I undertook another 4 week elective at Livingstone Central Hospital rotating through internal medicine , paediatrics , surgery and O & G .
What I saw over the next several weeks for incredibly eye opening and a unique look into medicine in a completely new context . The contrast between Cambridge and Zambia could not have been greater . Many of the presentations for the general medicine wards were for HIV-related illnesses and diseases seldom seen in the western world . Tuberculosis is incredibly common and well as malaria , which in endemic to the area .
The most daunting experience I had while in Livingstone was during my third week when I was asked to travel to a small rural community called Mukuni Village which is 1 hour outside of Livingstone and run a one-man medical clinic for the residents there for the week . Armed only with my Oxford Clinical Skills Handbook , I slowly got into the swing of things and was able to manage certain complaints and diseases ( but for many difficult presenting complaints I had to refer them onto specialty clinics they run at the hospital ).
In contrasting the surgical experience at Cambridge to the one I had in Zambia , it was obvious to see the different in patient care , practice and post-operative management which is essentially put down to the lack of resources that he hospital is afforded .
35 | SURGIA Newsletter The General Surgery Edition