Program Reviews

My time in Puerto Escondido, Mexico was nothing short of extraordinary. Upon arrival, I was greeted with warm smiles and open arms. While I had done quite a bit of traveling prior to this experience, this was my first time traveling truly alone and with a more career-oriented goal. That being said, I was very nervous and I apprehensive about how my experience would be.

Luckily, my apprehension soon dissipated after my arrival. In my short time in Puerto, not only did I work on my project regarding childhood obesity in Mexico and learn an incredible amount about the Mexican healthcare system, I also was given many unique opportunities to learn about the culture and the people of Puerto. Being associated with the Oasis Surf and Language school allowed me to meet a ton of new people and have access to many amazing activities. To name a few, during my three weeks I was able to learn how to surf, freshen up on my Spanish, go to the local market, eat amazing local cuisine, release baby sea turtles on the beach, visit two different midwifes, learn how to cook typical Mexican meals from my host mom, watch movies on the beach, visit a wildlife refuge, hike along some ancient trails, and listen to the stories of some amazing local people.

Every day I would go to a local clinic and work on discovering and reducing health disparities that I found to be present in the population, and every evening I would sit on the beach and watch the sun disappear below the rolling ocean waves. It was truly a setting and an experience that made me reflect and realize how lucky I am and how badly I want to improve the health and well-being of others in populations around the globe. I am so lucky to have had the chance to experience all that I did with my short time in this coastal town of Oaxaca, and I would not have had such a chance if it weren't for CFHI! I definitely recommend this program and this organization to anyone who is looking to experience something new and life changing in the realm of healthcare.

Honestly, before starting my program, I had no idea what to expect. I had never traveled to South America and I was quite nervous. Before starting, communication with the United States program staff was always swift, polite and understanding. This gave me the assurance that they were an efficient program. Upon arrival, everything was just as they said it would be. Fortunately, I arrived with two other program participants (one of whom ended up being my roommate!). I was in the Intensive Beginner Spanish Program and I am glad I chose that program. After my preliminary lessons with Angel, I felt adequately prepared to be useful in the hospital setting. The weekends were also sufficient for short trips to other parts of Ecuador. Living in Quito was great but the pollution from cars was one thing I did not like at all. This is however not the fault of the program since there is nothing they could do about that. The hospital contacts we met were also very helpful and understanding since they were used to having interns. Going to Ecuador really helped me be sure that becoming a doctor was what I wanted to do with my life. It gave me the conviction I now have and it is the main experience I cited in my medical school essays. The only mistake I made with this program was not deciding to do it for longer.

During my time with KIHEFO in Kabale, Uganda, I truly felt welcomed into a family! Of course, this family included everyone from nurses, physicians, those who cooked delicious meals, and even patients themselves. As a dental student, I enjoyed the opportunity to experience the outreach events in rural communities and the normal permanent clinic in town.

I was exposed to the empowerment opportunities and care provided to malnourished families, pregnant women, dental patients of all backgrounds, and many primary care patients with a variety of health conditions. On my final day, I was invited to a traditional marriage "give away" which was a wonderful and interesting cultural experience with much celebration and excitement. The only things I wish I would have been fully prepared for before my trip was that power outages are extremely frequent and therefore wifi will be inaccessible for 2-3 days sometimes. This wasn't a major concern, as I had been to Africa for 4 weeks before with no internet access at all. It's just something to be aware of. This also means that an adequate number of candles, flashlights, and eternal charging devices are important for packing. A towel was provided and I had a private bathroom which was a true luxury. Bedding was provided too and when I arrived, those living in the building asked if I brought my own pillow due to the limited options available. I had not, but it was no problem. If you're picky about a sleeping pillow, consider bringing your own. Warm clothing is also important because of the altitude and rain nearly every morning. Again, nothing major, but for your comfort, consider these things while packing. In terms of food and drinks, the people preparing my meals were not only some of the sweetest and fun people, they also bent over backwards to find out my food and drink preferences. For example, I love avocado and because it was readily available at the time, I ended up being surprised by avocado at almost every meal. I was comfortable and learned a great deal during this trip. All those at KIHEFO and even outside the organization were willing to answer my questions about health care delivery, barriers to care, etc. I'd go again in a HEARTBEAT!

