Cat’s Elective to St Vincent and the Grenadines

Hi everyone!

My name is Catrin and I’m currently a 4th year Medical Student, who in August 2024, will be travelling to St Vincent and the Grenadines to undertake my Medical Elective, a vital part of my 5th and final year of medical training which will undoubtedly provide me with life changing experiences; shaping the doctor I become.

As a Doctor, your ultimate goal is to provide access to healthcare for everyone, regardless of who they are, where they live, and their financial situation; something we in the UK are very fortunate to benefit from. However, not everywhere has this luxury, and many go without access to healthcare, resulting in dangerous and potentially fatal consequences for individuals and their families.

During our Elective period, we are fortunate to be able to volunteer anywhere in the world to provide our services, and whilst I could have gone somewhere with similar if not more advanced healthcare services and provisions as the UK, this did not align with the underlying morals which will drive my future practice.

St Vincent and the Grenadines is the poorest of the Caribbean islands, and whilst easy to think of the Caribbean with 5 star-resorts and beautiful white sand beaches, the true reality of those living there is often forgotten. St Vincent and the Grenadines is a multi island state located in the Lesser Antilles, a narrow mountainous island only 18 miles long and 11 miles wide with an active volcano and the 52 miles coastline affected by the many hurricanes that pass through the Caribbean. It was the last of the Windward Islands to gain independence in 1979 and the main island of St Vincent has very poor tourism compared with the prettier Grenadines.

Over 30% of the population are living in poverty; this lack of economic activity fuelling high rates of unemployment and underemployment. However, numerous key projects are currently being developed, including the development of a Health Care System. With only 9% of its residents being covered by health insurance, and over 104,000 individuals to serve, this healthcare system would need to be developed and subsequently implemented with maximal efficacy in order to provide the support needed by those living in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

However, their ability to implement these services is restricted, with sparse availability of safe and clean water, hygiene services and healthcare facilities all exacerbating the major disease burdens present; these being non-communicable diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and respiratory diseases.

Through spending time with the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines, not only will I be able to provide my support through utilising medical knowledge, training and learning, I will be able to facilitate change, not only for those currently living in SVG, but for those in years and decades to follow; this understating how much personal development I will achieve through doing so.

Whilst there, I will be addressing the more evident public health inequities, one of these being the high rate of teenage pregnancies. I will be spending time with the OBGYN team, and also volunteering my assistance to the General Medical team, who are exposed to the health concerns of everyone, from children to the elderly, who are further disadvantaged through challenging access to healthcare vicinities.

Aside from healthcare, whilst there, I would like to give back to the community which provided me with these life-changing experiences by providing English lessons to the local children, which will hopefully enable personal development, and provide skills to facilitate increased confidence in their own abilities. With an evolving tourism market in SVG, the ability to speak basic English will enable those in St Vincent and the Grenadines to benefit from more tourist interaction and engagement, which will enable both financial and personal development.