Cross-Cultural Maternal/Child Health and Disaster Preparedness in Developing Countries Course 

For Making a Real Difference in the Developing World: Subic Bay, Philippines

2013 Dates: All dates are now FULL

2014 Dates: 

January 7-16, 2014

April 1-10, 2014 (SCNM)

June 25-July 4, 2014

OR

Send us dates of your choice if you are bringing a group; write to ask us to schedule your team of 8 or more. Now accepting group registrations for 2014.

This course is tailor-made for groups of Midwives, Doctors, Nurses, Doulas, or students from medical or nursing schools. 

Come join us in lush tropical Subic Bay as we cover three main topics in an intensive format: Child Survival, looking at simple prevention and treatment of the main diseases that kill children under 5 in developing countries; Maternal Mortality prevention, looking at the unique needs of pregnant women living in poverty, including new and updated "Best Practices" birth protocols from the world health community; and Preparation for Disasters, looking at both surviving disaster situations and providing aide. We will compare what is similar and what is very different from the western way of looking at these health problems, as Primary Health Care principles for the developing world are taught and practiced.  You will learn to diagnose, prevent, and treat parasites, tetanus, TB, malaria, and the devastating effects of malnutrition, as well as learn how to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis. In the Disaster Preparedness portion, you will learn basic principles of common natural disasters, how to survive each kind, and why the poor are always most vulnerable. During the entire course there will be time set aside for enjoying the rain forest, beaches and ocean, including a special Eco-Adventure Day.

Come be a part of our guided experiential learning opportunity as we combine education, inspiration, and tropical vacation with life-saving skills in Global Health.

 WHO SHOULD ATTEND:

All levels of experience are welcome, from beginning students to licensed practitioners with years of practice; and all disciplines of health care are welcome- doctors, nurses, physicians assistants, midwives, and others. The needs of people living in poverty in the third world are unique, and need to be understood before we can offer meaningful help. The World Health Organization and groups like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation are doing constant research on what constitutes Best Practices in global health in order to save lives.  Join us as we all become learners to discover how to best address the urgent health needs of the poor in developing countries.

WHAT THE COURSE INCLUDES:

~Orientation lectures at a lovely beachfront resort, covering topics on Best-Practices in Primary Health Care and Maternal/Child Health Care for Developing Nations. Four days of classes at the resort are scheduled so that you have time to enjoy ocean swimming or snorkeling, leisurely dining al fresco on international cuisine on the oceanfront, or simply walking on the beach at sunset.

 ~Immersion into the native culture as you move into a bamboo and grass-thatched roof nipa cottage on our rural mountainside acreage with a breathtaking river view.

 ~Visit to a squatter community living on the local garbage dump, and internally displaced tribal people living in a resettlement camp due to a natural disaster.

 ~Guided tour of our Mother/Baby Friendly birthing home facility will demonstrate how to follow the 10 Steps to Optimal Maternity Care as an International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative (IMBCI) site.

 ~Practice sessions on managing common illnesses and diseases of depravation that often lead to death: pneumonia, diarrhea, measles, malaria; rehabilitating malnourished children; basic pharmacology for worms and parasites, infections, and vaccinations; common OB complications, including use of the non-inflatable anti-shock garment;  wound care and suturing; and neonatal resuscitation.

 ~Practice vital disaster skills like rapid water crossing techniques for rescue during a disaster.

 ~Pre-arrival reading assignments and post-internship assessment follow-up

 ~Eco-Adventure Day—you choose either swimming with dolphins, or zip-line touring the jungle canopy; both adventures let you enjoy the lush wonders of our rainforest.

 ~Opportunity to buy unique handicrafts and souvenirs from local tribal artists.

 Cost is $1,800 ($100 discount if paid more than 3 months in advance)

Fee is payable at the time of acceptance by credit card, PayPal, or check and includes:

 ~All classes and skills sessions, training materials and supplies

~Lodging, local transportation, and some meals*

~Outreach to garbage dump, resettlement camp, birthing home and hospital

~Continuing Education Credits including Cultural Competency 

~Paid admission to either Ocean Adventure or Tree Top Adventures

~One professional Filipino Hilot Massage

 * Meals while at the resort the first few days are your responsibility. Mercy In Action will provide lunch and dinner at our nipa cottages;  breakfast you prepare on your own.

Important note: You should ARRIVE into Manila International Airport the day BEFORE the course date listed above (anytime of the day is fine.) Your plane should DEPART from Manila International Airport the day AFTER the last day of the course. Be aware of the International Dateline when booking, and be very sure you are arriving into Manila on the day before the course begins; this often means you actually leave 2 days before your arrival date, to factor in the day lost when crossing the International Dateline. 

