Visitor MS0803 
| Visitor |
| Sex? |
male |
| Profession/occupation? |
Medical Student |
| Medical school year or years of
experience since graduation? |
4 |
| Home country? |
UK |
| What made you want to go to
Solomon Islands? |
talking to a previous visitor |
| Did you go alone or in company? |
in company |
| Arriving in Solomon
Islands |
| When did you arrive in Solomon
Islands? |
August 2008 |
| Did you encounter any
bureaucratic difficulties? |
no |
| What was your first impression
after arrival? |
One word - stunning |
| Living in Solomon
Islands |
| What did positively surprise
you? |
Solomon time - everyone's so relaxed it's great! |
| What did negatively surprise
you? |
Solomon time - everyone's so relaxed it takes ages for
anything to get done (especially in the hospital) |
| What took longest to get used
to? |
- |
| What did you miss most in
Solomon Islands? |
Nothing! |
| What should you have brought
along? |
More mosquito repellent |
| What did you do to prevent
malaria? |
Antimalarials - Malarone |
| Place and province where you
spent most of your time? |
Munda, Western Province |
| Other places/provinces where
you stayed? |
- |
| Where did you stay? |
Agnes Lodge |
| How long did you stay at each
location? |
4 weeks |
| How much did you pay for
each? |
GBP 220 total |
| Where did you usually eat? |
Home cooking - very cheap food from the markets |
| What did you typically pay for
a normal meal? |
SBD 20 |
| What local food/beverage did
you like most? |
- |
| What local food/beverage did
you like least? |
- |
| Mobile
phone services |
| If you brought along a mobile
phone, which services did you successfully use? |
- |
| Comments? |
- |
| Money
matters |
| - |
| Comments? |
- |
| Working in Solomon
Islands |
| How did you usually go to
work? |
walk |
| Where did you work? |
Helena Goldie Hospital |
| What was your occupation? |
Working in all parts of the hospital |
| What were your working days and
hours? |
7am - 1pm |
| What was particularly difficult
in regard to your work? |
Limited management, many drugs available (surprisingly),
but major cases needed to be sent to Honiara |
| Did you feel accepted by the
locals? |
yes |
| What did you usually do in your
spare time after work? |
Diving, diving and more diving. Relaxing at the lodge.
Treks inland with some locals. Getting to know everyone you
meet! |
| Questions
for medical trainees of all levels (students to
registrars) |
| How was the supervision? |
loose |
| Comments |
The one doctor there left us alone for a week! |
| How was the teaching? |
adequate |
| Comments |
- |
| Leaving Solomon Islands and
looking back |
| When did you leave Solomon
Islands? |
August 2008 |
| How long was your stay? |
4 weeks |
| How do you judge the length of
your stay? |
just about right |
| What did you learn from the
locals? |
Being friendly - everyone was so welcoming and always
wanting to have a chat |
| Your advice to prospective
visitors? |
- |
| What did you miss most when
back at home again? |
The people |
| What did you enjoy most when
back at home again? |
- |
| Would you go back for another
stay? |
Anytime! |
| Estimated total cost of your
stay (including travel costs)? |
GBP 1,200 |
| Additional comments? |
- |
