Mohammed, a medical student at Al-Azhar University in Gaza and a founding member of Children Not Numbers, overcame immense challenges to attend an elective course in cardiology at the Royal Free Hospital, UK. Despite the difficulties, he arrived in London and, from November 2024 to January 2025, successfully completed his elective course. He is deeply grateful for the support he received. Check his testimonial and photos below to learn more about his experience.

Testimonial

My name is Mohammed Al Zebda, and I am a 6th-year medical student at Al-Azhar University in Gaza. I arrived in London on 11th November 2024 and had the opportunity to take elective courses in Internal Medicine and Emergency Medicine at the Royal Free Hospital. I successfully completed the courses on 2nd January 2025.

These electives included Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology, Nephrology, and Emergency Medicine, conducted from 12th November 2024 to 2nd January 2025 at the Royal Free Hospital. The journey from Gaza to London was incredibly challenging and filled with hardship, but I am deeply grateful to God for granting me the opportunity to reach London and take these courses. I would also like to extend my sincere thanks to The Hanoon Foundation for their unwavering support throughout my journey.

During my time at the Royal Free Hospital, I gained invaluable experience learning about the NHS system. I had the opportunity to see many patients in the wards, clinics, and during rotations. Additionally, I worked in the Emergency Department, contributed to research projects, and participated in morning meetings and patient decision-making processes. These experiences have been tremendously beneficial, and I am eager to continue applying what I have learned.

Furthermore, I am passionate about helping other medical students who wish to take elective courses abroad. I would love to assist them in navigating the process and seizing opportunities to gain similar experiences. My goal is to guide them along the way and help them benefit from the skills and knowledge I have acquired.

Lastly, I sincerely hope that the war ends soon, allowing our medical school to return to normal, rebuild, and support the next generation of medical students.

Thank you once again for your support. I will keep you updated on my progress.

Read more about the international training placement programme here