PCEA KIKUYU HOSPITAL

Information for Elective and Placement Students

Please specify the exact date, month, and year you wish to schedule your elective or placement so that reservations can be made in a timely manner. Additionally, please remember to provide an evaluation form from your university. This will be completed by PCEA Kikuyu Hospital upon the conclusion of your elective term.

General Overview

Founded in 1908 by missionaries of the Church of Scotland, PCEA Kikuyu Hospital has been managed by the Presbyterian Church of East Africa since 1956. The hospital is located in Thogoto, near Kikuyu town, approximately a 30-minute drive northwest of Nairobi.

Our Services and Facilities

The general hospital features four main wards: male, female, paediatric, and maternity, with an average inpatient population of around 100. Our comprehensive services include:

· Outpatient care, maternal and child health, and casualty (emergency services).

· A fully operational operating theatre, a dental unit, and an Comprehensive Care Centre/ART programme.

· A dedicated Eye Unit providing highlyspecialized ophthalmic care across East Africa.

· An on-site orthopaedic rehabilitation unit with an active surgical programme.

Healthcare in Kenya

There is no free healthcare in Kenya. Government hospitals, supported by taxes, provide 50% of the country's health services at nominal fees. Church-run hospitals provide approximately 40% of the nation's healthcare and are widely recognized for delivering high-quality care at affordable rates. The remaining 10% of services are provided by the private, for-profit sector.

While church hospitals cover about a fifth of theiroperational costs through donations, patient fees account for the majority ofincome. Consequently, PCEA Kikuyu Hospital relies heavily on partners, donors,and volunteers to keep patient fees to a minimum.

Medical Staff and Student Involvement

Our medical team comprises full-time and part-timespecialists, including medical officers, internists, general surgeons,paediatricians, urologists, ENT specialists, gynaecologists, and gastroenterologists.The vast majority of our staff across all cadres are Kenyan professionals.

As an elective student, you will be expected to join the medical staff for daily ward rounds, clinical audits, and business meetings. Students are also invited to attend morning prayers, participate in outpatient and casualty clinics, and assist in the operating theatres. We strongly encourage students to assist with weekend duties, as reduced staffing levels during these times often present greater opportunities for hands-on clinical involvement and patient care.

Common Clinical Presentations

Students will encounter a variety of conditions, commonly including pneumonia, malaria, tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, and diarrhoeal diseases. We also manage chronic conditions and their complications, such as diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatic heart disease. Frequent surgical interventions include caesarean sections, D&Cs, hysterectomies, and large bowel surgeries, alongside routine ophthalmic and orthopaedic procedures.

EXPECTATIONS FOR STUDENTS

Hospital Policies and Cultural Standards

Students are required to respect the Christian tradition of the hospital and observe local cultural norms. PCEA Kikuyu Hospital is a strict no-smoking and alcohol-free campus.

Dress Code and Weather Preparations

Dress standards in Kenya are conservative. For clinical work in the wards, students should wear smart-casual attire (such as dresses, skirts, or a shirt and tie) along with a white lab coat. Please note that laundry facilities on campus are manual (washing by hand), so please bring resilient, suitable clothing.

The hospital sits at an altitude of nearly 6,000 feet. While this significantly reduces the risk of malaria, it means the climate can get quite cold. Warm sweaters or jackets are essential, particularly during the coolest months of July and August. Night time temperatures can drop below 10°C(50°F), despite our proximity to the equator. Strong, durable shoes are essential for navigating muddy paths during the rainy season, and a reliable umbrella is highly recommended (though one can be purchased locally).

What to Pack

· A reliable torch or flashlight.

· Light weight medical reference books (e.g.,Oxford Handbook, Lecture Notes in Tropical Medicine, or relevant prescribing guides).

· Personal books, games, or evening entertainment.

We advise students to leave high-value items at home and secure comprehensive insurance for necessary equipment like cameras.

Elective Duration and Visas

The minimum duration for an elective attachment is 6 weeks. Students are expected to schedule any holiday travel or safaris outside of this official placement period. Tourist visas for Kenya are typically valid for 3 months, and extensions can generally be processed straight forwardly within the country.

Personal Expenses

Students are responsible for all personal expenses, including local and international telecommunications. Please note that the hospital cannot facilitate international billing or collect calls for personal use; we recommend securing a local SIM card or an international data plan upon arrival.

Payment and Reservation Policies

Accommodation fees must be paid in full and in advance to secure your reservation. Because rates are subject to variation due to currency fluctuations, we strongly advise confirming your placement dates and finalizing your payment as early as possible.

Payments should be sent via international electronic funds transfer (wire transfer) using the following banking details:

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