Nursing has been a lifelong ambition of mine and combined with a passion for travel and experiencing different cultures, providing healthcare to people in a developing country seems a natural step.

I’m a student nurse in my 1st year at the University of Gloucestershire and have the amazing opportunity of spending 6 weeks in Sri Lanka on my nursing elective in June 2018.

I will be based in the historical city of Anuradhapura in the North of Sri Lanka. Nursing in Anuradhapura will provide me with the opportunity to gain experience in a hospital with limited resources and be exposed to a number of tropical diseases which are rare or non-existent in the UK. Malaria, Typhoid, Dengue Fever, Tuberculosis, Rabies and Japanese Encephalitis are all prevalent in Sri Lanka.

I’ll have the chance to work across multiple departments such as ICU, obstetrics and gynaecology, general medicine, general surgery and oncology. My final week will be spent in a remote village learning about the ancient art of Ayurveda or ‘tree medicine’. With the help of a master healer, I will get the chance to create Ayurvedic medicines from the local plants and barks found in the jungle.

I will attempt to learn basic Sinhala before my trip and whilst working long hours in the hospital in Sri Lanka, I will also attend regular Sinhala lessons so that I’m able to communicate with patients and staff who speak little English.

This all comes at a cost and I will need to pay for my flights, accommodation, travel insurance and vaccinations. I am not looking to make any financial profit from this experience, but I am enthusiastic and eager to learn about the healthcare system in Sri Lanka. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel to a country with a lower standard of healthcare than the UK. Embracing the culture and values in Arunadhapura will challenge me both emotionally and mentally, making me a better registered nurse with a wider understanding for different methods.

Any additional funds I'm able to raise will go towards purchasing resources for the hospitals in Sri Lanka. Mosquito nets are vital to provide protection from the mosquitoes which spread dengue fever and malaria.

I would really appreciate any contributions to make this adventure a success and please share this page with everyone you know. Thank you for taking the time to read my story.