Medicine Volunteer Stories, Sri Lanka

Medicine in Sri Lanka - Priyangi Jayasuriya I have been coming to Sri Lanka almost every year since I can remember, but this is the first time I came for work rather than for a holiday. When I first found out that Projects Abroad had placements in Sri Lanka, I instantly decided that I had to join the programme. I decided to complete my medical internship at the Panadura Base Hospital and Kethumathi Maternity Hospital. Since I am Sri Lankan and am able to speak Sinhala fluently, I was confident that I could be an asset to the hospitals.

Medicine in Sri Lanka - Jackie Kopelman When I actually started my placement it wasn't as terrifying as that night was though. All the doctors were really friendly and keen to teach me. I started out in general medicine where I did ward rounds in both male and female wards, and I helped out in the clinics as well. Seeing how different the hospital was to any British hospitals really opened my eyes, especially after seeing a woman literally on the verge of death from dehydration just because she'd had diarrhoea for three days really made me think.

Medicine in Sri Lanka - Kurt Schapira My first experience at Panadura Base Hospital was walking into the admissions area and seeing about 100 people in a room that should hold about 25. And it would have been worse if I stood out and everyone was staring....yeah.... After that initial shock, then going into the wards and recovering from another shock, the hospital is actually quite pleasant. All of the doctors are willing to chat and the patients are alright with me doing examinations, so that was comforting.

Medicine in Sri Lanka - Chloe Paddock I was very lucky to have a lovely host family and a good group of other volunteers where I was based in Karapitiya (Galle). I originally went out with two friends from my course but met loads of other people out in Sri Lanka. For a start everyone in Sri Lanka is very friendly although you had to get used to everyone staring at you because you were white..but it's funny more than anything. The country is also beautiful and green and you get used to the very hot weather (I had to shower three times a day I swear), which is broken up with heavy falls of rain.

Medicine in Sri Lanka - Tom Goon One month on and I'm very pleased to report that I have loved my placement here. My host family is great, the people I live with have been really nice and my work in the physiotherapy department is challenging but very rewarding. A particular highlight has been how friendly everyone is - I've been fed all sorts of delicacies, taken out for drinks and even invited to a wedding.

Medicine in Sri Lanka - Alexandra Grundy As I scrambled my way through hundreds of Sri Lankan out-patients in my shiny new white coat, stethoscope around my neck, I was seriously dreading some poor mother thrusting her child into my arms and screaming "help my child, you're a doctor!" Sadly, I'm not and luckily this didn't happen!