Health Professionals
Learning opportunity
Doctors in theatre at Ganyesa Hospital, North-West Province
“The professional experience I have gained here has been amazing and will stand me in very good stead, particularly for a future in emergency medicine. Some of the trauma you see here, and what you have at your disposal to deal with it, is a real challenge”. (Dr Robert Melvin, UK)
For medical professionals specialising in areas like tropical medicine and HIV, public facilities in southern Africa are about the best training ground in the world, as you get to work, hands on, with such a diversity of patients, whilst interacting with more experienced personnel in the field.
This learning is further supported by the opportunity to participate in ongoing educational programmes hosted by our partner, the Foundation for Professional Development. Please view the file at the bottom of the page for a schedule of available training courses.
Beyond specific diseases, you may also find yourself doing some learning of techniques ranging from delivery to anaesthetics. Because many foreign doctors, in particular, have limited practical exposure to many procedures that will be routine in a rural context, we actually provide you with a field guide to teach you the basics. However, we will also try to facilitate access to more experienced practitioners, whilst practical courses are also available through the Foundation for Professional Development.
“I wanted to actually go to a country where I could be exposed to all those health problems and also have a chance to be in a situation where I could be taught stuff by experienced doctors.” (Dr Melanie Little, Australia)
Last but not least is the opportunity for cultural learning – getting to know new people, and possibly picking up a new language. (At the very least, learning how to translate key phrases such as “Where does it hurt?”) Once again, we provide a field guide to get you started with the basics.
