Medical Electives & Attachments

Clinical Elective Program for Medical Students

Dear Student:

Thank you for your interest in a medical elective at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Kilifi.

We accept medical students in their 4th or 5th year of study for electives of between 6 to 10 weeks. In general, we only take students who have already had some experience of clinical paediatrics (though we make exceptions for individuals with other experience coming to do a specific laboratory or field based project). The Unit offers excellent experience of clinical paediatrics and a wide exposure to research in a developing world setting.

Please fill out the attached Application Form for our electives program. Ensure that you have included the dates that you are interested in coming for your elective.application at least 6 months before you hope to start your elective if you are applying from an overseas university, and 3 months before your elective period for students from East African/regional universities.

Applications are dealt with on a first come first served basis, and submission of a completed application package does not guarantee you a place, as elective placements in Kilifi are quite competitive.

A COMPLETE application must include:

  1. A completed application form OR fill in an online application form
  2. A short statement outlining why you would like to spend your elective in Kilifi and how the experience will be of benefit to you.
  3. A letter of recommendation from the Dean's Office of your Medical School stating that you are a student in good standing at the school and that you have permission to take this elective.
  4. A copy of your curriculum vitae.
  5. A copy of your passport/East African national identity card. 
  6. Good quality passport photograph.

Please return your completed application, and also address any further enquiries that you may have to the following address: electivesatkilifi [dot] kemri-wellcome [dot] org.  If applying online, please have electronic copies of the associated documents available for upload.

Once again, thank you for your interest in an elective in Kilifi, and we look forward to receiving your application.

Sincerely,
Dr Neema Mturi, Medical Electives Coordinator

 

Background to Kilifi

Location

Kilifi Town is situated on the Kenyan coast about 60 km north of Mombasa. It is a small town of around 10,000 people. The hospital and town itself are on the north side of the bridge with some residential areas in Mnarani to the south of the bridge. It has a reasonable range of shops for basic supplies, a post office and two banks.

Kilifi town is situated in Kilifi District of Coast Province, Kenya. Kilifi District is one of the six districts which make up Coast province. To the south is Mombasa District, to the north Malindi, Tana River and Lamu districts, to the west Taita Taveta whilst to the east lies the Indian Ocean. The district covers an area of 12,464 sq.km. inclusive of about 109 sq.km. of water.

Topography and geology

Kilifi District has four major topographical features. These are the Coastal plain, the Foot Plateau, the Coastal Range and the Nyika Plateau.

The Coastal Plain is a narrow belt, varying in width between 3 km. and 20 km. It lies below 30m above sea level except for occasional prominent peaks on the western boundary. The rest of the area is broken by creeks and estuaries giving rise to excellent marine and estuarine swamps, with mangrove forests and untapped potential for marine culture, Kilifi lies in this strip.

Climate

The narrow coastal belt receives an average annual rainfall of about 900mm to 1000mm. The pattern of rainfall in Kilifi District is bimodal. The long monsoon rains fall from April to June with a peak in May. The short rains, on the other hand fall from October to December. Apart from monsoon rains the other dominant feature of the weather along the coastal strip is the heat, temperatures range from a minimum of 21oC to 32oC.

Economy and population

The two primary forms of economic activity in the District are agriculture and tourism. In Kilifi District tourism is concentrated around Malindi and to a lesser extent Kilifi. The revenue earned effects only a small proportion of the population.

Agriculture, employing 85% of the population remains the backbone of the local economy and since the population density is high in relation to the agricultural potential, the District is one of the poorest in Kenya in terms of per capita income. Waged employment only absorbs 4% of the population.

