MEDICAL WOMEN’S FEDERATION
Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HX
Tel: 020 7387 7765 email: admin.mwf@btconnect.com
www.medicalwomensfederation.org.uk
@medicalwomenuk
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Name
Jessica Anyan-Brown
Email
j_anyan-brown@hotmail.co.uk
Project title
Cuba – A Healthcare Paradox
Location of your Elective
Havana, Cuba
Contact details for your elective (eg. Website
address or email address of your project coordinator)
http://www.cubamedicalelectives.org/
info@cubamedicalelectives.org
Professor Garbey: egarbey@infomed.sld.cu
I managed to fulfil my objectives for my elective – I wanted to
understand how this country has such a renowned
healthcare despite its political and economic circumstances,
particularly how they have achieved an infant mortality and
life expectancy only comparable with the UK and USA. I also
had the chance to practice and trust in my clinical skills and
improve my Spanish. Finally it confirmed to me that
paediatrics is the career for me!
Yes – but only if you are confident with spoken Spanish.
Although there are some students and doctors who can
communicate in English, they are hard to find and it’s not
always easy for them to translate as things are going on.
Also Cubans mainly suffer from “Western” conditions with a
few rare conditions, so not ideal for those looking for the
weird and wonderful.
I stayed with a Cuban family which really helped me with my
language and with how to have the most authentic Cuban
experience possible.
Also all doctors and medical students wear white coats – but
the lab coats we use in the UK are far too hot for the wards!
Buying a light white jacket or even shirt will help to keep
cool.
Yes with email address
What did you achieve?
Would you recommend this location / project to
others?
Further comments (eg. Travel advice, tips for
organising an elective similar to this etc.)
Would you be happy for you feedback form to
be available on our website?
Further comments (eg. A review of your trip)
max. 500 words.
I spent half my elective in the Paediatric Hospital in Central
Havana and the other half in a GP clinic in Old Havana. I
enjoyed my paediatric placements back in the UK so this was
easily my favourite part of the elective.
I was lucky to experience medical training and clinical
practice from all stages – from the teaching sessions with the
4th year and final year students to spending time on the
wards with the interns(F1/2s) and shadowing the
MEDICAL WOMEN’S FEDERATION
Tavistock House North, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HX
Tel: 020 7387 7765 email: admin.mwf@btconnect.com
www.medicalwomensfederation.org.uk
@medicalwomenuk
www.facebook.com/MedWomen
consultants.
I was based mainly on the respiratory wards and cardio
clinics so saw many patients with tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis,
congenital heart problems and more. There were many
interesting clinical findings in these kids – more so than I had
experience of before!
Despite their obvious clinical excellence, I was shocked by the
hygiene standards on the wards – there were posters about
effective hand washing and how to stop the spread of TB yet
no soap by the patients’ sinks and horrific toilets.
My GP experience was fascinating too – despite the huge
patient lists for per GP and nurse and frankly no order when
it came to making and turning up for appointments, the
patients had the utmost respect for their GP and often
showered them in gifts as they were aware how little they
earned compared to their workload. Also every patient was
very keen to have their blood pressure checked with each
appointment – some even bringing their own kit!
I liked how the GP did at least an annual home visit to every
patient to make sure they were coping and also check home
conditions were suitable for their children. In Old Havana,
there is a lot of overcrowding and damp housing so this
brought about and aggravated many respiratory problems.
Overall I was impressed with how much knowledge the
Cuban doctors have about medical problems and how
important clinical skills are with the lack of technology and
medical equipment we take for granted. They have learnt to
be resourceful in every way, including exporting their medical
knowledge around the world and making their own
medicines, all of which was amazing to experience.
They were all so kind to invite me back to work with them (I
doubt I would be needed as Cuban doctors are numerous!)
However I do hope to go back in 5-10 years to see how the
relaxation of the embargo has affected their healthcare –
hopefully for the better.