In August, having graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a 1st class honours degree in Paramedic Science, I undertook a month-long clinical placement in Uganda. This volunteering opportunity arose through a UK based charity, Knowledge for Change which places healthcare students and professionals in overseas placements in developing countries. I was allocated Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital in Western Uganda around 300km from the capital, Kampala.

During my placement, I worked in various departments including maternity, paediatrics, outpatients, gynaecology, male medical, surgical and mental health. In all departments we worked alongside Ugandan healthcare professionals, observing ward rounds, patient care and dealing with emergencies in each department. A key aspect of the experience was the exposure and treatment of conditions and diseases I have never come across during 3 years of placement in the UK. I was exposed to diseases such as Malaria, Tuberculosis, Sickle Cell Disease, Cholera, Monkeypox, Ebola and Typhoid. Also, I observed treatment of medical scenarios I frequently deal with in the UK such as high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke or fractures. Due to diagnostic limitations and limited resources the difference in treatment was eye opening. The healthcare system in Uganda works on a tiered system where patients must seek care at lower level facilities before being referred to higher levels if necessary. This system meant often patients were critically unwell when they ultimately reached the referral hospital.  

The experience provided me with invaluable insight into management of medical conditions in a low-income country. My clinical skills were greatly improved with the exposure to a variety of unusual conditions and illnesses alongside becoming highly adaptable due to the limited equiptment and materials. The language barrier proved an added challenge in communicating with patients and staff. We learnt some key phrases in the local Rutooro language, such as ‘Where is your pain?’ ‘Can I assess your injury?’. The local population appreciated the effort and were more receptive to any treatment that we subsequently suggested.

Whilst on our placement we were surprised to learn most of the medical staff working in the gynaecology ward and maternity department were not equipped with neonatal life support skills. Over multiple evenings we ran sessions for the staff to become confident and competent in highly essential skills. We were able to educate staff on when and how to deliver effective resuscitation. It was rewarding to see this training put into practice when observing caesarean sections and natural births. The stabilisation rate at birth was possibly the most positive aspect of the placement. The resourcefulness of staff has also left a lasting impact on me since returning home. For example, after birth, to cut the cord there are no clamps, instead the wrist section of a glove is broken off and used to clamp the cord. The staff are very well adapted to deliver care with limited supplies and this is such a contrast to my experience in the UK with extensive equipment and resources.

During our weekends off we immersed ourselves in the Ugandan culture. Activities such as chimpanzee trekking in Kibale National Park, travelling to Murchison Falls to see the most powerful waterfall in the world and going on a safari to see some incredible animals. Throughout the month we were surrounded by locals who welcomed us into their community, we were even interviewed and appeared on Ugandan TV! When wanting to get around, we travelled like locals and used ‘boda bodas’ better known as a moped. A particularly striking aspect of the placement was understanding local beliefs about illnesses and disease. Herbal medicine would be frequently used in rural areas as a preferred treatment option. Often these patients would present to hospital after trying to treat themselves and this may further complicate their conditions. This was an aspect of the care I hadn’t considered before I arrived.

After undertaking a similar challenge in sixth form, a World Challenge in Borneo I felt well prepared to take on this opportunity. The similarities in immersing into the local culture and living alongside the community were evident. Bury Grammar gave me the foundation of great leadership, resourcefulness and communication skills which were all essential. The experience has made a great impact on my personal and professional development, it presented unique challenges and the reality was greatly different to anything I had experienced before. It was incredibly eye opening but an experience I will carry into my professional career. The resilience of both patients and healthcare professionals in such difficult situations has left a lasting impact on me, even in challenging conditions the staff were always positive. I have come away with a realistic view of global health challenges and the need for a multidisciplinary approach when it comes to delivering health equity. The experience has changed my outlook for the better and aided me to feel more ready to start my Newly Qualified Paramedic role in September 2025.