For Students
Program Overview
As part
of the program, students participate in an intensive orientation
curriculum intended to promote an understanding of the cultural,
economic, religious, and
political background that frames health and health care in Honduras.
Following this preparation, students spend one month in Honduras, where
rising 2nd and 4th year students and their preceptors provide
much-needed health education and screening services to rural Hondurans.
During the month of July, students first conduct educational workshops
for community members and local health educators about reproductive
health issues, nutrition, and sanitation. Rising 4th year students,
guided by their preceptors and assisted by rising 2nd year students,
then provide screening tests for sexually transmitted infections
(STI's) and cervical cancer. Lab work, pharmaceutical support, and
continuing care are provided by the government-supported Planned
Parenthood International affiliate, ASHONPLAFA and/or the Ministry of
Health. This annual program, initiated and led by medical and public
health students but under the supervision of medical faculty, offers
students invaluable opportunities to understand health in an
international context, improve their Spanish, and appreciate the
complexity of medical care across different cultures. Leadership within
HHA has transitioned as 2nd year students have advanced to 4th year
positions and have returned to Honduras as project leaders. For
the first time, the 2007 HHA team was co-led by a UNC public health
student.
Program Eligibility
Honduran Health Alliance's 5th trip to southern Honduras will occur in July 2008. The program is open to Spanish-speaking students who typically have just finished their first or third year of medical school at UNC, as well as UNC public health student group leader. All participants are eligible to receive 4th year medical school elective credit for their participation, or practicum credit through the school of public health. This experience is an excellent opportunity for students interested in a career in obstetrics and gynecolorgy, family medicine or women's health.
Experience
The student experience in Honduras involves the following:
- Home stays with families in small towns and rural villages
- Health education workshops (charlas) for Hondurans about
basic health isssues:
- reproductive health
- nutrition
- STIs / HIV
- Family Planning
- Preventative clinical services, including:
- pelvic and breast exams
- pap smears
- STI screening
- Coordination of follow-up care, results delivery and counseling
- Time to travel and relax with other UNC medical students
- Visits to Honduran clinics and hospitals
- Pre-trip orientation class during the Spring semester
Time Line
- Late October/November 2007: interview with group leaders to become part of the group
- January-April 2008: weekly class (1 hour of lecture, 1 hour of optional Spanish)
- April 2008: 1-2 day retreat to work on charla materials
- July 2008 (see
detailed calendar)
- arrive in Tegucigalpa
- several days of charla planning, preparing materials
- several days of training local health promoters
- ~5 days in rural communities (in pairs) giving charlas
- 1 week of rural clinic in Madrigales
- 1 week of hospital/local clinic visits, working with local providers, and health promoters
- several days to return to individual communities to give test results and arrange follow-up
- return home at the end of July
Seminar
Exploring International Perspectives in Medicine &
Public Health
The purpose of this course is to promote an understanding of the
cultural, economic, religious and political background that frames
health and health care in Honduras. Through seminars with
multidisciplinary faculty, students will be introduced to the
historical forces that have shaped Honduras and its people. Students
will be expected to attend lecture and participate in discussions.
Topics (see complete
schedule)
- Medical Geography
Melinda Meade, PhD, Dept of Geography (UNC) - Community Development Work in the Developing World
Charles Price, PhD, Dept of Anthropology (UNC) - Introduction to the Honduran Health Alliance
Meagan Hunt, MS4, Avik Chatterjee, MS3, and Laura Hinson, MPH candidate
- Basics of a Well-Woman exam
WHEC consortium
- Archaeology & Mayan History
Dorie Budet, PhD, Dept of Archaeology (Duke) - Honduran History
Jocelyn Olcott, Assistant Professor of History at - Religion in Honduras
Rebecca Reyes, Duke Hospital Department of Social Work
- Birth Control Methods
Cari Merlos-Boram, Planned Parenthood - How to Give a Charla / Presenting Health
Information to a Lay Audience
Beverly Gray, MS4, previous HHA co-director - Medical Anatomy Review
Jeannette Lager, MD Chief Resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UNC Hospitals
Costs
Program fees cover all costs (food, lodging, local transport, etc) while in Honduras, except for any fun extras, such as snacks, extra travel, entertainment, alcoholic beverages, etc. Fees for July 2007 are $550. Students are responsible for arranging and purchasing their own airline tickets. Because students receive academic credit, financial aid is available for program fees and travel expenses.
Apply
Interested applicants should email the HHA at hha@listserv.med.unc.edu.