Travel has always been a passion and a drive in my life, I understand how privileged I am to go on experience such as my 5 week Ghana physiotherapy placement. As I prepare for my placement, I think about to not just developing my clinical skills, but on the footprint I leave behind.
International placements are an amazing opportunity’s however they do also carry environmental and ethical weight which I believe every traveller should keep in mind. The most significant environmental impact of any international placement is the flight. I have made an intentional decision to book at direct flight from London to Ghana, to minimise fuel consumption and associated carbon emissions. Alongside this i will be packing light and not brining any unnecessary luggage with me, which reduced aircraft load and therefore carbon emission as well as minimising waste and single use plastics. These choices align with United Nations Climate Action (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal13), reflecting my personal commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions wherever possible.
Once in Ghana i will need to travel to and from my accommodation to my placement area. I intend to use and embrace public and local transport such as tro-tros, walking, and shared taxis. I fell this is one of the most authentic ways to see the country and engage with local people, as well as having environmental benefits such as supporting accessible, low-emission transport systems, which aligns with SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities (https://globalgoals.org/goals/11-sustainable-cities-and-communities/)
In many parts of West Africa plastic pollution is a pressing issue. After travelling to South East Asia and seeing the environmental damage of single use plastics and I am determined to not add to it. Instead I will be suing a reusable water bottle, solid toiletries, and reusable bags to eliminate single use plastic from my daily routine. By doing this I will algin with SDG 14 (https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/oceans/) and SDG 15 (https://globalgoals.org/goals/15-life-on-land/), to protect the ecosystems Ghanaian communities depend upon.
Most importantly, I aim to immerse myself within local culture by eating at locally owned restaurants, buying food form local markets, and only purchasing souvenirs from independent artists. This aligns with SDG 8 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal8) and SDG 10 (https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal10), and ensures my presence in Ghana will provide to local people rather than taking from the community hosting me. I believe this is the true essence of travelling – to give back, connect, and learn from local people, so that the experience not only shapes who i am as a person, but gives me the skills to positively influence the future.
Sustainable travel, I believe is not about perfection, but about the intention and accountability of my actions. It’s impossible to eliminate the environmental impact of travelling across the world, but small changes and making conscious decisions can go along way. This elective placement is an opportunity to grow as a person and to use what I learn to become a clinician who carries the values of sustainability, equity, and community into every aspect of my practise.