I felt very safe, except for one day when a big storm came in and we were driving on an unpaved road that wound around many hills. The road was very slippery and uneven, however the driver Tony is a true professional and he has an amazing reputation for being able to handle any situation.

Ps: you'll have easy access to ATMs, you can buy sweets, sofa, snacks, etc at nearby stores, and if you take a safari or other trip, some of the parks require that you pay in US dollars regardless of your nationality. If you're planning to call landlines in the United States or people who do not have a specific app or iPhone, I recommend using Skype to call phones (no video required).

I was blown away by the model used by the healthcare workers in Kabale. Working in partnership with both medical and traditional healers, CFHI (and KIHEFO) fights the cycle of poverty, ignorance, and disease.
I made lifelong friends and learned so much. The staff were so helpful, answering our questions even after a difficult procedure or a long day. I always felt welcomed and like I was part of something bigger than myself. My only complaint was that the trip was too short, and that was my own fault. :) I hope to return soon.

Incredible experience! The end of our orientation day consisted of experiencing a baby being born at the Women and Children Clinic. What a way to finish up orientation day. The midwives were excellent and explained the stages of the birthing process to us throughout and took time afterwards to discuss with us. The actual hands-on experience gained while at KIHEFO was priceless. I recommend CFHI intensives to any students. Learned so much in the two weeks.

The best part of this experience was the ability to communicate with people since English is a required language for people who attended school there . The country and its people welcomed us with open hearts and open arms and it changed me so much as a person. I am even considering grad school in South Africa. It's interesting that the people I met in Cape Town were more welcoming, accepting, and treated me so much more kindly than the people that were in the program. Still, I would not take back any of it because I made life-long friendships and connections that I will always cherish.

Enjoyed my time in Cape Town. The program was well organized with plenty of opportunities to explore my medical interests. The program coordinators were always accessible and eager to get you acclimated. The housing was colder than I'm accustomed to but there's a lack of indoor heating and it was winter at the time. It felt like fall so still not much of a complaint. I worked at Red Cross war memorial children's hospital and found the experience amazing. Great doctors, access to seminars, tutorials, and plenty of patients. The only true negative is the safety in Cape Town. Although I never encountered a problem, I have heard stories of people being robbed so I kept my guard up. Other than that, a great all around program that also teaches you a great deal about South African history and culture.

Have you ever seen iv drug users or prostitutes? Have you ever talked to them and discussed public health issues in a constructive way. I got the chance to do this in the CFHI month long program. I also was able to learn from local public health practitioners what it is like to be boots on the ground and lean from the Jaipur Institute what national policy is, how it was formed, and how it is measured. On a social note I also traveled to see the Taj mahal and the Dali lama's temple

My time in Kabale, Uganda was spent with the Kigezi Healthcare Foundation KIHEFO specifically in the general clinic. I am a medical student and found the clinical component of my program to be very educational. There was also a cultural component as staff made sure to share their traditions, heritage and history. Time was spent in the surrounding villages providing health care and educational seminars as well.

The program provides ample time for tourist activities like safari and sight seeing. Overall the program was very structured and planned out to provide a safe and comfortable experience. This is especially beneficial for those who are traveling abroad for the first time.

February and March are the perfect time to go to India. There are festivals like Holy, and the weather is not too hot or too cold.

The living accomindations: You stay in an apartment with a care giver that makes two meals of traditional Indian Cuisine. So, yes when there are noodles on the table for breakfast, it is breakfast. The shower or lack there of is a traditional bucket bath. I personally brought a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner so it was quick, but you get clean.

The experience: when I went in I had pre-conseved notions about the program based on the videos the program makes you watch and how it is descibed on the website. I thought it was going to be a more hands on experience. For example, I thought we were going to learn a lot about a program and then teach about condom use, or water safety. This was not the case. Instead, it was more of learning about the organization and then asking questions reguarding the presentation. There were two times I felt I was actually helping. First, was at a homeless children's drop in center. You help them with math and English. (I went back after my program finished, because I had a couple extra days) Second, at the week stay out of Delhi; we made a presentation to better the organization. So, If you want to learn about mantaining a non-profit and other aspects of the working of health programs this is a great exerience. If you are looking for a more hands on experience, I believe another sight would suit you better.

But, India was amazing! I would love to go back :)