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Planning your elective--Bangladesh
Mark Wilson gives you some tips
Bangladesh borders India and Burma, with the Bay of Bengal to the south. The north is mountainous, but most of the country consists of fertile alluvial plains. Political troubles and repeated floods have left Bangladesh with major economic problems and this is reflected in its health care. It does, however, make an interesting elective destination. Not surprisingly, infectious disease and malnutrition are the major problems, especially in rural areas. Being able to speak Bengali is an obvious advantage, but at least in the main hospitals, is not essential.
Visas
A visa is required. Contact the Bangladesh High Commission, 28 Queens Gate, London SW7 (tel 020 7584 0081).
Health requirements
The following vaccinations are currently recommended: Typhoid, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, and bacille Calmette-Guérin. Depending on your area of travel, rabies and Japanese encephalitis vaccinations may be advisable. Finally, malaria prophylaxis will be required. Consult your hospital's occupational health department or www.masta.org for the most up to date advice.
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Some hospitals in Dhaka and Chittagong
The International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh (ICDDR,B), Mohakhali, Dhaka (tel +880 8811751-60). Electives here have been repeatedly recommended. All types of diarrhoea can be seen--acute, watery, bloody, invasive... what a great elective!
Ibrahim Memorial Diabetic Hospital, 122 Kazi Nazrul Islam Avenue, Shahabagh, Dhaka (tel +880 8616641-50). This is home to the Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in diabetes. Endocrine and metabolic disorders (BIRDEM)
Dhaka Shishu Hospital, Sar-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh. This is the main paediatric hospital in Dhaka.
Central Hospital, Dhanmondi, Dhaka (tel +880 9660015-19).
Bangladesh Medical College, Dhanmondi, Dhaka (tel +880 9118202).
Christian Medical Hospital, Gulshan, (tel +880 9886298).
Institute of Postgraduate Medicine and Research, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Centre for Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (PO CRP), Chapain, Savar, Dhaka.
City Dental College and Hospital, Malibagh, Dhaka (tel +880 9341662-4).
Aysha Memorial Specialized Hospital, Mohakhali, Dhaka (tel +880 9122689-90).
National Institute of Cardiac Vascular Disease, Ser-e-Banglanagar, Dhaka (tel +880 9122560).
Bari-Ilizarov Orthopedic (BIO) Centre, Dhanmondi, Dhaka (tel +880 9120309).
Dhaka Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital, Dhanmondi, Dhaka (tel +880 8613936).
Holy Family Red Crescent Hospital, Eskaton, Dhaka (tel +880 8311721-25).
Institute of Community Opthalmology, Pahartoly, Chittagong (tel +880 031 654 051).
Chittagong Diabetic Hospital, Batali Road, Chittagong (tel +880 031 617 495).
Holy Crescent Hospital, Zakir Hossain Road, Chittagong (tel +088 031 616 001-4).
For tuberculosis and leprosy fieldwork try the Heed Bangladesh Kamalganj Project, Keramatnagar (near Srimangal), Moulvibazar, Bangladesh. This can be arranged through the Leprosy Mission (TLM, Goldhay Way, Orton Golday, Peterborough PE2 5GZ (tel 01 733 370 505).
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Medical schools in Bangladesh
Chittagong Medical College, Chittagong
www.cmcnorthamerica.com/
Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka
communities.msn.com/DhakaMedicalCollege
Mymensingh Medical College, Mymensingh
Rajshahi Medical College, Rajshahi
Rangpur Medical College, Rangpur
Sher-e-Bangla Medical College, Barisal
www.communities.msn.com/ShereBanglaMedicalCollegeBarisalBangladesh/home
Sir Salimullah Medical College, Dhaka
www.geocities.com/ssmcalumni/ssmcinformation.htm
Sylhet Medical College, Sylhet
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Mark Wilson senior house officer in intensive care medicine University College Hospital, London
mark@medicstravel.com
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