Four final year medical students from the Gambia were hosted in Swansea to undertake their 6 week medical elective during June/July 2010. A programme of clinical attachments was arranged by Claire Cowell, Undergraduate Supervisor. This was a busy schedule that involved observation of clinical practice in many different specialties within the ABMU Health Board.

The medical students also were involved in a weekly journal club led by Steve Allen. This involved critical analysis of current research and assessing how different types of research inform clinical practice.

Gambia students Uchenna, Aji-Binta, Sabina and Joy with Steve Allen and Claire Cowell.

Feedback from the visiting students:

“The thought of coming to a developed country for electives clouded our minds with so many questions. Will the weather be harsh to us? Will patients be welcoming? One thing which relieved us was the good experience previous Gambian students had in Swansea.

On arrival in Swansea, we were warmly welcomed. The staff of school of medicine, Singleton and Morriston hospitals and patients in was all welcoming and made us feel at home.

The consultations we attended various clinics were quiet impressive, especially doctor-patient relationship, team work and patient awareness. Although patient awareness about their conditions is good, it could be challenging to doctors. Most patients tend to review a lot of information from the internet which could mislead them and hence difficult to be convinced.

One of the things we found very useful was the journal club in which we critically appraise journals. It was challenging because we have little experience in reading journals, but it was interesting and has broaden our knowledge in research especially the statistical aspects.

We also had the opportunity to be in the clinical skills session where manikins are used for different clinical procedures. Students learn faster and with less stress using manikins as compared to learning from patients.

It was a great and wonderful experience.”

A project aimed at sharing diabetes know-how with nurses in The Gambia has been awarded £6,400 by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The funding will support exchange visits for staff working in diabetes in both Swansea and Gambia. The staff will work together focusing on wound care, auditing and the development of patient information posters. This training will build on the success of the previous project which provided educational resources, via eLearning, on the management of diabetic foot care.

Ros Thomas, Swansea Deputy Head of Podiatry, said: “The Diabetic Foot is a global health problem; Type 2 Diabetes and its associated foot disease is increasing in The Gambia. A link was set up between Swansea and The Gambia to aid knowledge in the Diabetic foot using an e−learning module.”

Picture: Ros Thomas dressing a diabetic leg ulcer during a visit to The Gambia

“The e-learning module was a great success; an audit of staff knowledge at the Royal Victoria Hospital in The Gambia showed a 60% increase in knowledge and understanding of the diabetic foot after using the e-learning module.” Terence Gorvett, Research and Development and IT Lead in Podiatry, added: “We are very happy to have been awarded this funding. We hope to build on the success of the e-learning module by using the funding for exchange training visits. Two nurses from The Gambia will be visiting us to gain experience and knowledge on the care of a person with diabetes.”

“The visiting nurses will get the opportunity to see first-hand how patients with diabetes are managed in Swansea. Plus, the module set up to accompany their visit can be taken back to their place of work and used as a reference tool to educate students and qualified staff in wound care and diabetes.”

Picture: Relatives camp outside the hospital as it is too expensive to travel back and for.

The project will start with an initial visit by Ros and Terence to Gambia in August 2010 aiming to further identify training needs ahead of the Gambia nurses visit to Swansea.

A multidisciplinary team of students from Swansea University will run a pilot project in the Gambia this summer to develop a deepened understanding of the interdependency between ill health and broader development and environmental issues. The students, selected from the Schools of Medicine, Arts and Humanities, Human and Health Sciences and Media studies, will work alongside Gambia University and Medical School students to develop a knowledge partnership in line with Millenium Development Goal 8.

For more information about the project see the student section.

A VERY WARM WELCOME TO THE 3 STUDENTS OVER FROM THE GAMBIA!!

On the 2nd March, Ousman, Abdullahi and Emeka flew into Gatwick Airport for their 10 day stay in Swansea as the latest student exchange contingent. They are being hosted by the Student Committee, and are staying in Singleton Hospital Accomodation for the duration of their stay. During their stay they will be undertaking various placements throughout the Swansea hospitals, as well as engaging in numerous social events. We would love for you to join us on any one of these, or indeed at lunchtime in Singleton Hospital. A full timetable can be found here. If you would like to join us, or would like more info then please get in touch with Anna Woodman at

Wed 3rd Feb. 2010.

The Vault, Swansea, doors: 7pm, first auction: 8pm

Late licence, live music, drinks promos and a few very special surprises…

On Wednesday the 3rd of February the Swansea-Gambia Link hosts the Auction of Promises at The Vault under No Sign Wine Bar. Last year was an outstanding success raising over £3000, and this year we hope to do even better!

We’re happy to take group bids on the bigger prizes, so get together with a few friends and you could have surf lessons, a pancake breakfast with Peter Davies or a week in plush Galway seaside cottage.

As well as the auction we have plenty of entertainment including Dave Williams playing live, drinks promotions, a late licence and some very special surprises that we’ll reveal on the night!