Tales from West Africa, one week in

Hello again,

It is now Saturday, marking one week since our arrival in the Gambia. It has been quite a week. Just to reiterate what the others have said in the previous posting, we have been made to feel so welcome and are really settling in.

The clinical exposure we have had here has been very different to that which you would experience on the wards in the UK. Whilst many of the diseases remain the same, (especially the non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension), the presentation is so late that the complications are particularly severe. I saw a diabetic foot which you could see through as it had undergone so much necrosis. The learning curve has been steep.

We also spent yesterday afternoon / evening in the A and E department, which is split into medical and surgical sides. Those in the surgical side saw a 'one doctor and one nurse' display of how to manage lots and lots of patients (mostly RTAs), where as us in the medical side got to see some 'classic' presentations. I did feel a little out of my depth however when the one doctor was called over to ICU and left the scene, leaving myself in a room with increasing numbers of patients, with whom the best I could do was take a history (if they spoke English) or do an examination.

Aside from the medicine, we have seen and done lots. Aliki, Claire and myself even saw the President the other day, as he was overseeing the large commissioning celebrations in the town centre. A big party is planned for tonight also to celebrate the graduation of the recent batch of docs, the entry of the pre-meds and our little visit. The Chief Medical Director has also announced that he would like to come, so it really will be a big do.

We're off now to a presentation on HIV and antiretrovirals.

Before I dash, I thought I should let you all know that Rob, Robby, Woody and myself played for the clinicals football team and we won!! Beating the pre-meds 3-1. We are now in the final against the nurses on Wednesday. The backdrop to the football is spectacular.

Anyway got to go. Thanks for reading.

Alex.

...first few days

Nanga Deff! Hello from sunny Gambia.

We have been in Gambia for 5 days already. CRAZY. And can't believe how much we've already seen - many weird and wonderful things. And how many friends we've made. They are a fantastic bunch over here, who feed us ridiculously well, defend us from man-eating spiders, and introduce us to football Gambia-style.

We arrived on Saturday following a pretty interesting night in Manchester Airport to a greeting from half the country and 34°C! Nice. After massive introductions, a quick meeting, a dip in the pool was definitely necessary. We can also heartily recommend Julbrew, an award-winning Gambian beer.

Sunday is a day of rest, and so we were treated to a trip to the Abuko nature reserve, where we saw lots of birds, monkeys, crocodiles and some hyena (rather scary).

On Monday we were introduced to the hospital for the first time, and had the privilege of meeting most of the chaps in charge. Pretty awesome experience to be honest.

Since then we've been spending time on the wards and theatres in the mornings, going to lectures and enjoying Gambian past-times in the afternoons (especially football). The wards have been very interesting, and Woody has managed to snap a few clinical pics too.

Sadly, time is short, and we need to go eat again! So, much love everyone here; we are having a fantastic time, and we cannot speak too highly of our hosts, hostesses, and this top, top country.

Fosoma,

Anna, Gemma and Rob

P.S. good luck to the first years with their exams.