September 2nd, 2017 by nitaavrith

Friday August 25th

I started this journey over a year ago. I have had a life long dream of practicing medicine internationally. Throughout the years I have embarked on numerous nonmedical overseas volunteer missions/vacations. I have been to India, Kenya, Tanzania, Swaziland, Madagascar and the Seychelles. My last project was prior to med school. Beginning of second year residency, I decided that I needed to be more proactive in getting the education and experiences necessary for a career in international medicine. So I went online and found InMed, the Institute of International Medicine, and enrolled myself for their International medicine and public health diploma which offers a 10-week online course in the basic principles of international medicine and public health and then the option of participating in an international rotation. Upon completing the online course, I applied for their rotation in Zambia at the Macha Mission Hospital. December 2016 I was accepted into the rotation and now 8 months later, it is finally departure day. I will be spending an entire month in Zambia.

My flight left Tampa this morning to NYC. From NYC I am currently flying to Johannesburg. From Jo-burg I will fly to Livingstone, then take a bus from Livingstone to Choma (3 hours) and catch a taxi from Choma to Macha (1 hour).

I am excited but nervous. Excited because I have been looking forward to this trip all year. I am looking forward to practicing medicine in a low-resource area, learning to rely on my history taking and clinical skills to diagnose conditions and treat people. This will be a welcoming challenge as in the US, we rely heavily on labs and imaging and I often feel like the art of medicine is lost, or in my case maybe never even developed. I look forward to being immersed in a different culture and meeting people from rural Zambia and those who have dedicated their lives to helping the people of Macha.

I am nervous though as well. Nervous because I have very little idea what I am getting myself into. I have seen two pictures online of Macha Mission Hospital and from those images I have created a version of Zambia in my head which is probably very different from the actual place where I am going. I have read through the Macha Mission introductory package several times. I got all my vaccines and purchased all my medications. I packed according to the list I was provided. Items such as duck tape, a swiss army knife which I’m wondering if I’ll really be needing. I hope I have not forgotten anything.

What I know about Macha. Macha is a small town in southern Zambia. The Macha Mission Hospital is associated with a Malaria Research Institute. I will spend mornings participating in rounds on the wards. Afternoons will be spent in clinic and Tuesdays and Fridays assisting in the OR.

What I don’t know. How many people will speak English vs the native Chitonga? What will the weather be like? Did I pack appropriately? Food- What will I eat? I have a peanut allergy, will this be an issue? Living conditions – I know I’ll be staying at the Research Trust Guesthouse. Will I be alone? Will I have a roommate?

What I wish I had done differently at this point?
1. Packed more snacks in my carry-on. I am hungry on the plane. Packed my snack in my checked bag.
2. Gotten visa beforehand – hope this won’t be an issue at customs in Livingstone.
3. Packed my converted in checked bag- should have kept it on my carry-on
4. Should have checked if AT&T had international data for Zambia