Where to go...?!

I'm a UK medical student thinking about planning my elective. basically, I have about 5-7 weeks next April/May to work in a hospital, and do some research/write about my experiences as part of my course... I really want to go somewhere remote or developing, and the idea of a small island really appeals. I'm looking at either Kiribati, Vanuatu, or the Marshall Islands, was just wondering if anyone can tell me about these places? What are the people like? What are the hospitals like, do they cover many specialities?? and most of all, how easy are they to get to from the UK, from what I gather I'd have to fly via Fiji/Australia?? Also, I think I may be tagging the end of the hurricane season, so what would the weather be like? Many thanks!

I'll be doing another extensive sailing trip through the South Pacific this season and am doing a heap of research on all the areas you mention, and more! Many small islands in remote or developing areas have some kind of village clinic or first aid post, and provincial centres have small (usually woefully funded and stocked) hospitals, yachties often donate first aid supplies, linen and towels etc. I read about Project MARC (Medical Assistance for Remote Communities) in Vanuatu, specifically in Sakou, one of the Maskelyne Islands. I also read of western medical students attending the hospital on Gizo Island, Western Province, Solomon Islands.

I've not yet been to Vanuatu (recently voted themselves the world's happiest people) or Kiribati, but have visited areas of the Solomons and PNG and am thrilled to be going back, especially by sea which allows access to hard-to-reach islands. As you say, you'd fly in via Fiji or Australia, Air New Zealand has good airlinks through the Pacific too. No matter if there is or has been, 'trouble', I think smaller communities/islands are safe and I am surprised at how 'far out' you can get with air links.

You have time to learn simple pidgin (known as bislama in Vanuatu), invaluable in countries, I can speak basic (easy and fun to learn) pidjin and it makes SO MUCH difference. Project Marc's basic manual for Village Health Workers is available online, it includes a list of useful pidgin for medical purposes, plus hints on cultural awareness in the area etc.

April/May is indeed the end of the hurricane seasons, most yachts don't leave Australia or NZ for the start of the cruising season until May at the earliest, most in June but we are more vulnerable at sea/anchor................ in your shoes, I'd take my oldest clothes and leave them there (and a pile for the local children too), ditto snorkel gear and medications.

Wow!

Don't know about the ones you mentioned, but do know that Palau and Pohnpei often have students working at the hospitals. Several TTers have done rotations in Palau that I know of. If these appeal at all, can provide some names.

Of the places you mention, I have only been to Vanuatu.
That is my favourite Pacific island nation though, so I can only recommend it most highly.
The people ARE the friendliest, most hospitable folks I met in the Pacific - and also the most traditional culturally.
It is also a more diverse archipelago both geographically or culturally than the 2 Micronesian countries you are considering.
From the UK, the cheapest/shortest way to get to Vanuatu would be via Australia (cheapest from there on Virging Blue), though you could also reach it via Fiji.

To reach Kiribati, the most reliable way would be via Fiji on Air Pacific, while to the Marshalls it would be via Hawaii on Continental.

What is pidjin? Is that like a whole new language, or is it like a broken english type thing??

5Waldos - that would be awesome if there are people who I could contact, just throwing idea's around at the moment, but it'd be great to hear from someone who's actually been!

Its such a tricky task being given total run of the world, I think pretty much the only restriction we have is if the foreign office advise against travel somewhere - so that leaves quite a lot of places!

thanks for the replies!!

"Pidgin" or Bislama as the Vanuatuan variety is called, is much more than just "broken English" - you might want to invest into this book if you decide to go to Vanuatu, where some 40% or so of the population studies French rather than English at school, but pretty much everyone speaks Bislama.

Solomons Pidgin is much closer to English.

Hm...Hey those of you who have been to Palau to work at the hospital- show your faces!

Will see if I can dredge up any names for you hb- I don't save all my mail, but if you want to know who to contact there, pm me.

Actually, for what it is worth, I worked at the hospital there for 3 years. PM me if you want stories and tales.

Oh- and in Pohnpei for another year.

HB,
I myself can't answer your questions, but if you can send an email to me @rosmci2@yahoo.com.au, setting out what it is that you'd like to do, I'll pass it on to two doctors who know a a great deal about the medical services in the Pacific. They are actively engaged in helping hospitals in the Solomon Islands, under an Australian umbrella. The Solomons are one stop back to the west of the Marshalls on the only flight in from the west; the Air Nauru flight between Brisbane Aust and Majuro in the Marshalls. The main thing to know is that the Pacific islands are heavily dependent on foreign aid for anything like hospitals and medical services. The Marshalls used to be under the US umbrella (there are now attempts to turn Bikini Atoll into a tourist attraction accessible from Hawaii and Fiji). There are also Aust-NZ aid programmes running right alongt he Air Nauru route. From what I've been told about the Solomons, the first things to research would be 1. malaria, 2. malaria, 3. malaria, and 4. obstetrics.