Nienke van Valkenhoef

After I finished my degree, I needed to wait a few months for my clinical rotations to start. I wanted to spend this time productively and learn new things, so an overseas placement was the perfect solution for me. I decided to go to Takoradi in Ghana. 

I tried to stay open-minded and didn’t really have any expectations. The first thing I noticed was the lack of privacy compared to at home. There were no curtains between the beds, for example. I also noticed that patients present conditions much later, for example, someone with a diabetic foot ulcer at home, people would have come sooner.

Because I hadn’t yet started my clinical rotations, I didn’t have a lot of clinical experience. Therefore, under supervision, I was able to learn a lot, like doing a proper physical examination. My first few years of studying medicine were mainly focused on learning from books. It was great to use that knowledge in practice and see real cases. 

I’d never scrubbed into surgery before I went to Ghana. In the third week, I was placed in O&G, where I observed multiple C-sections. It was an incredible experience, and it was special to be a part of. 

There were a few things I noticed that were different compared to back home, like the social differences, the cost and the lack of resources. Despite this, hospital staff provided the best possible care with the little they had. 

On weekends, I explored more of Ghana along with other students in the Work the World house. We went on safari, visited a stilt village, went to Cape Coast and did a canopy walk over the jungle. There is so much to see and do, and I really had a great time discovering more of this incredible country. 

There were so many benefits to going overseas for my medical placement. I think it’s good to get to know a new culture. It broadens your perspective on so many different levels. I also learnt to be more independent and open-minded.

It was a fantastic experience. Everyone was so welcoming and kind. There are so many benefits of undertaking an overseas medical placement, like personal development, cultural and social experiences.