A Medical Electives Reflection with HIPZ
This August, we hosted a cohort of Medical Elective Students from Glasgow University, Plymouth University and Martin Luther University in Germany.
Here, they reflect on their experience of the programme.
HIPZ offered an incredible opportunity to gain valuable experience in global health while working with a charity that plays a vital role in Zanzibar’s healthcare system, and it delivered exactly that. Coming from the UK, we found Zanzibar to be vastly different from what we were used to. It took some time to adjust, but after settling in and embracing the island’s beautiful coastline and warm, welcoming people, we smoothly navigated our six-week elective programme. We were expertly guided by our elective advisor, Manswert, who tailored our schedule to align with our interests while also ensuring we gained broad exposure to healthcare in Zanzibar.
Over the course of six weeks, we were involved in delivering babies, running emergency department clinics, assisting in surgery, joining ward rounds, participating in community health initiatives, and even leading teaching sessions. Our medical knowledge, skills, and perspectives have grown significantly through this experience. We were challenged to adapt to a resource-limited environment and care for a patient population with health needs quite different from those we’re familiar with. Exposure to tropical diseases, in particular, was an invaluable part of our learning and will undoubtedly benefit us in our future careers as healthcare professionals.
We were also fortunate to meet and collaborate with other volunteers from around the world; including nurses, midwives, and paramedics, adding to the richness of our experience.
Outside of our clinical work, we made the most of everything the island had to offer. From weekends away in Paje and Nungwi, to golden sunrises and sunsets, local cuisine, and even a competitive football match with local school children — our time in Zanzibar was as fun as it was formative.
"HIPZ has given us an unforgettable experience that we will cherish for a lifetime."
A heartfelt thank you to the entire HIPZ team for organising every detail of our trip and with special thanks to Manswert, whose support and close friendship made our time in Zanzibar truly exceptional.
