Exchange report - incoming students
Home university: Makerere University
Study programme: Midwifery
Exchange programme: Linnaeus-Palme
Semester: Autumn semester 2012/2013
Name: LILLIAN SHALOM NAKIMERA
Email address: killiansu@gmail.com

Arrival and registration

It was such a relief to find the KI Pick Up team waiting for us at Arlanda airport, being that we were in a new place and had contacted them on such short notice. The introduction day gave us insight about KI and about the Swedish culture that we found really helpful. The student center gave us useful information on what to do in case we got ill.

Acommendation

The housing arrangements were very convenient because we applied through UAC so we found our rooms ready by the time we arrived in Stockholm. The cost of housing was a bit high but it was worth it because the rooms were convenient for study.

Leisure time and social activities

I participated in some events organised by Global Friends and took some tours, e.g. to the Nobel Museum. The voucher was really helpful for some of the activities. I made friends through my clinicalrotations, and Global Friends

Pre-departure

I chose to go on exchange because it was an opportunity for me to get international exposure, and Karolinska Institutet was my university of choice because it is prestigious, being a leading medical university in Europe and choosing the Nobel Prize for Physiology and Medicine.

The exchange information was helpful, especially prepared me for a new culture. Vaccination was not one of the requirements for my travel but certificates were required.

Courses during the exchange period

2BM009 : Midwifery lead pregnancy, labour and postpartum care
My studies were mostly practical. For the first time in my midwifery education I was allocated a senior midwife to learn from on a one on one basis. At my study hospital the midwives were always very busy attending to a big number of clients. They thus did not have the time for one-on-one supervision. At the end of the day I acquired a lot of skills and hands on experience in midwifery that are relevant to Ugandan mothers. The course was very relevant to my degree. In Uganda one has to study both Nursing and Midwifery at undergraduate level unlike Sweden where midwifery is taken at masters level. This way I got a lot of information from the senior midwives I was attached to. All in all it was a wholesome experience. What could be improved: During the shared lectures with KI students some of the lessons were conducted in Swedish. Much as we took Sweish classes, it was still hi-teck to study in Swedish. If there could be a consideration where by such lectures could be conducted in English.
2EE089 : Antenatal care including fertility control, delivery, neonatal and postnatal care, theory and clinical education
My comments here are not much different from what I have above stated. I can only add that it was unique to have reproductive centres that offer services to only males or only adolescents. This is an idea that could be borrowed home. It was a great previlage for me to take an exchange study program at KI. The information attained will always be with me as in the struggle to prevent maternal-infant deaths in Uganda.

Summary

It was well organised, and this was great in terms of helping us settle in with our studies, clinical rotations, accomodation and social events.


Tack Sa Myckett.

Language and Culture

Yes I participated, which helped me learn basic Swedish. This helped me get around for example in the grocery stores. Sometimes I would be able to follow conversations in Swedish for the patients preferred to communicate in English.

Studies in general

The supervisors were always willing to give all the needed information about a given topic and always ready to teach us all the necessary skills. The patients were all open minded and gave us a chance to learn, even when some of the examinations required were really personal. The main difference between studying at Makerere and KI is in the one to one care in Sweden as compared to many clients a midwife has to attend to in Ugandan hospitals. I learnt, among others, the different relaxation techniques in labour and pain management.