UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Elective Course for Students From Other Universities

The Elective System

The University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences accepts for elective attachments a number of students from other Medical Schools who have completed part of their clinical training. Attachments are arranged with one of the departments of the College of Health Sciences or one of its constituent hospitals. The period of attachment is generally restricted to minimum of four weeks, and the award of a place depends on the merits of the application, documentary evidence from the parent University Medical School testifying to the level and stage of attainment by the student in the medical course, and on the number of places available for attachment at any one time.

Students are welcome to apply for any period of the year except during examination and vacation periods which do vary per year. However, attachment at District and Mission Hospitals is acceptable at any time in the year.

During the elective attachment, the student will be expected to practice clinical skills, attend and participate in lectures and seminars and function with other students on the wards. Electives may also be arranged in non-clinical research departments.

The elective period is intended to bring a medical student from another school into a new environment, consolidating and extending knowledge and experience which the student has obtained at the parent university.

Hospitals

Parirenyatwa and Harare Hospitals in Harare and Mpilo Central and United Bulawayo Hospitals in Bulawayo are referral hospitals. A greater variety of clinical cases are seen at these Hospitals and it is envisaged that visiting students will elect to spend most of their time working there.

Fields

Any of the clinical fields may be studied. During their stay visiting students are expected to join local students for teaching sessions on the wards and/or they may be given ‘junior housemen’ responsibilities.

Peripheral Hospitals for Visiting Students

Most students from other medical schools who come to us for their electives express a desire to go to peripheral hospitals usually for two or four weeks.

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This is understandable as these hospitals expose the students to a greater variety of clinical cases as well as allowing them to experience different aspects of the health system from that practised at the referral hospitals.

The peripheral hospitals are situated all over the country and are divided into District Hospitals (hospitals serving the smaller towns and surrounding district), and Mission Hospitals which serve the rural areas in general.

An attachment to a peripheral hospital affords the visiting student the opportunity of experiencing and participating in Primary Health Care through such projects as the Extended Programme on Immunisation, and visiting rural health centres which provide facilities for preventive and curative medicine down to the lowest rung of the Health Service – the Village Health Worker. The later plays a vital role as a liaison between the rural community and health services, and facilitates the implementation of such services as may be necessary. The rural/mission hospitals are usually situated some 48 to 100 or more kilometres from towns.

The Electives Office facilitates the exposure to Primary Health Care by arranging for attachments with the Medical Officers of the hospitals.

Method of Application and Requirements for Acceptance

Applications for an elective period at the University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences should be sent directly to the Electives Office, College of Health Sciences. The letter of application should contain details of the applicant’s medical school and the stage of training, the sort of experience which the student wishes to gain, and the dates during which the student would wish to have a place in the chosen programme.

Application forms are sent to the student when

(a) An enquiry for a clinical elective is received and the desired clinical elective is available. (b) On receipt of this form, duly completed together with the administration fee, a letter of acceptance will be sent to the applicant. (c) The form should be returned together with one photograph of the applicant, and the administration fee. (d) Upon payment of administration fee and confirmation, you should register with the Medical and Dental Practitioners Council of Zimbabwe (email: [email protected]). The requirements for registration are as follows:

i) proof of admission from your University ii) proof of registration with the University of Zimbabwe Electives Office iii) a fee of US$25.00 (twenty five US Dollars) and iv) a fully completed application form 2. The applicant is required to return the Confirmation of Acceptance Card to this office at least 2 months before the elective is due to begin. Failure to do so will result in the elective being cancelled.

Note: Confirmation of acceptance must be returned with confirmed dates and details of flights. We should be grateful if students who either have been sent application forms or have been accepted, could let us know in good time if they are unable to come for whatever reasons otherwise they

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may, by not doing so spoil the chances of other applicants. No refund will be entertained should you fail to come after having paid the administration charges.

Mode of Dress

It is expected that all elective students should be smartly dressed – informal attire is not acceptable, and men should wear a shirt and tie. Students are expected to wear white coats and a name tag these are not provided.

Accommodation

The University has limited accommodation for elective students. The students are advised to make their own accommodation arrangements before leaving their countries.

The University of Zimbabwe – Medical Course

The College of Health Sciences of the University of Zimbabwe is situated in Harare, the Capital City and was founded in 1963 with an enrolment of 26. At present there are more than 1200 medical students in training. The medical program is spread over five years, the first two years being pre-clinical with some introduction to clinical courses, and the remaining three years being devoted to clinical studies. Elective attachment for dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, medical laboratory technologists and nursing science degree students is also organised on the same lines as medical students.

For Further Information, Please contact:

Electives Office University of Zimbabwe, College of Health Sciences Telephone 791631/708140,708020 Ext 2329/2244 Telephone: 704314 Fax: 705155

E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected]

Postal Address The Electives Officer UZ-College of Health Sciences P O Box A178 Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe

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