Quote:
Originally Posted by fingerscrossed
I too am hoping to go to Vanuatu, does anyone who has been in the past know if there is a possibility of going out to rural areas to hold clinics as a medical student if you are based at Vila Central Hospital? Sarah
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Hi guys,
I'm just back from elective in Vanuatu - went to Port Vila though I'm afraid so don't know about Luganville.
On the port vila front, I don't think you'll be able to do anything in the way of rural medicine particularly easily. I didn't ask, but there is only the one hospital on Efate (ie. Port Vila). There are basically some health clinics dotted around, but these are run by nurses and usually refer anything interesting to the Port Vila.
If you are going to Port Vila bear in mind a few problems - firstly, I wouldn't really recommend staying there more than a month or so as you'll get quite bored. However, if you want to go on the medical ward the doctor there insists students stay at least a month or he won't take you, meaning that if you only stay a month and you want to work on the medical ward then you won't get to see anywhere else in the hospital. If you avoid the medical ward, you can get away with working in most other areas for a week or 2 each (eg. outpatients, paeds, surgery, o&g).
Flights to other islands arn't particularly cheap, so its not terribly easy to island hop if you're on a budget. Having said this, I did go to Tanna for a night just to see the Volcano there, but this cost me a fair bit.
If you're going to Port Vila and you've actually managed to get hold of Dr Tokon, he will probably have told you to book into the Sunrise hostel. DON'T. I wasn't able to get hold of the place to book it, but this was a bit of a blessing - there were a couple of med students staying there and they moved out as its a bit of a hole and people come and rent rooms for only an hour if you know what I mean. Best bet is Coconut Palms who do a reasonable rate if you book with them for a month (2000 vatu/night which is roughly £10/night for a room on your own - it claims to be a triple room but quite frankly you wouldn't want more than 2 people sharing at most as its one of those bunk beds with a double on the bottom and single on top). Bar staff there are very friendly, although the place is generally a bit dead, but its literally a 2 minute walk from the hospital, and walking into town will only take about 10 min. There is some renovation work there but that should be completed in the next couple of months. They have a kitchen just for med students and free internet for med students which will save you a fair amount of money over the course of your time there.
In terms of transport, aim to get a bus from the airport if possible - taxis have a flat rate from the airport which is really expensive (1000-1500 Vatu), whereas buses only cost 100Vatu (200 if its a bit further) to go pretty much anywhere (there arn't any bus routes, they're just minibuses that drive anywhere and everywhere). Just hail down a bus and tell them where you want to go, and they'll take you there. If they shake their head that means they arn't going that way, so just hail over another until someone will take you. The fewer people in a bus the quicker you'll get to where you want to go. Then pay them 100Vatu when you arrive.
Don't worry too much if you don't get any replies from Dr Tokon about anything, he won't be expecting you even if you get confirmation... its a bit disorganised!
Hope this helps,
Dave
Elective in Vanuatu
