Climate and Health Connect, Kwale Eye Centre

Locations

Diani, Kwale County, Kenya

Elective Options
Clinical
Usual Capacity

2 spaces

Cost & Dates

£930 for 4 weeks
£200 per additional week
Electives available year-round

Subject Areas

General clinical

Outpatient clinics (cataract, glaucoma, paediatric, diabetic eye)

Paediatric surgeries

Eye trauma

Public health/outreach — community screening

 

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Kwale Eye Centre is a Kenyan eye hospital delivering high-quality, accessible eye care to Kwale County and the wider Coast region since 1993. The centre has treated over 650,000 patients and performed more than 45,000 sight-restoring surgeries.

Placements are run in partnership with Climate Health Connect and their Diani-based partner, Global Youth Forum. Students join outpatient clinics, paediatric and trauma care, and community screening outreach offering focused exposure to ophthalmology alongside public health work in a specialist setting.

 

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Dimension

Description
  • Comfort vs Challenge

Kenya is an easy country to visit, and Diani is 45 mins from Mombasa airport and train station.  Hence you can fly direct or via Nairobi where Climate and Health Connect staff will assist with you onward travel by bus or train.

Airport pick up, accommodation in Diani and daily hospital daily transfer to Kinondo/Kwale will be organised by CHC who can advise and assist you during your stay.

Accommodation is 100m from the beach, safe and of a high standard (shared/single options), including use of a shared pool and is self-catering. 

The climate can hot but with a sea breeze.
  • Safety vs Adventure

Diani is an international beach resort town with a good reputation for visitor safety, including solo travelers.  This is a very comfortable somewhat westernised destination but there is ample opportunity for travel and adventure throughout Kenya and nearby Tanzania (inc Tsavo National Park and Mt Kilimanjaro).
  • Sociability vs Isolation

Diani is a vibrant beach resort all year round and both hospital sites are small and sociable.  Your accommodation is shared between clinical sites as Diani is inbetween.
  • Hands-on vs Observational

Kinondo is a small general hospital staffed by an experienced team of clinical officers with visiting consultant support.  You can expect plenty of opportunity to get involved.

Kwale is a specialist Eye centre that is excited to be welcoming potential future ophthalmologists for focused electives.  The exact arrangements for clinical activities are not yet clear.
  • Engagement opportunities

CHC work the Global Youth Forum and they will be delighted to discuss opportunities for joining their activities (especially football related) and is exploring ways to organise local ‘health camp outreach’ around visiting students.
  • Costs and value

A very good value placement in a glorious destination.  A unique opportunity for budding ophthalmologists or those with a watersport interests.
  • Travel / tourism

Travel to and around Kenya is straight forward and relatively cheap.  There are ample accessible tourist options in Kenya (E.g. Tsavo National Park, eastern coast and islands such as Lamu) and beyond in Tanzania (inc and Mt Kilimanjaro).
  • Career relevance

Ophthalmology in Kwale can be used to support ST post applications.
  • Academic opportunities

Healthcare Improvement projects may be feasible in Kwale.
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The week begins on Monday at 7:30am with a full team meeting. Depending on the day, students either join community or school screening in the field or remain at Kwale Eye Centre for outpatient clinics, theatre observation, or low-vision work including supporting teacher training and vision club sessions in local schools.

Most days run 8:00am–4:00pm with formal teaching sessions at 2:00pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays where students may also be asked to teach optometrists, student nurses or clinical officers. Field activities continue throughout the week, with occasional weekend involvement, though the placement generally runs Monday to Friday.

Elective students work under the supervision of experienced doctors (senior residents), with the Head of Department and other consultants as overall supervisors.

