Deepened interest in Global Health after thesis project in Zanzibar
Dellie Carlson, currently in her final semester of medical school in Gothenburg, was awarded the 2024 Career Companies Student Scholarship. The scholarship funded her thesis project in Zanzibar, where she helped implement a new triage system in the emergency department of the island’s largest hospital.
During her 10th semester in medical school, Dellie spent three enriching months in Tanzania, East Africa, with financial support from a 15,000 SEK scholarship from Career Companies.
Challenges in healthcare
"It was definitely one of the most fun semesters so far! Thanks to the career scholarship, I was able to fund my project and lay the groundwork for future collaborations and travels. The scholarship has also given me great contacts for the future, which is incredibly valuable in the field of global health," says Dellie.
Her thesis was conducted in the emergency department of Mnazi Mmoja Hospital, the largest hospital in Zanzibar. While the island is a well-known tourist gem, this vacation paradise also faces significant healthcare challenges.
"I learned so much about how emergency medicine is practiced in a resource-limited environment and how you can make a big difference with small means. I was lucky to share this journey with my best friend Amanda Bardh, which made every day a bit more fun, and we could also support each other throughout the entire project!"
More efficient emergency care
Their task was to implement a new triage system they believed would be better suited to the hospital’s conditions and the challenges faced in low- and middle-income countries. The system was compared with the emergency department’s existing system, where previous research had identified certain shortcomings.
"Our goal was to further develop and investigate if the new system could improve time efficiency in the emergency department," says Dellie, continuing:
"We were fortunate to work with an incredibly dedicated staff, and by the end, it felt like we were part of a small family. I hope we get the chance to go back and visit them and all our friends again soon!"
In the future, she hopes to combine her interest in medicine and global health on an international level.
"Right now, we’re working with our supervisor Delér Shakely on writing a research paper, and I can see this project being the starting point for future international collaborations," Dellie shares.
Photo: Private