Africa

ANGOLA – CEML HOSPITAL

Angola, southern Africa, is a geographically beautiful country, yet scene to some of the greatest human needs on earth. CEML Hospital is one of the latest efforts to improve the lives of Angolans. Current services include a busy out patient clinic, ophthalmology care, and general surgery. The new 80-bed hospital features state of the art facilities for the developing world.

Students work under the direction of Steve Foster, a board-certified Canadian surgeon with thirty years experience in Angola. They participate in the full range of medical services at CEML Hospital, with additional work at the 200 bed Kalukembe Hospital. Functionality in Portuguese or Spanish is useful in this setting, but not required.

ZAMBIA – MUSHILI HEALTH CENTER

Located in the Copper Belt of northern Zambia, southern Africa, Mushili Health Center serves a rural population of 15,000. Malnutrition, malaria, TB, HIV, polio, anemia, burns and traumatic injuries are common in this community. Both preventive care and limited treatment is provided at Mushili Health Center provides. Ibenga Hospital and Ndola Children’s Hospital are located close by and offer care for those needing inpatient medicine.

Healthcare students from the US and UK have studied at Mushili since 2002 under the guidance of an American RN and periodic physicians. Students can communicate adequately using English. Victoria Fall, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, is located just an eight hour drive away, and provides an unforgettable highlight to serving at Mushili.

Asia

INDIA – EMMANUEL HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION

EHA is a network of 21 hospitals and 27 community health projects in northern and central India committed to caring for poor communities irrespective of caste, creed or race. A high proportion of India’s population continues to suffer and die from preventable infections, tuberculosis, malaria, cholera & diarrhea, malnutrition, and pregnancy and childbirth related complications. EHA hospitals provide the full range of clinical services, including obstetrics & gynecology, ophthalmology, pediatrics, general surgery, urology, and general & family medicine.

EHA is excited to offer cross-cultural self-paced experience in medicine, nursing, dentistry, physiotherapy, pharmacy, hospital administration, and public health for students who are interested in expanding their horizons and being challenged by an experience in India. EHA currently hosts about 100 health profession students per year.

INDIA – BANGALORE BAPTIST HOSPITAL

The Community Health Department of Bangalore Baptist Hospital serves the rural area located in Devanahalli Taluk, about 35 km from BBH, and serving some 35,000 people living in 50 villages. Interventions include health awareness programs for school children and women’s groups. Local capacity building is enhanced through training anganwadi workers, auxiliary nurse midwives, and by providing continuing medical education for primary health centre medical officers.

Access to primary care in increased mobile clinics held in the remote and hard-to-access villages. Special vigilance is made to identify malnourished children and provide nutritional support and follow up care. The Community Health Department also engages in leprosy eradication and prevention of impairment for leprosy patients. A chronic disease initiative is a high priority, using street plays and screening camps to increase awareness of atherosclerotic diseases and reduce risk factors.

INDIA – VELLORE CHRISTIAN MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL

The Vellore CMC Rural Health Centre was established in 1954, providing outreach services to 5 villages. Over the years, it has expanded services to the entire geographic region of Kaniyambadi and today includes community-wide efforts to increase literacy, training of community health volunteers, Traditional Birth Attendants and provision of basic preventive and curative services at the village level.

On the forefront of these public health interventions, include efforts to prevent water-borne infections through sanitation and provision of potable water, control dissemination of TB through prompt diagnosis and DOTS treatment, development of micro enterprises for women and provision of rehabilitative care for those suffering from leprosy complications. Students of public health are actively encouraged to participate in the range of interventions, depending upon their particular interests.

NEPAL – HEALTH ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING PROGRAM

PAKISTAN – BACH CHRISTIAN HOSPITAL

Set at the foothills of the Himalayas, this fifty-bed hospital provides care to rural Pakistanis, who suffer from diseases common in the West, such as diabetes, as well as from TB, typhoid, burns, etc. Large numbers of ill children and women with obstetrical emergencies and complications are also attended by the eight physicians from the US, Pakistan, Scotland and Germany who serve at Bach Christian Hospital.

Visiting health professionals, including students and residents, participate in the full range of clinical care, including ward rounds, clinic, surgery, obstetrics (female workers only, except for surgical procedures), burn care, and physical therapy. Visitors can hike in the mountains north of the hospital, including K2, can also visit the remains of ancient Greek and Buddhist pre-Islamic civilizations.

PAPUA NEW GUINEA – KUDJIP NAZARENE HOSPITAL

Papua New Guinea is a developing country in every sense, and faces many of the same struggles found in Africa or Asia. Diseases of poverty predominate, and responding with compassion is the Kudjip Nazarene Hospital (KNH). This facility is located in the beautiful Waghi Valley, and includes a clinic, nursing school, community health program, and full-service hospital boasting 850 deliveries per year.

INMED students can anticipate caring for emergency, clinic, and hospital patients. Most will become proficient with invasive procedures, deliveries and surgical intervention. On-call duties and higher patient load is available for those with the requisite interest and skills. Direct supervision by a staff doctor is provided, and KNH physicians are keen on teaching.

RUSSIA – AGAPE UNLIMITED

Moscow is home to a large number of urban poor, who are often elderly and who rely upon insufficient pensions. Moscow is also home to many Muslims from Central Asia and some one million Africans. Russians often lack proper nutrition and adequate health care and thirty percent do not have access to needed medicines or live within reach of a road.

Since 1993, Agape Unlimited has been providing homeless shelter clinics, nursing home clinics, clinic for African immigrants, and a model primary care clinic. Agape Unlimited also makes medical expeditions to offer healthcare to some of Russia’s most isolated people. A strong emphasis is made on healthcare education throughout all these services, to benefit both Russian and international learners.

Central/South America

HAITI – HAITI HEALTH MINISTRIES

The clinic serves indigent people in the beautiful, rural, rugged mountainous region west of the capital city of Port-au-Prince. Dr. Jim Wilkins and his team provide outpatient care with the support of laboratory, pharmacy, sonography, and radiology expertise. Patients are cared for regardless of their ability to pay. The Clinic also provides patient education and training of national medical workers.

The Clinic regularly receives healthcare profession students and resident physicians. They begin by shadowing clinicians, and then advance to caring for patients on their own, checking out each patient encounter with a staff member. Clinics usually begin with a 30-minute educational session, and students receive considerable hands-on experience. Participation in community health activities is also available.

HONDURAS – CLINICA ESPERANZA

The clinic is located on Roatan, one of the Bay Islands, just north of the Honduras mainland. Despite its remarkable beaches and beautiful weather, many residents live in sustained poverty and suffer from common chronic diseases, as well as from malaria, dengue, intestinal parasites, malnutrition and sexually transmitted illnesses. Roatan’s preexisting medical care system consists only of overburdened government facilities that lack the most basic resources.

Clinica Esperanza’s vision is to provide the finest medical care possible to all Roatan residents, regardless of income status. The clinic was launched in 2001 and now performs over 1,000 consultations a month. The clinic is also progressively adding additional services, including laboratory, ultrasound and minor procedures. Medical education is a high priority at Clinica Esperanza, with supervision provided by both American and Honduran physicians and nurses.