Mvumi Hospital takes a limited number of medical students for their elective periods, but are usually heavily oversubscribed. The quota is normally filled at least a year in advance. If however you would like to apply, you are more likely to be accepted if you are Christian, prepared to stay at least 6 weeks and are considering working overseas as a career.

If you are interested in applying please send a brief resumé giving provisional elective dates, details of your year and course and interests. The person to write to is Dr. Alison Talbert at P.O. Box 32, Mvumi, Dodoma, Tanzania. You should receive a reply within a month. Please supply your email address if you have one.

Mvumi is a district hospital serving a poor community who pay for their own medical treatment. It is 'low tech', and basic compared to what you have seen in Western teaching hospitals. You need to be open minded and sensitive to local people's feelings (including the staff's). Patients present late so there are lots of interesting clinical signs.

Most visitors are surprised to find that there are plenty of medical staff, so you will not be called on to 'work', or 'save lives', but will be able to observe procedures and operations. It is often possible to accompany the community health or eye department outreach teams on 'health safaris' to surrounding villages.

Mvumi and Dodoma are situated on the upland plateau which covers much of Central Tanzania. Although they are close to the equator, the temperature is moderated by the altitude and there is often a cooling breeze. The temperature in the area of Mvumi is quite stable and humidity is low. Typically during the warm season midday temperatures in the shade will reach 32ºC and at night temperatures will fall to a minimum of about 26ºC. At the coldest time of the year in June and July the average daily temperature reaches about 27ºC and at night it may go down to about 18ºC. The sun is however fierce and a hat, sunblock and a good supply of water is essential if you are travelling and walking for long periods. On the coast the humidity is usually much higher although temperatures are similar it often feels much hotter.

Dress etiquette: women are advised to be conservative, which means no short skirts, shorts or trousers in public. Men should only wear shorts in tourist areas. You will gain greater respect from the local people by being discrete in your dress and your behaviour.

Swimming things: there is a swimming pool in Dodoma.

Medicines: Bring your own supply of antimalarials and insect repellent and any prescription medicines which you may be taking.

Other essentials: A torch for when the power fails and getting around after dark. Sunblock - factor 10 and above depending on your sensitivity - the sun is very intense. Books and things to do in the evenings - there is no theatre or cinema. Water treatment tablets from outdoor pursuits shops are useful for sterilising salads and fruit and you will probably need them if you intend to travel around.

Don't waste your baggage allowance on medical textbooks or a white coat, we can provide most of what you'll need. Accommodation comes with bedding, mosquito nets and kitchen equipment.

Staples and seasonal vegetables and fruit are available in Mvumi village. Meat can be bought in the village, but not every day of the week and it is sold very fresh. Eggs can be bought locally and milk can be ordered if supplies are available. The local people will often call on you to sell you their fruit, vegetables and eggs. A wider range of food is available from the grocers' shops and market in Dodoma. A car goes into town most weekends. The food in Mvumi in general is good and wholesome but don't expect to eat what you want when you want.

Mvumi is about 40kM along an unmade road from Dodoma so travelling is laborious. There are two bus services running from Mvumi to Dodoma. They leave Mvumi before seven a.m.and return from Dodoma in the mid afternoon. The fare is approximately 800 Tsh. At the weekends there is generally transport to and from the hospital on the Saturday and there is generally a hospital vehicle going to town once or twice a week. A trip to Dodoma however usually takes all day.

There is no effective phone service in Mvumi, so please warn anxious relatives not to expect immediate notification of arrival; it may take a couple of weeks for a letter to reach home. If you want to contact home it is a good idea to phone on your way through Dodoma before you get to Mvumi. Phone and fax services are available in Dodoma next to the Post Office opposite the railway station, which is on the way to Mvumi. The telephone office is only open for limited hours. Post can be sent to Mvumi c/o Dr Alison Talbert, P.O. Box 32, Mvumi, Dodoma, Tanzania and takes 1 to 2 weeks from the UK.

If you are able to bring surgical gloves, needles, syringes, IV cannulae as gifts for the hospital they will always be appreciated. And the expatriates love chocolate and cheese.............