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Doing an Elective at St. Stephen's Hospital (Written by 3 students who have done their elective at St. Stephen's Hospital) Delhi is the capital of India, and despite the pollution it is a perfect place to start acquainted with this country. Like India itself, Delhi is a city of contrasts. Old Delhi with its bustling streets, busy markets and aromatic spice shops is the part of the city where one is most likely to feel that they have come across the "real' India. Built in the seventeenth century by the Mogul emperor, Shah Jahan (who is more famous as the man responsible for building of the Taj Mahal), it is said that the traditional lifestyle of its predominantly Muslim population has changed little over the last two hundred years. Old Delhi is home to Jama Masjid, the largest mosque in India, and also to the Red Fort, both of which are well worth a visit. In contrast, in New Delhi, an orderly plan of wide roads lined with sturdy colonial buildings which was established as the capital of British India in the early 1900s. This is where the government buildings are situated and the India Gate war memorial. New Delhi is the area most frequented by tourists and is where many more western shops and restaurants are to be found. Travelling around Delhi is easy, even if it can be hair-raising at times due to the volume of traffic, people and noise. Taxis, auto rickshaws and cycle rickshaws are useful forms of transport. The infamous blue line buses, however, should be avoided. Delhi is worth exploring in its own right, but on top of this it provides a good base from which to explore other parts of North India. Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal, is only 200km away from here, and may be visited in a day. The pink city of Jaipur makes up the third point of the so-called golden Triangle and again is well worth a visit. If you want to explore further afield it is possible to take flights from Delhi to other parts of India and the surrounding countries. How to get there St. Stephens' is situated in Old Delhi. This is a half-hour taxi ride from Delhi International Airport. Arrangements can be made to be met from the airport. Accommodation Two rooms are available for elective students on the hospital site. This is a safe area as the hospital has full time security arrangements. Food Food is provided in the hospital dietary. Packed lunches are available on request. Our Experience We spent the first part of our elective at St. Stephen's and the last ten days travelling in Nepal. During our visit to St. Stephen's we spent time in te departments of general medicine, community medicine, paediatrics, orthopaedics and cardio thoracic surgery. From a medical point of view it was very interesting. We saw patients with Dengue fever, polio, rheumatic fever, rickets and leprosy. We especially enjoyed spending time in community medicine. We found it very thought provoking and we were able to see what life is really like for the people living in the slums. Orthopaedics was also very interesting particularly the re-constructive surgery on children with polio. Delhi is a bustling polluted city, scattered with many monuments and temples. It has its own peculiar charm. We were pleased to be staying in the old part of the city as this is generally off the beaten track for the tourists. St. Stephen's gave us a safe haven of tranquility from which to explore the city. During an evening stroll we were invited to a Hindu wedding by some of the locals who we'd never met before. We were treated like guests of honour. The staff at the hospital were very hospitable and supportive, this included picking us up from the airport when we first arrived, helping us to change money, order taxis and arrange day trips. The accommodation was fairly basic but adequate. There was proper toilet and hot running water. The food was provided, but as you would expect it was curry! We didn't spend all our time working, we were able to see some of the sights of Noth India. We travelled on our weekends to the magnificent Taj Mahal in Agra and to the famous "Pink City" of Jaipur. We finished off our elective with a holiday in Pokhara and Katmandu in neighbouring Nepal. The mountains and lakes made a relaxing break after bustling Delhi. We thouroughly enjoyed our time at St. Stephen's and would recommend it to anyone considering an elective in India. Things to bring Essentials:
Handy Extras:
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