Home   Student Electives   Preparing your Elective   Preparing for your Medical Elective - in a resource poor country

Among the many good reasons:

1. You will see diseases and advanced pathology that you won't find in the UK

You will probably see diseases that you will not otherwise come across e.g. schistosomiasis, malaria, leprosy and amoebiasis, to name but a few. You will also see more familiar conditions presenting in advanced stages and with clinical signs that you have formerly only read about in
textbooks – not least AIDS and TB.

2. You will gain more 'hands on' experience and in personal self confidence

There will probably be opportunities to assist at operations and undertake procedures, which at home you would, at best, only observe at a distance. The hands-on experience and confidence gained will prove immensely valuable as you prepare for the responsibilities you will face in your foundation years.

3. Experiencing life in a culture of poverty, you will see UK health problems from an entirely different perspective when you return

Many of the issues we face in the West are simply magnified in resource poor countries. Insights gained in primary health care, disease prevention and epidemiology, resource allocation, training of health workers and patient attitudes to disease can be invaluable in trying to find solutions for similar problems in the West.

You will gain valuable insights and learn to empathise with patients who come from very different ethnic backgrounds. You will gain, first hand, a non-western worldview of health and disease which will cause you to see UK health problems in an entirely different light. An overseas elective will go some way to prevent you developing 'tunnel vision' to world health priorities.

4. You could gain valuable material for a research project

This is something you will need to discuss with your University and the establishment to which you are going and will entail considerable forethought and planning. Make sure that you have access to the information and resources that you will need to enable you to fulfill your objectives.

5. To 'test the water' for future overseas Christian service

It may well be that God will call you into cross-cultural medical work in a resource poor country in the future. The needs are increasing dramatically. Such an elective will give you a valuable insight into what is entailed and help to dispel any false notions you may have about working overseas.

6. It will be a life changing experience and you will learn much about yourself and God that you would never learn in a western environment

You are likely to find yourself in situations that will test you and stretch you - in every direction – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually! In such situations, you will learn a lot about yourself, about the God we serve and the power of prayer.

7. Finally and most importantly, it is an opportunity to serve the risen Christ

As our master's story of the Good Samaritan so poignantly reminds us, true Christian love is prepared to put itself at risk, and cross ethnic, social and cultural barriers to minister to another's practical need. Although your contribution may be small in worldly terms, it is nonetheless significant in the eyes of Jesus. If the Son of God was prepared to become a man and die on a cross for our sakes, then as his servants we should similarly be prepared to give our lives in service to him.