 Send in your application:

You may now apply by email. Go to the application below, and copy and paste those questions into the body of an email, fill it out and email it.  If you are applying as a group, each member and the leader need to fill out a separate application, which the team leader will send to us all at once.

Pay your fees 
After acceptance, to hold your spot in the course,  pay your fees in full immediately. The full payment is due at the time you are accepted; we cannot hold a spot for you without payment. Fees must also be paid in full before you book your airline travel. If you cancel for any reason other than a documented medical emergency or death in your immediate family, only half of your fees paid will be refunded. If you cancel within 48 hours of the start date or after the course has begun, there will be no refund. 

The best and easiest way to pay is through this website:
To register and pay your fees on-line go to the Training Fees & Donation page on this web site:

CLICK HERE TO PAY

Once accepted, intern will need to pay all fees in full before buying a ticket to Manila. 

Below you will find some practical instructions if you are to come.

Make reservations for a Hotel in Manila on your arival date; we will meet your plane early the morning of the first day of the course you are attending. Below is the link for the Kabayan Hotel, a hotel we use near the airport that has airport transportation. A uniformed shuttle driver will meet your plane and take you to the hotel, where you can check in and get a good nights rest to get over jet lag. We will meet you at the hotel the following morning to bring you back to Olongapo.

http://www.kabayanhotel.com.ph/pasay.php

Pack light, you must be able to carry all your own luggage without assistance. The only exception is if you bring donated medical supplies with you we will pay for a porter to help you. (see below). All the clothes you need will fit in a back-back. Bring a few sets of tee shirts and shorts, or tank tops and skirts, and a swim suit. Pack some mosquito spray and sunscreen, and any prescription medicines you are taking. Just a pair of sandals, and one sweater or light jacket for on the plane or the malls, and you should be set!

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Before arriving, you will be expected to read these three books and send us a written report on them:

 ~Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, by Kristof and WuDunn

~Culture Shock! Philippines: A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette, by Alfredo Roces

~Birth Models That Work, by Robbie Davis-Floyd et al--(read at least Chapter 12 about  Mercy In Action, and the Introduction and Conclusion).

FACTS FOR LIFE

Produced by UNICEF, WHO, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNDP, UNAIDS, WFP and the World Bank,

Facts for Life can be found at

www.factsforlifeglobal.org.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD

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Get a passport if you do not already have one that is good for at least 6 months past your planned travel time. You can get your first passport or renew your old one by going to a post office or going on line at : http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html

Visa

You will get a free visa at the airport good for 21 days.

Purchase a ticket to fly into Manila, Philippines. Many airlines fly into Manila, you can ask your travel agent,  or use our Mercy In Action travel agent:
Barbara Lambert at Bon Voyage Travel:
Phone :800-800-8511
E-mail: barbara@bonvoyagetravelintl.com

Bring money to exchange at the airport when you depart for your international flight. At most airports that have international flights there is a booth to change your money into Philippine pesos. Bring enough for eating out and the wonderful native baskets, jewelry, sarongs, and other souvenirs you can buy inexpensively here. You may also want to pay for activities during time off,  such as boating, snorkeling, diving, or jet skiing in the ocean.

Bring medical donations in your luggage to bless the mission of Mercy In Action. The items we need most are

Thank you in advance!

Application

Cross-Cultural Primary Health, Maternal/Child Health, and Disaster Preparedness in Developing Countries

Dates applying for: 

Name:
Address:
City, State, Zip: 
Email:
Phone:
Age:
Birth date:
Sex:
Single or married:
Spouses name if married:
Children, names and ages if your family will accompany you: 

Occupation:
Height:
Weight:
Blood type:
Any current health problems?
On any medications now?
Is there anything you cannot eat? (we cannot accomidate food allergies)
How would you rate your health and stamina?
Are you current on immunizations and boosters?

Emergency contact, name and phone:(This is who we will notify if any emergency)

Church name and denomination, if any:

Health care field currently involved in:
Education, including degrees or training:

How did you hear about Mercy In Action?
Who do you know who has attended in the past?
What expectations do you have for this course?
What do you hope to do after your time with us?

Write a short biography, include your interest in health care, your relationship with God and others, goals, any addictions or areas of character you are working on, and anything else you would like to tell us about your hopes, fears, special circumstances, future dreams, etc.

