Program Photos

Healthcare Challenges in South Africa, Cape Town

Location: South Africa: Cape Town (Kaapstad)

Term: Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter, Throughout the year

Program Duration: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 9-12 weeks

Typical Duration of Program: 5-8 weeks

Dates: Every month, throughout the year

Child Family Health International

http://www.cfhi.org

995 Market Street, Suite 1104 San Francisco, CA 94103 United States

Call Us

Phone: 415-957-9000

Fax: 415-840-0486

Description

Experience the healthcare challenges facing South Africa first-hand, where, under the Apartheid regime, the vast majority of people had limited or non-existent healthcare until the 1990s. Since then, South Africa's health care system has made great strides under majority rule, especially in its efforts to reach underserved communities. Today, South Africa has emerged as a critical battleground for the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

CFHI's program in Cape Town, South Africa offers students a unique opportunity to observe alongside healthcare professionals in an idyllic setting surrounded by Table Mountain in one of South Africa's most beautiful cities. Participants will get an opportunity to understand how the health care system has dealt with a public health crisis that has fundamentally altered the state's social and economic fabric.

This CFHI South Africa program will allow senior level clinical students to rotate alongside physicians at Victoria Hospital, located in the southern suburbs of Cape Town in Wynberg; pre-medical students will be able to rotate in a variety of community clinics associated with the Eerste RiverHospital in the Cape Flats; nursing students will rotate in Mowbray Maternity Hospital in the Mowbray suburbs; and students in the first years of health sciences training will rotate through GF Jooste hospital. This program offers students a unique educational experience as they follow patients through their treatments and observe the entire healthcare team during the program month. (Please see CFHI website for more information).

Highlights

Clinical Rotations:
CFHI's rotations are designed to offer you clinical experience relevant to your level of medical education, much like what you would experience during a rotation in the United States. 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, working 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

* This program is open to English speakers
* 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. The Cape Town program has specific eligibility requirements depending on clinical location as described below.

Victoria Hospital
Participants may be any of the following:

* Medical Residents, MD & DO
* Medical Students, MD & DO 3-4
* Medical Students, 5-6 (UK)
* Senior level Pre-Medical Students
* Final Year Physicians Assistants Students

Eerste River Community Health Clinics
Participants may be any of the following:

* Medical Residents, MD & DO
* Medical Students, MD & DO 1-2
* 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

Mowbray Maternity Hospital
Participants may be any of the following:

* Nursing students
* Registered Nurses
* Certified Nurse Midwifery students
* Certified Nurse Midwives

GF Jooste Hospital
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

Cost in US$:

Approx. 2,500 for 4 weeks

Cost Include Description:

Credit Available

yes

Volunteer Types
  • AIDS
  • Community Health
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Health Education
  • Hospital
  • Medicine
  • Nursing
Age Range
20 and over
This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements
  • Home-stays

Participants Travel to South Africa

Independently

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

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