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Volunteers: with new experiences from The Gambia


We are proud of our students who have for the last few years been travelling to The Gambia on a humanitarian/voluntary mission, where they help as future physiotherapists at a local hospital.

This time, three 3rd year physiotherapy students went on an expedition: Aneja Tancer, Tjaša Esih and Eva Železnik. During the first week, they volunteered at the private clinic Penmar, where they worked with two excellent physiotherapists. “Most of the patients were people with cerebral palsy, but some also included children with balance, walking and motor skills disorders. We performed passive exercises, electrotherapy and manual techniques, we worked with balance pillows, balls, weights," explained our students, who describe the expedition as a unique experience.

They also delivered medical supplies, donated by Alma Mater, to the local Kanifing Hospital.
 
The second week, they continued their volunteer work in the town of Brikama. “A large number of patients were waiting for us. The biggest challenge was how to independently diagnose, prescribe therapies and exercises, and providing the patients with tips for working out at home. Working outside the hospital environment was much more stressful and was significantly different from working in a clinic, as there was no electricity in some places. Given the conditions in which they work, the staff of the clinic, hospital and the city of Brikama were grateful for all the help and additional knowledge they received from us, while we also learned a lot and came home full of positive impressions and convinced that physiotherapy really is a profession we want to continue doing," they added.

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