Alison Lirios

I have always wanted to undertake a placement in the Philippines, and the opportunity through Work the World was the most supportive way to accomplish this.

I wanted to visit the Philippines to explore my heritage and understand the medical system there compared to my home country of Australia.

Both the clinical settings I had the chance to experience were large, busy hospitals with limited resources compared to hospitals in Australia.

Despite their long hours and minimal resources, the doctors and clinical clerks were passionate about their work. I was impressed by the community and the shared belief in the good they were doing. Everyone was so welcoming and excited to chat and teach!

I had the wonderful experience of learning new practical skills like oral gastric tubes in neonates, neonatal lumbar puncture, neonatal cannulation, and echocardiograms in neonates.

I have grown a greater appreciation for the importance of clinical signs compared to reliance on investigations, as there is in Western countries.

I was able to follow the treatment of a neonate with a double outlet right ventricle and severe pulmonary stenosis from admission to care on the ward. I learnt about echocardiograms and how to interpret them in neonates.

I saw many cases of TB and related diseases that are very uncommon in Australia, such as TB meningitis, hepatic tuberculosis and Pott’s disease.

Compared to Australia, the healthcare system in the Philippines was under-resourced and understaffed. Doctors worked long hours and had to adapt to their situation and resources. 

In Iloilo, there was a need to rely on clinical reasoning and signs compared to Australia, where we have become comfortable overtesting and relying on investigations. The teams in Iloilo had to find strategies to overcome their lack of investigations or delays in results.

The Work the World house was very social, and in the evenings, we would go to the spa and hotel pool, go out for drinks at local bars or stay home and sing karaoke.

Weekends were best spent island-hopping to new places with friends. While in the Philippines, I was lucky enough to visit Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Leyte, Siquijor, Boracay, Isla Gigantes, Dumaguete and Guimaras Island.

I swam with whale sharks, turtles, and hundreds of fish. I cliff-jumped, swam through an underground river and was healed by a ‘witch’! Where else in the world could you do all of this?!

I developed my confidence in clinical reasoning, practical skills, and patient communication, which will benefit me when I start my internship next year. I have also made so many amazing friends and made life-long memories with them.

Take the leap and undertake your placement in Iloilo! Visiting a new country where you don’t speak the language might feel scary, but you won’t regret it. 

Work the World creates a friendly and supportive environment, and the Philippines is a country full of welcoming and kind people. Plus, it’s possibly the best country to island-hop, with gorgeous beaches, adventure, and diving opportunities.

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