Student midwives gain global insight during voluntary placement in India
By: Communications
Two second-year student midwives have spent their voluntary placement weeks at a university hospital in India, learning from professionals about the differences between care in this context with their experience in the UK.
Students Leena Deelawar and Alice Kerby are two of many Midwifery students at UEA developing their knowledge and perception in practice by experiencing healthcare in a different country through placements.
Leena reflects on her two-week voluntary placement, having spent time with the KLE Academy of Higher Education & Research in Belgaum (Karnataka, India) this July:
“Overall, I had a fantastic time on my elective and feel it has opened up my perception of midwifery, women's health and public health, which will leave a long-lasting impression on my professional practice. I highly recommend any students thinking of an elective abroad to take up the opportunity and experience healthcare in a different country – it will be an unforgettable trip.
“My placement with the team was purely observational, including toured visits of the free and paid labour rooms and theatres at the respected charitable and private hospital, which is adjacent to the KLE campus.
“I thought my experience going through a UEA linked placement was very helpful for organisation and helped keep us on track up until the elective. In addition, I was very impressed with the team at KLE – they were incredibly supportive of our learning, keen to get us involved in visiting as much as possible and embedding ourselves in the culture.
“We felt safe throughout the trip, and the UEA lecturers and KLE lecturers set up respective group chats to help us communicate our concerns whilst we were over there.
“I feel this experience has been incredibly eye-opening, seeing how healthcare differs in a developing country and its comparison to the NHS. I feel this learning will change my perception in practice, where I will think with a more holistic mindset and consider how others around the world have different opportunities and experiences compared to us.”
Katherine Waterfall, Midwifery Lecturer in the School of Health Sciences, said:
“Enabling our midwifery students to experience healthcare in a different cultural and clinical context not only broadens their professional skills, but also deepens their empathy and understanding of global healthcare challenges.
“These sorts of opportunities abroad can help our students return with fresh perspectives that will ultimately benefit the people they will care for in the UK.”
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