International Experience Program: India - Rural and Public Health rotation for nursing students

Faculty of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health

Topic Area: Rural and public healthgirls

You will work with local nurses/ doctors on mobile vans, hospitals, clinics and Aids/HIV interventions & learn about health problems faced by rural communities. Students work one on one with local nurses/ doctors in the areas of public health, rural medicine and HIV/AIDS combining work on a mobile health van, small local hospitals, and field trips to see leprosy projects and cataract surgeries.

Program Dates: All year round (2 week - 4 weeks placements) November/December 2012 group program now being arranged

Number of places: 25 students 

Program Cost: Approx. $2500.00 (2 weeks)

Costs include: based on 2 weeks
(All Inclusive: Return flights, insurance, visa, program fee, In-country pre-departure orientation and support, airport pickup, transport to placement, work support and monitoring, 24 hour emergency support, personal cellular phone, accommodation & meals)

Eligibility: Undergraduate DE and Internal students within the School of Nursing and Midwifery are eligible to apply.

Credit Arrangements:   B Clinical Practice (Paramedic):  Credit may be available.  Arrangements TBA       

Due to the restrictions on overseas study by the NSW Nurses and Midwives Board (NMB) the following courses are ineligible to receive credit.  However a CSU Certificate of Participation International Programs will be provided for your CV with an outline of this experience to show potential employers:

Application Time-line:

  • Application closing date: late September, 2012 (exact dates to be advised)
  • Successful students notified (email): late September, 2012 (exact dates to be advised)
  • Payment date: early October, 2012 (exact dates to be advised)
  • Pre-departure session: TBA

Man and CartClick here to register your interest [doc]

Completed forms must be submitted to:

Linda Rust
CSU Global Manager
Office of International Relations
Charles Sturt University
Wagga Wagga
Phone: 02 6933 8214
Fax:     02 6933 4499
Email:  lrust@csu.edu.au

 

Indicative Progam Outline

What do I do on the program?

HIV/ AIDS Intervention: The HIV/AIDS interventions are targeted towards migrant workers, fishermen, truck drivers, and youth in colleges and high school. Students can work in this department and also help out with documentation, putting together training materials, grant proposals and reports for social workers.

Hospital Rotations: Work in the government hospitals that provide health care services to poor patients. Students shadow nurses /doctors in outpatient clinics, on hospital rounds and observe surgeries.

Leprosy: Day trip to nearby leprosy hospital can also be organized for those interested in infectious disease. This allows students to see a disease that is no longer present in the west. Students get a chance to see patients and understand the social and medical aspects of this once dreaded illness.

Health Camps: Work in health camps organized in the villages. Past students have conducted health camps for children and due to their help the organization was able to see over 3000 children in 3 months! (This is available on selected tours)

Even if you are a pre-medical student and don't have clinical skills there are many ways to give back to the community. Past students have helped with conducting health camps for children, medical data collection and analysis, report writing for foreign donors and project evaluation in addition to working in the field.

Where is the program located?
  
The program is spread across several rural locations outside the city of Mumbai. Locations include Pen, Lonavala, Kamshet, Malvali and Karla. All these are located between Mumbai and Pune which are two major metropolitan areas.

The settings are idyllic with hills, valleys, historic sites and popular trekking routes. Most of these areas are conveniently located and well connected with Mumbai, Pune and Goa.

Who can participate?

This program is ideal for nursing, pre-medical, medical, and other allied health professionals interested in rural and public health issues.  No prior experience or other training required. Participants must be over 18 years of age easygoing and flexible. They must be committed to working with underserved communities and be able to live in rural areas. Participants must be open minded, willing to take initiative to contribute and learn from their environment and be respectful to their surroundings. Students should be able to adjust to inconveniences caused due to disturbances in power supply and water supply in the remote areas. Students need to respect the local traditions and norms of the community they stay with and be careful not to disturb others in any manner.

What's included in the cost:

Airfare, visa, travel/ medical insurance, pre-departure orientation and support (in country), airport pickup, transport to placement, work support and monitoring, 24 hour emergency support, personal cellular phone (for use in country), accommodation and meals.  You literally just need your suitcase!!!!

Notes on accommodation & meals:

Accommodation and meals are included in the set price.  Accommodation is on sharing basis in volunteer guest house. (You will meet other students from around the world doing similar programs!!).  Three meals a day are provided for you (Vegetarian Indian cuisine).

For photos of past trips please see this link:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32358436@N07/sets/72157609098349016/show/