 

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Students at Kwale Eye Centre gain broad exposure to general ophthalmic clinical work, including outpatient clinics covering cataract, glaucoma, paediatric and diabetic eye conditions. The placement also includes paediatric surgeries and eye trauma cases, alongside public health and outreach work through community screening programmes. Students interested in audits, data collection or small projects will usually find willing supervisors, though this should be arranged well in advance

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Accommodation is within a safe, exclusive residential development with a shared pool, a 100m walk from the beach in the Diani resort town. Students based at Kinondo Kwetu Hospital and Kwale Eye Centre share this accommodation as Diani sits between the two sites.

Pricing is for shared rooms, with a single-occupancy supplement available (£5/day). The accommodation is fully self-catering. Food is generally cheaper than in the UK at roughly half to two-thirds the UK cost with ample opportunities to eat out as well.

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Diani is a well-established beach resort town on Kenya’s south coast popular with international visitors and known for its safety, including for solo travellers. The setting is comfortable and relatively westernised but there’s plenty of scope for adventure further afield including Tsavo National Park, the coastal islands (such as Lamu) and even day trips into Tanzania towards Mount Kilimanjaro.

Diani is a sociable spot year-round, and with both hospital sites nearby, students often have the chance to explore together. Water sports are widely available locally, alongside the beautiful beach.

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Item Cost
Diani Accommodation £240
Diani Transport (daily return) £290
Hospital Fee ($50/week) £150
KMPDC Licensing Fee £150
CHC/GYF In-Country Support Fee £100
Total for first 4 weeks £930
Additional weeks £200pw
Optional Mombasa airport/train pick-up £60

Not included: Flights, visa, insurance, vaccines, DBS/reference checks, meals, weekend activities or trips.

Electives available year-round.

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How long can I stay at Kwale Eye Centre?
Placements are available year-round, though December isn’t recommended due to the Christmas break. The standard stay is 4–8 weeks on site with longer placements possible.

Which departments can I work in?
Kwale is a specialist eye centre. Students join outpatient clinics (cataract, glaucoma, paediatric and diabetic eye), paediatric surgeries, eye trauma cases, and community screening outreach.

What are the accommodation arrangements?
Students stay in a safe, exclusive residential development with a shared pool, a 100m walk from the beach in Diani. Rooms are shared unless a single-occupancy supplement is paid (£5/day). Students placed at Kinondo Kwetu Hospital and Kwale Eye Centre share this accommodation, as Diani sits between both sites. The accommodation is fully self-catering.

Is transport to the hospital included?
Yes. Daily transport between your accommodation and Kwale Eye Centre is arranged by CHC.

Will someone meet me at the airport?
Pick-up from Diani airport is included. If flying via Nairobi, you’ll be met and accommodated as needed by the CHC team before onward transfer to Diani. Pick-up from Mombasa airport or rail station is available for an additional £60 return.

Do I need a visa?
Yes. An online ETA is required for Kenya — $50 for single entry, or $100 for an East African multiple-entry visa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda). Read the conditions carefully and ensure you get the hard-copy label in your passport on arrival.

What vaccinations or health precautions do I need?
Students should consult a travel health professional for personalised advice. Vaccinations, malaria prophylaxis, and other health preparations are the student’s responsibility.

What is the typical schedule?
The week begins Monday at 7:30am with a full team meeting. Most days run 8:00am–4:00pm, with formal teaching at 2:00pm on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Field and community screening activities continue throughout the week, and the placement generally runs Monday to Friday.

Can I join community activities?
Yes — through CHC and their Diani partner, Global Youth Forum, students may be able to join community engagement and outreach activities, depending on availability.

Do I need insurance?
Kwale Eye Centre doesn’t hold employer’s liability, public liability or professional indemnity cover for visiting students. All students must arrange comprehensive travel, medical and professional indemnity insurance before travel.

Are there any cultural or legal considerations I should be aware of?
Students should wear scrubs and abide by hospital codes and regulations. Kenya criminalises LGBTQ+ identities — same-sex sexual activity is illegal — and attitudes are largely conservative outside coastal tourist areas. The accommodation is in an exclusive residential development so students are asked to be respectful of other residents