Description

Formerly known as the "Amazon Community Medicine" and "Amazon Indigenous Health" programs, these programs have now been combined and students may select from the 2 tracks, depending on interest.

Participate in community healthcare services and learn about the healthcare challenges facing rural communities like those in the Amazonian border town of Puyo. In Puyo, students will witness the ways in which socioeconomic and cultural factors have shaped the healthcare system of the region. As in other developing South American countries, meager financial means, adherence to traditional medical practices, and lack of access to healthcare providers often hamper the rural population's ability to seek healthcare services. Students will observe and assist (to a limited degree) local medical practitioners in their efforts to address this need for healthcare services in rural regions.

Participants in this program May Choose From Two Tracks:

A. Community Medicine Track

B. Indigenous Health Track

Community Medicine Track: What is Community Medicine? It is considered a branch of medicine that is concerned with the health of the members of a community. The emphasis in community medicine is on the early diagnosis of disease, and the prevention of disease in the community. This unique track will offer students the opportunity to be at the front lines of healthcare services at the community level, participating in clinical rotations and community health outreach campaigns and brigades within and outside of Puyo in more rural areas.

Within this track students will witness the unique ways in which socioeconomic and cultural factors have shaped the healthcare system of the region. For a more detailed description see the CFHI website.

Indigenous Health Track: Participants who chose this track will have a fantastic opportunity to interact with indigenous communities and their traditional practices. Participants will gain an understanding of where traditional medicine and allopathic medicine intersect in the context of ancestral healing traditions. For a more detailed description see the CFHI website.

BOTH TRACKS begin with one week of Spanish classes and an orientation to Ecuadorian culture in the capital city of Quito, including clinical rotations at a local tertiary care hospital. The remainder of the program will be spent in the town of Puyo, where students will participate in clinical rotations or site visits to indigenous communities, depending on the program track. The unique rotations can include the opportunities to work with Puyo Department of Indigenous Health or walk to remote areas of the jungle to visit indigenous communities.

Highlights

Participants will:

* Learn about the healthcare system in the Amazon region of Ecuador This program will focus on the community level. which consists of three levels: hospital, ambulatory, and community-based.

* Identify and appreciate the differences between the urban and rural government institutions, including social security, faith-based healthcare services, NGOs and others.

* Learn about in the challenges patients face in accessing healthcare due to geographical and cultural barriers, and the efforts by local healthcare personnel to overcome these barriers (i.e. community health visits)

* Learn about indigenous healthcare beliefs by visiting local indigenous communities such as Shiwakocha (Kichwa), Uwijint (Shuar) and Jatari (mixed)

Program Offers:
* Clinical Rotation/Academic Credit Assistance
* Language Training Component
* Guided Service-Learning
* Accommodations

Clinical Rotations:
CFHI's rotations are designed to offer you clinical and observational experiences relevant to your level of medical education. The program includes the following educational aspects:

* Pre-trip orientation materials & web conference opportunities
* Orientation upon arrival, including cultural adjustment exercises
* Weekly meetings with Medical Director and Local Coordinator
* Clinical rotations Monday-Friday with a local physician who has opted to participate in CFHI as a teaching preceptor
* Information sessions that highlight the health care system in that country, common cases you will encounter and other site-specific information

Qualifications

* Conversant Spanish
* Fluent Spanish
* For those who are not completely confident with their language skills before participation in the program, we strongly recommend that you arrive at your program site early and pay extra for additional Spanish instruction before you begin this CFHI program. If you have Minimal Spanish skills and still wish to participate in the program, please call our office before applying.

This program is open to participants who are 20 or over at the time of participation.We accept students of all nationalities with interest in international health and relevant educational background. Participants may be any of the following:

* Medical Residents, MD & DO
* Medical Students, MD & DO 1-2
* Medical Students, MD & DO 3-4
* Senior level Pre-Medical Students
* Post-bacc pre-medical students
* Gap year pre-medical students
* Graduate nursing students
* Nursing Students
* MPH Students
* Physicians Assistants Students
* Naturopathic students

If you do not fit into one of these categories, please contact us to see if you would be eligible to apply.

Intern Types

• Health Sciences
• Medicine
• Nursing

Languages

• English
• Spanish

Subject Areas

• Health Sciences
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Pre-med
• Public Health
• Spanish

Cost in US$:

Approx. 2,500 for 4 weeks

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials pre-departure

Credit Available

yes

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

Age Range

20 or over

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Scholarships are Available

As available-- see CFHI website for details.

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1 week

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Child Family Health International's Mission Statement

Child Family Health International (CFHI) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that conducts socially responsible global health service-learning programs for medical, pre-medical, nursing, PA, MPH, and other health science students. CFHI's 20+ programs in 5 countries connect students with local health professionals -transforming perspectives about self, global health and healing. CFHI supports local communities worldwide through these global health education programs, medical supply donations, as well as other community initiatives. CFHI is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations.

Year Founded

1992