The population of the District is estimated to be 720,000, over 80% being drawn from the Mijikenda group. the Mijikenda(nine tribes), are a loose grouping whose Bantu languages are to a large extent mutually intelligible and closely related to Swahili. They are believed to have arrived in their present homelands in the seventeenth century from a quasi-historical state called Shungwaya. This centre was probably located in south-west corner of present day Somalia. The group is comprised of the Giriama, Digo, Rabai, Ribe, Duruma, Chonyi, Jibana, Kauma and Kambe. The Giriama and Digo are the largest and best known sub-groups.Kilifi is an endemic area for Malaria and it is one of the major causes of infant mortality in the region. Malnutrition is also another major problem affecting the children in the District.

 

Travel to Kilifi

Road transport:
Kilifi is 60 kilometers North of Mombasa on the Mombasa-Malindi highway. When traveling from within Kenya, you can either take a Nairobi-Malindi bus and alight en route or take a bus to Mombasa and get a taxi, bus or matatu to Kilifi from Mombasa. Kilifi matatus can be boarded at Buxton bus terminus in Mombasa.

Rail transport:
Currently rail transport in Kenya is not very efficient and we advise against using it as a means of travel.

Air travel:
Several Airlines fly to Kenya: Kenya Airways and Ethiopia Airlines have an extensive network serving African countries while Kenya Airway, BA, KLM, Emirates, connect Kenya with the rest of the world. Usually international flights land in Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta International Airport). You then need to take a domestic flight to Mombasa. There are several flights per day from Nairobi to Mombasa (Kenya Airways flights can be booked in the UK,). There is a visa charge on arrival of $50 or sterling equivalent.

From Mombasa airport we advise you to get a taxi to Kilifi. A private taxi cab will cost approx. 4000 Kshs. We will be happy to arrange for a Centre-contracted taxi to collect you from and take you back to the airport at any hour of the day if you contact us with your flight details and make a request for this at least two days prior to your day of arrival.

 

Medical elective FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

 


What are the dates of the elective programme?

We accept applications from students all year round.

 

When should I submit my application?

You need to submit your application at least 6 months before you hope to start your elective.

 

How many elective places are available each year?

We accommodate a maximum of 2 students at any one time. Applications are processed on a first come-first served basis

 

How are elective students selected?

Your application will be checked for all the supporting materials and that you have the necessary experience and qualifications to benefit from an elective placement at Kilifi. If you are offered a place you will be notified by email by the Elective Coordinator.

 

What are the minimum and maximum number of weeks of an elective?

The minimum elective period is 6 weeks and the maximum is 10 weeks

 

What year of my university studies should I have reached to apply for an elective in Kilifi?

Students can take part in the elective programme when they are in the fourth, fifth or sixth year of their home university programme

 

What supporting materials do I need to submit with my application?

A complete application must include:
(1) A completed application form
(2) A short statement outlining why you would like to spend your elective in Kilifi and how the experience will be of benefit to you.
(3) A letter of recommendation from the Dean's Office of your Medical School stating that you are a student in good standing at the school and that you have permission to take this elective.
4) A copy of your curriculum vitae.
(5) A copy of your passport.
(6) A copy of your passport photograph.

 

Will I be assessed at the end of my elective?

You will be given feedback forms to complete at the end of your placement asking for comments on the elective programme and time you have spent with us. If your home university/Medical School require you to bring an evaluation form with you please hand this to your supervisor for fill in.

 

Will I have the opportunity to undertake a research project?

Many students wish to undertake a research project, we encourage this but for elective periods of less than 8 weeks it is usually only possible to gain experience within on going projects and often it is not possible to specify a project in advance. For students spending more than 8 weeks in Kilifi it may be possible to undertake specific personal projects.

 

What fees are charged for elective students?

We do not charge fees for elective students. However, overseas medical students are encouraged to give a voluntary contribution of KSh10,000/£75/€100 to the Kilifi Hospital Medical Emergencies Fund. This is a fund established through a partnership between the Kilifi District Hospital (KDH), KEMRI and the Kilifi Rotary Club. The fund helps to pay for specialized medical tests such as CT scans and ultra sound scans that are only available in private hospitals in Mombasa and are prohibitively expensive for the most needy patients.
Details on mode of donation will be made available on acceptance of your application.

