structure of the program as well as the flexibility and freedom to enjoy the trip even further.
The trip was fantastic! I didn't want to leave and I am now looking forward to going back!
The Medical Experience was one of a kind and one that I will never forget.
I really enjoyed the trip and highly recommend it to anyone who is considering to particpiate

I have experienced Gap Medics three times over the past three years and I have to say what an amazing experience it gives you. It allows you to experience a country (Tanzania in my case) right down to its grassroots. It provides a stress and hassle free way of being able to visit a developing country whilst gaining medical experience, which is hard to find elsewhere. You get to get up close with all the procedures at the hospital and it provides an experience that is hard to find in your own country. I would recommend Gap Medics to anyone that would like to not only gain medical experience, but who also want learn about the cultures in a different country as well. The money is well worth it and you will not regret your decision what so ever. Both the staff at the house and the hospital are well trained and will literally feel like family during your stay. Everyone is so friendly and helpful, that you almost forgot that you are in a totally different environment. During my stay, I was able to witness many births on the labour ward as well as helping with ward rounds in paediatrics. The sights, sounds and certainly smells will overwhelm your senses when you first step into the labour ward. Childbirth is not a tidy event. However, you soon adjust and everyday brings new things to observe and learn. On the neonatal ward, many babies on fighting for survival in circumstances that seem impossible, yet, many survive. There are not many incubators so at busy times, the beds become full of tiny little babies not quite ready for the world. This really does make you realise how precious and fragile life is. However, through these good and bad times, the team is always there to support you.
In the end, no matter how long you stay, you will have wished that you were staying longer as it really does become to feel like home.

Honestly the best Two weeks. Enjoyed every part! Seeing as we were an over 18s house, we were not treated like babies, we were trusted and allowed our own free time to explore and relex! The people could not have been better as well as the staff! And the food cooked was amazing!! Placement wise I was unlucky that the first week there were two public holidays, therefore missing the Monday and Thursday but had the option of making my hours up! I got neurosurgery for the first week and paediatrics for the second. Neurosurgery was my favourite and the staff were more than helpful, definitely got the experience I needed there and more!

My stay at Gap Medics was great, but not flawless. We ended up being moved to the brand new house which was still under construction due to unforeseen circumstances, which made it less than great. However, I'm sure that it will be beautiful once finished. It was a little bit of an oversight on Gap Medics part to move us there without it being 100% up to expectations. The food was sub par, and there was an issue with accommodating some food allergies that were not initially communicated with the chefs upon arrival to the house. Make sure you wake up right at 7 o'clock, or you won't get much selection for breakfast. There often wasn't enough food prepared for the amount of students coming through. Make sure you hit up the little coffee shop in Buddhachinaraj hospital!

Being that it is a new location and new hospitals, there were many times where my placements were quite unorganized. There were a few times where we were told by our mentors to go home early, with 2 hours left in the day, with a 1 hour lunch break already being taken, as well as a late start. We later found out that our mentor just didn't understand her told with Gap Medics, which is simply a lack of communication on Gap Medics part. However, mentors in Orthopaedics, Dr. Art in ophthalmology, and Dr. Namtip in Neonatal were absolutely fantastic, and my experience was so great.

However, coming home from Gap medics I am slightly disappointed after asking for my references to be sent. I was assured that Gap medics sends top notch references out to students that are a key aspect to aiding your application to medical school. Frankly, i would be embarrassed to pass these on to any official grading my application to a medical school. When I was in Thailand, we were given score sheets that were to aid out mentors and the Gap medics staff in creating thorough reviews for you. When asking for my review from Gap Medics headquarters, I was sent the score sheets with 5s in each category and nothing else. Really? I could print one of these off and do it myself and claim it as a doctor to send to medical school. This is very disheartening

Firstly, I'll begin with the staff. Every single member of staff I met in my two weeks of being in Tanzania were so lovely and welcoming. From the moment I met Hamise and Goodluck at the airport, I knew I was going to be in safe hands. Everybody treated you like family and always made sure that you were happy with everything. Jerry, the programme manager would come to the house everyday to make sure that we had a good day, and any complains we had he sorted there and then. Jessica, she was always smiling and always greeted you when you saw her. Flo, she's crazy which just cheers everybody up. She was always smiling and laughing, always wanting to talk, and was always there when you wanted to play games or just chat. There was a little argument within the group whilst I was there, and Flo made sure that we all sat down and sorted it. The security guard, she was so lovely, so friendly, and so bubbly. She put a smile on your face when you were leaving in the morning, and made sure you had a smile on your face when arriving back at lunch time. On our last day she was begging us all to stay, and came and chatted with us for hours. Goodluck, the driver is hilarious. He didn't talk for the first week and we all presumed he didn't speak English, but the second week we found out that he could speak, and he always made everybody laugh. Hamise, he was lovely from the minute he met us at the airport. He walked us to the hospital everyday, went to town with us, went to the orphanage with us, and always made sure we were all safe, and all happy. Benson, he cooked the loveliest food every single morning for breakfast, and every evening for dinner. He made sure that there was always food in at lunchtime, and would always cook what you ask. I am a fussy eater but still managed to find something to eat everyday.

Secondly, the house. I arrived in the evening and so it was dark when I was shown around the house, but in the morning when I had a look in the day, it was amazing. I was staying in the Kilimanjaro house, and it was everything you need. In my room I had a huge bathroom, mosquito nets over the beds, and plenty of wardrobe space. The social area was huge, with a TV projector and loads of English TV channels. The kitchen was amazing, with loads of food always ready to cook. The pool was lovely to swim in when you've had a long day. The grounds were all very well kept, and I couldn't fault anything. ps, in the other accommodation buildings you can see Mount Kilimanjaro which was amazing!

