HEALTH INTERNSHIPS

This summer several pre-med and nursing students had the opportunity to work in clinics and hospitals, both in urban and rural communities. Many were able to visit with doctors and medical staff both marginalized urban neighborhoods and rural areas with limited access to healthcare. Some of their tasks included providing pre-natal care in rural areas with no hospitals and clinics and consequently high infant and maternal mortality rates, vaccinating children and adults, observing births, and assisting medical staff with various procedures. Not only was this an opportunity to obtain hands-on practical experience, but also an opportunity for them to see first-hand how structural inequalities and the poor socio-economic conditions of the country contribute to high rates of infectious diseases and other preventable and treatable illnesses.

Volunteeer Christine Nasca volunteered at a local clinic. In addition to visiting patient s in marginalized communities and rural areas, she also assisted with the campaign to promote breast feeding, which included workshops with groups of new mothers. One of her projects was to make a brochure about how to properly breast feed and the benefits of breast milk for newborns. Her brochure is still being used and distributed at the workshops.

I have been home for two days and I already miss Granada so much. I wanted to thank you so much for the amazing experience I had. You were awesome, and things really couldn't have gone any better. The trip really reaffirmed that medicine is what I want to do and that I want to work for and help people in poverty. – Chistine Nasca, 2008