My placement experience in Sri Lanka – from your RO Ambassador

Hi everyone this is a blog on my medical placement experience in SriLanka that was partly funded by the university! I heard of this opportunity through a friend and therefore got to applying as I was eligible for funding and thought it was a great chance for me to experience healthcare in a completely different country ✈️.

Applying was relatively easy as there was a separate portal set up by my university and I applied privately through Travelteer who the university were partnering with. Overall, I had a great time and even though I had been to Sri Lanka previously, the cities we went to were completely new to me. Placement days started very early in the morning as it was a 40-minute drive to the hospital. Throughout the week we had exposure to surgical theatres and got to see neurosurgery whilst also seeing how the psychiatry wards were. The hospital system was interesting to see as I realised how healthcare and resources were being managed in a developing country. In the afternoons we went to a childcare centre to spend time interacting and playing with children that had special needs – we also set up a session to teach them proper hand and face washing so they could remember the steps in a fun way.

Some afternoon sessions involved yoga and watching turtles being released into the sea. We also had a chance to explore Hikkaduwa, spending time at the beach and experiencing some of the local culture and food. It was a great opportunity to explore Sri Lanka outside of the hospital and see a different side of the country. Being able to spend time with the other students on the placement also made the experience enjoyable, and we were able to share our experiences of the different healthcare settings we had been exposed to throughout the week. Other activities I got to do was white water rafting, a safari, snorkelling etc. which were opportunities provided by the company on the tour week. The tour was a fully unique experience where we experienced going to temples and seeing the culture of SriLanka, finding out how tea was made, went on a few hikes etc🌅.

Overall, the placement was a really valuable experience, both personally and academically. It allowed me to see how healthcare is delivered in a different healthcare system and gave me a greater appreciation of the differences in resources and patient care between countries. At the same time, getting involved with the local community and experiencing Sri Lankan culture made the placement feel like much more than just a clinical opportunity🏥.I came away feeling more adaptable, culturally aware and appreciative of the opportunities available through university-funded placements.

If you have any questions for me, please email me at ro.ambassador@newcastle.ac.uk

Varsika 😊