Program Overview
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Who: OSU medical students in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program and Swaziland’s National Emergency Response Committee on HIV/AIDS (NERCHA)What: A two-month study-service trip focusing on HIV/AIDS policy
Where: Mbabane, Swaziland
When: June 17-August 13, 2003
Objectives
For the students:- Generate an interest in public health
- Expose participants to international health policy work, specifically addressing the international HIV/AIDS crisis
- Inform participants of the severity and prevalence of the HIV/AIDS crisis
- Engage participants in grass-roots projects (NERCHA) in urban and rural areas of Swaziland
- Educate participants on the necessity of sustainable health policy
- Introduce participants to the complexities of health care delivery in third-world countries
- Develop an appreciation of and enthusiasm for international health work
- Facilitate bilateral cross-cultural awareness
- Create permanent relationships with humanitarian aid organizations
- Improve clinical skills such as drawing blood, suturing, taking vital signs and medical histories.
- Improve the health of the Swazi people
- Staff Swazi clinics with volunteers to help meet the immediate health needs of the Swazi people
- Allow American medical students to help develop HIV/AIDS policy for Swaziland
- Develop a working long-term relationship with the Ohio State University COM & PH as a health resource and partner in fighting the HIV/AIDS crisis.
Expected Outcomes
This summer project is designed to have lasting effects on the professional values and experiences of the students who participate in this program. Students will gain new knowledge, skills, resources, practical experience, and motivation. These students will become the future leaders of the health care profession -- sharing their knowledge and experience with others and creating positive impacts on their local and international communities. This program is designed to have long-lasting and positive effects, and the outcomes are:- To accelerate the creation an effective HIV/AIDS policy in Swaziland and consequently relieve the burden of the HIV/AIDS crisis. The HIV/AIDS crisis has reached epidemic proportions and it is imperative to engage future health care leaders in the development of solutions to this tragic problem.
- To improve the leadership skills of the participants. The grassroots nature of this program will challenge the participants to develop solutions to very difficult problems and will teach them how to evaluate the consequences of decisions that leaders make
- To train new leaders for public health involvement. This program offers experiences in basic public health and community engagement principles. Students will walk away from this experience understanding how to engage their community in the political and medical realm of health care and what steps they must take to enact change in their community.
- To train participants to become responsible global citizens. The entire project is structured to open the participants’ minds to global health issues. By collaborating with several disciplines, the participants will have the opportunity to debate and consider issues that transcend geographical borders. This “Global Leadership Training” will aid participants throughout their lives by giving them a new perspective on the world and their responsibility to others.
- To inspire some students to pursue a career in international health. The number of qualified individuals pursing international aid work is decreasing while the need is increasing. This program can serve as a foundation for a life-long passion for relief labor.
- To establish a long-term relationship between the Ohio State University Medical Center and the government of Swaziland.
- To represent the goodwill of the Ohio State University and the City of Columbus to the people of Swaziland. Through this trip the name and reputation of the City and University will be enhanced.
- Post-trip educational outreach programs will inform the local community of what is being done to fight the HIV/AIDS crisis in Swaziland. Presentations will be offered to the Ohio State community and the city of Columbus. Media outlets such as campus and city-wide newspapers will be utilized to publicize student work and experiences.