Uncategorized – Page 8 – Gillings Around the globe

My Remote Practicum Experience During a Global Pandemic

Posted on June 8, 2020 by nayavill

I was beyond excited when I was able to secure a practicum with the UNC Gillings Zambia Hub. As this was going to be my first time in East Africa, I could not help but count down the days. I looked forward to my trip, the practicum experience and spending the rest of my summer holidays with my family (I last saw nine months ago) back home in Ghana. I went as far as checking on flights and almost booked a ticket. So, you can just imagine my shock and disappointment when the news of the rampant spread of the pandemic and the possible closure of the borders was all over. This probably has been the time when I have prayed the most in my entire life for normalcy to resume. I have had mixed feelings ranging from anxiety, uncertainties, boredom, and loneliness. The good news is that I have been able to make adjustment to my daily routines and faced the reality of working remotely from home.

Zoom check-in from my preceptor, Dr. Martin.

For my practicum, I am working with my preceptor, Dr. Stephanie Martin, on the project “Engaging partners and families in HIV-focused postnatal care” in Lusaka, Zambia. This is a qualitative, formative research study aimed at examining the feasibility and acceptability of engaging male partners, grandmothers, and other family members to support HIV-positive mothers to practice recommended infant care and feeding practices, and to continue antiretroviral therapy. This qualitative study employs the use of Trial of Improved Practices (TIPS) methodology, a formative qualitative research approach. For this study, data collectors will need to be trained on TIPs and to counsel women and their families on infant feeding, care, and stimulation, and women’s ART adherence. TIPS involves an interviewer and participant together reaching an agreement on a solution or solutions having analyzed current practices and how they could be improved upon. Participants are given a trial period to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intended practice. I am, however, helping to prepare the documents for the upcoming data collection activities and participate in secondary analysis of qualitative interviews with women and their male partners in Zambia and Malawi to understand the role of male partners in the prevention-of-mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT).

Regular check-ins from Dr. Martin and faculty mentor, Dr. Sian Curtis, have helped me stay focused and encouraged. To stay productive, I have a work schedule that I try to stick to taking breaks in between. In order to keep sane, I have been going for walks, visiting the lake, and recently started baking.

Amidst the uncertainties, I am grateful for good health, loved ones both far and near, practicum and the opportunity to be working remotely. I would say this pandemic is a blessing in disguise because it has made me realize that tomorrow is never promised and has taught me to adapt to situations, making the most of every opportunity. A note to my future self would be that “I am stronger than I seem, smarter than I think, and I am capable of anything that comes my way,” because at the end of the day, it always works out!

Doreen

When Global Has to Be Local

Posted on June 5, 2020 by nayavill

In March, I signed an offer letter for a practicum position in Zambia, hoping to fulfill my bucket list item of moving to Africa. The day after I signed that letter, the announcement came that international travel would be prohibited for the summer of 2020. My goal is to attend medical school after earning my MPHand to then focus on surgery/oncology, so the position tending to women with gynecological malignancies at the Cancer Diseases Hospital in Lusaka was the perfect fit. I was anticipating a personalized internship in which I could follow patients throughout their treatment process, and work on the multidisciplinary team to implement an online dashboard system to better track patient progress. I am now doing all of this…from the comfort of my living room. The issue is, I didn’t want comfort. I decided to get my MPH at UNC specifically for the hands on practicum experience, but the world had other plans.

Throughout this process I am learning that the interconnectivity of the world due to globalization and technology allows global work to happen locally. It is quite amazing how a girl in Chapel Hill, North Carolina in the USA can be reporting the status of a patient about 8,000 miles away. These circumstances make me wonder about the future of global health, though. Will we be more inclined to take a comfortable seat in our living room directing the work of others across the globe? I believe there is inherent value in traveling to the locations and communities you mean to serve. It is necessary to do so to learn their genuine wants and needs instead of being holed up in the American South telling them what they should want and need. I believe this is an attribute of being a global citizen, one whose care is not restrained by national borders. It is my hope that this pandemic shows us how interdependent many countries are, especially with regards to public health and disease.

Through my work for the Zambian hospitals thus far, I have seen an example of a team of doctors who have a goal of following through, not letting patients slip through the cracks, efficiency, and executing quality medical care. It has impacted my career path because I am now affirmed that the job I have dreamed of since I was 16 is a reality. I plan to travel underserved communities to serve global populations by setting up a sustainable, efficient infrastructure and system of care. I am still grateful for the opportunities UNC has afforded me, even if they are remote.

Katerina

My Global Health Practicum Experience During a Pandemic

Posted on June 4, 2020 by nayavill

I was excited when it was confirmed that I would be working with a critical stakeholder in the fight against malnutrition in Nigeria, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). I looked forward to traveling to field offices and communities to witness first-hand the implementation of programs targeted at tackling malnutrition in Nigeria, particularly among children aged 5 years and below. This excitement was cut short due to the unprecedented occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic and the social restrictions it brought on the global community – many have referred to this phenomenon as the “new normal”. For now, I will have to be contented with virtual interaction until travel restrictions are eased.

Prior to the start of my practicum, my travel tickets were canceled as a result of border closures. Adjustments were made to accommodate remote work hours before the reopening of borders. These unprecedented times give a literal meaning to the word “global” in my opinion. It is interesting to see how the world can be affected by a viral outbreak in a city. It demonstrates how the world is connected and makes it look somewhat “small”.

State nutrition officers of NPHCDA meet to review plans on improving Vitamin A supplementation in children under five across the 36 states in Nigeria.

Despite the work changes imposed on us by the pandemic, I have been able to formally interact with stakeholders working on Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) in Nigeria, thanks to one among many of the features of the new normal called “zoom”. These interactions have further fired my appetite to learn and contribute to the goal of improving nutritional status of vulnerable subpopulation groups in Nigeria. Under the mentorship and tutelage of Dr Nneka Onwu, who is the director of the department of community health services at NPHCDA in Nigeria, I support the nutrition division of NPHCDA. The nutrition division of NPHCDA facilitates implementation of nutrition service delivery at local government and community levels. It works on promoting adequate food supply and proper nutrition through education, assessment, counselling and support, community sensitization and mobilization.

I am thankful that I can still learn and support this ongoing program in Nigeria aimed at improving child health despite the challenging times. Interestingly, I always look forward to waking up very early due to the time difference, to attend zoom meetings. It is encouraging and really inspiring to see the passion to improve child health from the technical officers, program managers and other participants.

Even as we adapt to the new normal, I am encouraged by the knowledge that I am not alone and we are all in this together.

Stay safe!

Maureen