Peruvian Amazon Elective

Experiences and Benefits

This elective was an invaluable experience in a geographical area facing very different healthcare concerns from our own. I joined the Forth Hope medical ship for 10 days, sailing up the Peruvian Amazon and stopping at small villages along the way. These communities have limited resources and access to healthcare, and we saw very late presentations for conditions that would be picked up a lot earlier in the city.

As the ship had limited diagnostic tests on board, I had to rely on my clinical skills and examination more than I ever have before. This was also a unique experience in that we were off-grid: no phone 

signal or Wi-Fi. I was unable to look anything up or check guidelines, which was a new experience. Many patients had diarrhoea or rashes, and without the resources to take cultures or swabs, we had to rely on clinical judgment to diagnose and treat appropriately. I saw giardia, amoebiasis, and other parasitic infections, as well as shingles, pityriasis versicolour, infected ant bites and tinea corporis. Everyone received anti-parasite medication as standard, and multivitamins were regarded as a cure-all.

After the ship, I spent time in the Infectious Diseases department of a hospital in Iquitos. I saw many diseases, including malaria, dengue fever, oropouche fever, toxoplasmosis, and advanced HIV with Karposi’s sarcoma.

This was a once in a lifetime opportunity to see conditions rare in the UK and to experience international healthcare in a very different setting, with limited resources. I also worked with the Peruvian team and with translators, which was a great way to learn more about Peruvian culture. I used the bursary to pay towards the cost of the Vine Trust expedition, which as a charity relies on funds from volunteers to continue running. Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity.