Gizo Hospital
PERSONAL DETAILS
| Name | Tom Cundy |
ELECTIVE DETAILS
| Country | Solomon Islands | City | Gizo |
| Setting | Tropical., remote, developing | ||
| Local languages spoken | English, Pidgin | ||
| Dates of elective | December 2008 – January 2009 | ||
| Year level during elective | 6 | Expected level of knowledge | As senior as possible. >4th year, preferably with paeds/O&G experience |
DETAILS OF INSTITUTION
| Name | Gizo Hospital | Population served | 4,000 |
| Size | 40 beds: 2 wards (general medical and maternity). | ||
| Departments/specialties available | 1 theatre. 1 A&E area. 1 outpatients area. Remote clinic service to neighbouring islands. | ||
| Further description | |||
| Student responsibilities | Attend daily morning ward rounds. Run/assist daily A&E/OPD. Perform/assist minor surgical procedures. | ||
| Teaching availability | Plenty! Pathology galore. As much clinical skills experience as you can handle. The doctors when we were there were both junior (PGY2, PGY3) RMOs, locals but trained in PNG and Fiji. | ||
| Elective contact | |||
| Application process | Informal. Email first, expect a delay in reply! | ||
| Donations brought/grants | We took over lots of general supplies. On arrival we saw whole rooms full of donated, but useless, unused medical supply donations. DEFINATELY ask what they need/desire beforehand. We arranged for some foetal dopplers, portable INR machine, disposable diathermy equipment to be sent over after we returned. | ||
TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, FOOD, LEISURE AND EXPECTED COSTS
| Accommodation options | Nagua Guest Lodge (recommended!). Sagili guesthouse, Phoebe’s resthouse. | AUD$5-15 per night |
| Accommodation details | Good luck getting on to them before arrival! There will always be rooms available. No need to book in advance. | |
| Travel to location (including necessary documentation) | No visa required. Fly from Brisbane to Honiara. Transfer by small twin prop otter over thousands of stunning tropical islands to reach Gizo Island. | AUD$1500 return |
| Transport within location | Everything within walking distance on Gizo. By small outboard or paddle boat between neighbouring islands | |
| Food allowances | Fish. Fish. Fish. $8 for a 1.5m fresh bluefin tuna or kingfish. Local market fruit and veg very cheap. | |
| Social activities | Surfing, scuba diving, snorkelling, sunbathing, volleyball, historical tours, lazing at resorts. | AUD$400 for open water PADI scuba diving course through DIVE GIZO |
| Recommended vaccinations | Typhoid, Hep A. Malaria prophylaxis (doxycycline) | AUD$150 |
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
| The good | Everything! I would go back every year if I could. Amazingly friendly people. Stunning country. So close to Australia but feels a world away. HIV/AIDS rates very low (only 12 HIV+ in whole country unlike 45% in PNG!). |
| The bad | Stay away from Honiara, not a pretty place, more expensive, crime and political unrest abundant. Some very rare minor crime in Gizo (Gizo very safe!) |
| Further descriptions, comments or advice | A great, safe, first taste of developing world medicine. Recommend trying to get in touch with the Mayor (American ex pat with Aussie wife), Danny Kennedy before arriving. Danny made sure our travel arrangements and general entertainment needs were well organised and that we were looked after. |
| For more information | Look up Herman Oberli’s very informative website. Otherwise, contact me! |