I can't comment a lot on the social side of my trip as there was only 5 of so it was easy for us all to socialise and get to know each other. There is plenty of space, and plenty of things to do if there was a big group of people, and I'm sure no matter how many people there are, there's always space and time to socialise. We all stayed up and played cards with Flo most nights which was fun. She taught us all new African card games which was a really good laugh.

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evening we had a Global Health Tutorial, which at first I wasn't looking forward to, but they were actually all very good. We learnt about, HIV/Aids, Malaria, Family Planning, Swahili lessons, and lots on Midwifery (my placement choice). We had a different doctor/nurse/midwife come in everyday, and each of them were lovely. They were easy to talk to and always happy to answer any questions you had, whether they were relevant to the talk or not.

Safari Weekend - before I left I was debating on going on the Safari due to the price, but wow I'm so glad I went. Seeing wild animals in their natural habitat was amazing. The lodge we stayed in was amazing, and the elephants came so close during the night that they broke all of the water pipes! We saw every animal you could think of, from waterhogs to lions. From deer to elephants! My favourites were the elephants and there were hundreds of them! All of the animals got so close to the car and it was incredible!! Also on the Sunday on the way back to the house, we stopped at a Masai Villiage which was an experience. They give you a welcome song, show you a few of their ways of life, such as how they make a fire, and show you around where they live.

Orphanage - I visited the orphanage 3 times in the two weeks I was there, and every single child there is amazing. They are so sweet, so polite, and can speak amazing English! I took them balloons and I've never seen a child's face light up more. They LOVED them and were entertained for hours. I fell in love with Daniella, Violet, and Happy! I would highly recommend visiting at least once, they all love visitors!

Thought I would leave the best until last.. The Placement. Words cannot explain how amazing my two weeks were. I spent my two weeks in the maternity ward. Every single day I learnt something new. Every nurse, doctor, and midwife was so welcoming and always willing to get you involved. I saw absolutely everything I could have ever imagined seeing. From how to put in an IV, to how to listen to a foetal heart rate. From an easy natural birth, to a birth which took over an hour of pushing. From a c-section and the baby not breathing, to surprise healthy twin boys. From new lives coming into the world, to seeing a lady having a D&C in theatre. From supporting women in labour, to cuddling minute old babies. Every single moment was life changing. Only being 17 and seeing all of that was an incredible experience, and I will take every day into my journey of becoming a Midwife.

If you are thinking of going, then don't think.. just go. Yes, the cost does add up, but I can promise you that every single penny is worth it. I am already planning another trip for next year! :)

I spent the 2 most life changing weeks in Tanzania, and it has been the most eye opening place i have had the pleasure to visit. I cannot fault the staff or anything in the house, all meals were amazing and cater for all nationalities as well as including some local influences which is always nice for a change. Wednesday nights are usually spent playing football at the local university a short walk from the house, this is a perfect way to end the day either watching or playing and the local younger children who live near by usually come into the grounds to play with students who are not playing football. I found this gave me a real appreciation for culture and spending time with friends. First impressions when on placement at the Regional hospital are a shock to the system but you soon realise that they simply make do with what equipment and resources are available. I spent my first week on paediatrics, at times i found this difficult due to the seriousness of the illness of the children you are exposed to, however the doctors do work to the best of their abilities under the circumstances and you have to realise that this is the day to day running of things. Intensive care is particularly striking due to the lack of equipment when compared to the UK and the young age of the children. I spent some of my time on the children's surgical ward, this was helping to dress burns which are surprisingly common. Myself and my group contributed to pay for a child's prescription as they were unable to afford treatment and we increased what was prescribed in order to make sure there was enough to distribute round the rest of the ward for other children in the same position. This was particularly rewarding in the sense that all of the staff were highly appreciative of the donation and it was going to benefit. My second week was spent on surgery, this was exciting in the sense that there is a variety of procedures to watch, the most common thing i experienced was hernia removal or repair and the most interesting thing i watched was part of an intestine being removed. However, i would advise taking some strong smelling oil or vapour rub to put inside the surgical masks as sometimes depending on the type of surgery the smell can be strong and unpleasant as i found out during the removal of part of an intestine. I would also advise to take lots of hand gel and keep it in the pockets of your scrubs at all times, this comes in handy all day every day. I was lucky enough to spend my last night on the nightshift, during which i watched 2 c-sections and 1 normal delivery. This was the perfect way to end my 2 weeks as i watched 3 healthy baby girls come into the world. The doctors in the hospital are remarkable, they speak good english and explain everything as they are going particularly in surgery the surgeons are very good at this. All of them will ask who your name is and it is very rare for them to get it first time, my friend Pippa spent 2 weeks being called Pepper.
I visited the orphanage twice, this was the most life changing experience as i did not know what to expect going there. Beware that they love cameras and the front camera's of mobile phones. The older ones love to look through old holiday photos on your camera's then take the odd selfie. As everyone probably says who has visited the orphanage, i wanted to bring a child home. My memories there will be with me forever and they have given me more of an appreciation for the smaller things in life. I loved going into town after placement, i felt it really exposed you to the culture, some people do look but i believe this is purely based on the fact that we are white and to put it honestly, you do stand out but i did feel safe at all times. Beware of the children who beg outside of the supermarket who will then follow you on the way into town, we found that if you just ignore they will eventually give up and go back, however we learnt that these are from the mountainous areas and they make their money from livestock therefore should not be begging.
In summary, i could go on and on about my trip here. I cannot fault hardly anything from the moment i booked it to the moment i landed back home. It has changed my life as cliche as it sounds, it has given me food for thought when it comes to having such a negative attitude on things which don't really matter. I believe that everybody should experience something like this at one point in their lives to put things into perspective.