 

What opportunities for funding are there?

Unfortunately we do not fully support elective students and you must therefore be self-financing. A range of funds is available for support of electives and you can find details from your medical school office. Sometimes these require project descriptions - as indicated above it is often not possible to give a specific project in advance for shorter elective periods and we therefore rely on students to be creative in applying for funds.

 

Is accommodation available?

We will arrange accommodation for the first two weeks of your stay and after that you are free to make your own arrangements. You will be required to pay the two weeks rental in advance on your arrival in Kilifi, the cost is approx. £8 per day but may be adjusted if the accommodation is shared. You should normally therefore budget for around £10-£15 per day for food and accommodation.
There have been a number of incidents concerning minor robberies of tourists and visitors to Kilifi. Always ensure you are accompanied when walking in out of the way places. Do not walk alone at night.

 

What are the Occupational Health requirements?

It is essential that you visit the Occupational Health department of your University before coming here, to discuss the risks of working in developing countries, in particular the dangers of blood borne infections. As in most of Africa, HIV rates are much higher than in Europe. You will be advised on appropriate safety procedures to be followed at work but the vast majority of HIV transmission is by sexual activity (with obvious implications for avoidance!). If you are going to carry post-exposure prophylaxis against HIV, you need to carry triple therapy.

Vaccinations

You should be fully vaccinated against Hepatitis B. You should also ensure that childhood immunisations (DPT) are updated. It is advisable to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A. Rabies occurs in Kilifi District (as anywhere else in Africa); the risk of exposure is very small but as the vaccine is safe and effective (though quite expensive) you may wish to be vaccinated. This is certainly advisable if you plan to travel in rural Kenya. Yellow fever vaccination is not necessary to enter Kenya but will require if you plan to travel on to other African countries from Kenya.

Malaria prophylaxis:

Malaria is endemic all year round. Mefloquine is currently the most effective prophylaxis. Despite the bad publicity most people take it with few problems. A combination of Chloroquine and Proguanil is an alternative but does not offer the same degree of protection. (consult your GP or on one of the tropical schools for doses/advice before travelling). Another alternative is Doxycline. No chemoprophylaxis is 100% effective. Thus measures to around being bitten (eg bednets, covering up exposed skin at night, insect repellents) are important. You should obtain medical travel insurance to cover the period you are in Kenya. The most important piece of information about malaria is that, whatever prophylaxis you take any fever, particularly within 3 months, on after returning to the UK is an indication for an immediate blood film to exclude malaria.

 

Do I need health insurance?

Yes, you must arrange personal health insurance. It is a condition of your acceptance that you are adequately insured to cover the cost of medical care if you should become ill during your elective period.

 

Where should I send my completed application?

Your completed application package should be sent to electivesatkilifi [dot] kemri-wellcome [dot] org.

 

Who should I contact if I have any further questions?

If you have any further queries please contact the Electives Administrator, Ms Hamida Kalachu at Hmwiriatkilifi [dot] kemri-wellcome [dot] org

 

Medical elective application form

Overview of Medical Elective Programme

Overview of the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme

The KEMRI/Wellcome Trust Research Programme at the Centre for Geographical Medicine Research in Kilifi is primarily involved in research in paediatric infectious diseases: clinical description of diseases, pathophysiology, morbidity and mortality, immunology, interventions and drug trials, pharmacology and social medicine research among others. We operate in a Kenyan district hospital where children are admitted to a general paediatric ward or a High Dependency Unit (HDU). We also have an active outpatient department where follow-up studies are carried out.

 

Medical Elective Programme

We accept medical students in their 4th and 5th years of medical school for a minimum of 6 weeks. Applications are accepted all year round. You must make your application at least 6 months before you hope to start your elective.

Applications are processed on a ‘first come first served' basis, and places are usually limited to 2 students at a time.

Learning opportunities during your elective in Kilifi