Study Abroad Programs in Arusha, Tanzania

Traveling to Africa was always an experience I was looking forward to, however, I never thought that I would be able to immerse myself in the culture for a whole semester. I was able to learn a completely new language, live with a host family, see animals I have dreamed about since I was a little kid, and I made so many lasting connections. We were also pushed academically to complete and independent research project. Mine was on wildlife veterinarians so I was able to interview veterinarians and even got to shadow a sanctuary veterinarian. I would do it all over if I had the chance.

My time in Mombasa, Kenya was amazing. The staff were great support and always friendly and willing to help you in any capacity. The food was amazing with a variety of familiar and local cuisine. Being able to visit the local schools and talk about hygiene was a highlight, with the children being so welcoming and kind. I was very impressed that there were opportunities to go on cultural treks during my stay there as well as visiting various landmarks and the market. By far, my favorite part was being in the hospital. There was never a dull moment and always something to learn. With brilliant, compassionate and innovative doctors I learned more than I could have ever imagined. My time in Mombasa, Kenya has cemented my dream to work abroad in developing countries and provide healthcare services. The doctors I shadowed showed what it truly means to be a great doctor regardless of intelligence. This experience was life-changing, broadening my perspective on the world and allowing for great reflection on my own life and opportunities. My journey to Kenya is one I will never forget and take with me through my education to becoming a doctor continuing through when I become a practicing physician. During elementary school is when I first heard about organizations where doctors go to underserved and underdeveloped countries to provide healthcare. It was at this time that I knew I wanted to go to medical school to become a doctor and go abroad with these organizations. Having the opportunity to go to Kenya has solidified these dreams of working abroad and providing care to those less fortunate. The doctors I was able to shadow showed through their actions what it means to be a great doctor. It was eye-opening to see firsthand the struggles of those in the lower class of society concerning access to healthcare and the difference between Canadian and Kenyan healthcare systems. Overall my experience in Kenya has shown me what I truly want to do as a doctor, what type of doctor I want to be, and has allowed me to further put into perspective how privileged I am. My experience in Kenya has provided me with a wealth of knowledge firsthand of what a doctor's job in a developing country entails. The doctors at Coast General Teaching and Referal Hospital (CGTRH) are some of the most innovative and brilliant people I have met. This is due to their need to be creative in their approach to treating patients whether it is to help keep costs down for the patient or due to the lack of resources. I witnessed several ways the doctors have had to be innovative due to a lack of resources, for example when taking blood samples they cut the cuff off of an examination glove and use that as a tourniquet. Compared to Canada, we have an abundance of rubber tourniquets and may use more than one on a patient if the first poke for blood draw does not work. The doctors at CGTRH and their ability to think outside the box to serve their patients with the highest degree of care have solidified my dreams of working abroad in underdeveloped and underserved countries and communities. The doctors at CGTRH have taught me so much not only in medical knowledge but about what traits make a great doctor. Some of the best doctors I had the privilege to shadow had a common trait that I quickly recognized to be compassion. This trait I find is often seen as lacking in the western world where everyone is in a rush, either to get you out of the hospital or the exam room at your family doctor. What the Canadian and Kenyan societies prioritize are different. In Canada, it is a fast pace society mainly focusing on one's self, whereas in Kenya it is more of a collectivist society focusing on family and helping out one another. This difference between societies can be seen in the way doctors treat their patients. An example of these doctors' altruistic behaviours was when a patient needed blood work to see if their levels were back to baseline in order to be discharged, as they were feeling a lot better the doctors felt no need for her to continue staying. Although they were still held because they couldn’t afford the cost of blood work, this lead to the doctors themselves paying for the patient's bloodwork so they no longer had to stay in the hospital. These actions of the doctors not only allowed the patient to go home to their family, but also served the patient because as found by Hauck and Zhao (2011) “A hospital stay carries a 5.5% risk of an adverse drug reaction, 17.6% risk of infection, and 3.1% risk of ulcer for an average episode, and each additional night in hospital increases the risk by 0.5% for adverse drug reactions, 1.6% for infections, and 0.5% for ulcers.” Seeing how the doctors cared for each and every patient, treating them as equals and with compassion has really shown me the traits of a doctor I strive to be. In Canada, we have universal healthcare furthermore, I have insurance provided to my parents through their work that continues to cover me as a student. These two combined allow me to go to my family doctor, the emergency room, physiotherapist, massage therapist, chiropractors and more without enduring any cost and not putting any financial strain on my family. This fact until recently was nothing special to me, I never appreciated how fortunate I am as a Canadian to have access to healthcare anytime I need without thinking of how I am going to afford it. As I grew up I learned in the USA healthcare can be very expensive and it deters a lot of people from visiting the doctor. Upon arriving in Kenya I learned despite volunteering at a public hospital, patients still needed to pay. This was quite a stark difference between the Canadian and Kenyan healthcare systems as Canada only has a public sector that does not bill you. Although the Kenyan public sector is heavily subsidized by the government non the less, I saw many families unable to afford certain tests and treatments due to the financial strain. The cost of tests and treatments at a first glance looks very low, especially compared to what I have heard about treatment costs in the USA. But as I continued to learn more about Kenya I was informed that 36.1% of Kenyans live below the International poverty line (International Medical Aid, 2022) and the international poverty line is $1.90 (World Vision, 2021). I was humbled in seeing the difference in healthcare systems and these facts were able to put into perspective why what at first seemed like low prices for healthcare was truly a financial burden for so many Kenyans at CGTRH. My time in Kenya is one I will never forget, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that has further allowed me to appreciate my opportunities in Canada and broaden my world views with regard to developing countries. CGTRH and their doctors have really given me a new perspective on what it means to be a doctor and a healthcare provider. I enjoyed witnessing the many facets of what being a doctor is, and how doctors working in regions with limited resources go about treating patients. Being able to shadow doctors in a country that has alternative priorities than the western world truly showed me various attributes that go into being a great doctor regardless of how intelligent you are. Being able to witness and learn firsthand about a different healthcare system was humbling and gave me a greater appreciation for what I have. I am grateful to International Medical Aid for providing such an eye-opening and life-changing experience that has allowed me to truly find what I am passionate about.