A mission hospital in Mutomo, Kenya
Caroline Lyssarides, Sweden
Where and when did you work abroad?
I worked for 6 weeks at a mission hospital in Mutomo, Kenya, in February-March of 2017 through the Swedish organization Skandinaviska Läkarbanken.
Where and when did you work abroad?
I needed both visa and working permit. Läkarbanken helped me get my working permit. I applied for my visa online.
How much experience did you have before going? Was that enough?
I had done 2 years of my residency (ST). I think it is good not to be completely green but to have some experience, both to be able to contribute more and to gain more from the experience. I went with an experienced Swedish ob-gyn and I think it is good when you go as a resident to either go with someone more experienced or to have a local mentor, so you don’t have to independently make decisions or undertake procedures beyond your level of competence at home.
What kind of work have you been doing?
We worked at the labor ward and took care of gynecological and obstetric outpatients. This included assessing laboring women, perform c-sections and vacuum extractions, manage preeclampsia and examine obstetric outpatients with ultrasound. We were also responsible for the neonates. Gynecological patients mainly presented with bleeding, and we diagnosed quite a few cervical cancers during our time there. We had about 20 c-sections, 3 vacuum extractions, a few D/C:s for incomplete abortion and mole pregnancy, and one laparotomy to remove a large ovarian cyst. We were on call 3-4 nights per week.
How did you find out about this possibility? Did you have a contact person who will be willing to organize a stay for another trainee (or at least give some information) and whose name you can pass on?
I had heard about Läkarbanken already during medical school. There is a formal application through the webpage and the organization helps out with all practicalities.
How did you finance your stay?
Läkarbanken pays most of the costs (plane ticket, visa and work permit, accommodation) and since I had a mentor I was (after some hard negotiations) able to do this project as part of my residency (“randning”) with salary from my home clinic.
Are there any ongoing research projects at the hospital?
I do not think there are any ongoing research projects at the hospital.
Your e-mail-address in order to answer questions from interested trainees:
My email address is caroline.lyssarides@rjl.se