Choose one option for Eco-Adventure Day

OPTION A: Ocean Adventure

"Join us here on the edge of the rain forest at Ilanin Bay in the sun-kissed Philippines. Ocean Adventure is Southeast Asia's only open-water marine park. Here our animals live and play in a natural setting of clear water teeming with marine life, coral reefs, and a lovely white sand beach. Experience our whales, dolphins, sea lions, rescued forest animals, and a host of fish and sea creatures in a variety of exciting and intimate ways!"  In this option you can (1)swim with dolphins or (2)have a beach encounter where you feed and play with them in shallow water, or (3) just enjoy watching the shows and not get into the water.

http://www.oceanadventure.com.ph/

OPTION B: Tree Top Adventure 

"Get high on nature! We invite you to experience nature tripping from a breathtaking view – from 100 feet above the ground! With jungle trails comprised of platforms nestled on branches, suspension bridges, and the world’s first motorized canopy tour, what we offer is more than just the peak of excitement.  Learn new things; with fresh eyes, we encourage you to explore. Find inner peace as you go through a natural sanctuary hidden by foliage. Or at the very least, conquer your fear of heights. Tree Top Adventure offers each one a personal journey, with unforgettable memories as dense as the forest." In this option you can choose anyone of the packages A-H.

http://www.treetopadventureph.com/subic/subic-home.html

 

Email this application to info@mercyinaction.com

We will email you with more details before final acceptance into our Philippine intership program.

 

 

 Participant Review:

First off I have to say that I had the most amazing time! 

The classes were wonderful for me, being unexperienced in midwifery and not having any education in the area save one class in obstetrics.  The classes were very helpful in understanding the fundamentals not only in midwifery, but in healthcare in the third world.  I really appreciated all the exposure to how birth is handled not only in the Philippines, but also in other countries.  For example, how the women are treated, the propaganda involved especially in regards to formula, the facilities available for women giving birth and the role that the mother is allowed to play in her own birth.  The HIV/AIDS talk was very educational for me especially how breast feeding and the transmission of the virus are related.  

The hands-on portion of the training was great as well.  Rose and Ian were fantastic teachers!  I liked how were were able to actually use the tools that we would use in an emergency situation.  

My favorite part of the trip if I had to name one thing was the honor of witnessing a new life being brought into the world.  I had never witnessed a birth before and I cannot put into words the emotions that overcame me during the experience.  I loved how the midwives were there as facilitators and intervened only when necessary and let Mom's body do what felt right when it felt right. 

I also really enjoyed our trip to the slums and to the dump.  Getting to interact with real people living their real lives gave so much perspective to how much good can be done with so little.  Meeting those wonderful people is something I will never forget. 

Another experience I will never forget is our trek into the jungle to gather bamboo to build the fence that encircled the Moringa trees that we planted.  This was such an intense "team building" bonding experience for all of us.  As we set off into the jungle we had no idea the amount of work that lie ahead.  Then when it was complete, were able to see the huge amount of work we completed as a team to help others.  The locals that helped us were so fantastic. 

Coming in as a group of medical students was very helpful in the classroom portion of the trip.  Having a medical background made the presented information easier to grasp.  It was great experiencing everything with peers to be able to share our experiences with each other and have discussion about what we learned.  

This experience was one of the most wonderful and inspiring of my life.  The perspective of our first world problems compared to real problems faced by the majority of the world for mere survival is an eye opener that cannot be ignored.  The hospitality we were given by Vicki, Ian and Rose, the Eheler's, the beautiful midwives at Mercy, and the each and every person and family that we met along the way in the slums, at the dump and during our pre and post natal visits is so very much graciously appreciated. 

~Emily Guse

I had an amazing two weeks in the Philippines with Mercy In Action! My parents originated from the Philippines so this trip was extra meaningful. I am very interested in global health and I learned an incredible amount of new information. We learned about midwifery in developing countries, leading causes of childhood death and illness in developing countries, the importance of a birth attendant and breast feeding, disaster preparedness, safe water crossing and much more! Mercy In Action practices evidenced based medicine and is up to date on the latest research. It was an honor to learn from them.

Even though I learned a lot in the classroom setting, I'd have to say that the practical, hands-on experience was by far my favorite and most rewarding. From the public health presentations in the slums to the post-natal house calls in the landfill, I experienced first hand the amazing things Mercy In Action does for the people of the Philippines. My school mates and I even had the opportunity to apply the safe water crossing technique we learned in the classroom to help us cross a river and get to a local Aeta village where we built a moringa tree garden. The entire experience was incredible! The fact that I got to share it with my peers made it even more memorable. As future Naturopathic physicians and midwifes, I know that we are more knowledgable, aware and humbled because of our experience with Mercy In Action.

~Christy Masbad