Mozambique Nursing Practicum '08: Project Manica: 13 Days 'Til Departure...

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

13 Days 'Til Departure...

Bom dia and welcome! As we six nursing students, along with our clinical facilitator, gear up for our ever-nearing departure on February, 26th, 2008 to rural Mozambique, we wanted to take some time give a brief overview of our trip, and to introduce ourselves. In partnership with SAM Ministries (South African Mission Ministries), the University of Saskatchewan College of Nursing is providing a study abroad practicum in a remote rural area of Manica, Mozambique. On site we will participate in primary health care and development initiatives for the local community, including:

elementary school health education
community education and support specific to first aid, disease/illness prevention, and health promotion
assisting local community health workers in the development and implementation of best practices in primary health care
community visits to homes of those too ill to come to the health post
orphan home visits
observation and participation in sustainable agriculture and other health-related economic development initiatives

Our work will center out of two outpost locations, the Mucombeze Sede Community & Health Post and the Mucombeze Interior Community (including Primary School) & Health Post. As well, we will visit both the district hospital in the town of Manica, and the nearest community hospital in Vanduzi to see first-hand the challenges faced by health care workers in developing countries.
Needless to say, our entire team is extremely excited to be a part of such a unique, challenging learning opportunity, and the new experiences that lie ahead. Above all, we look forward to discovering the ways in which we can positively impact the health and wellness of the people we will be working with. Please keep checking this site, as we will do our best to post weekly while overseas.

For further questions, please feel free to contact Joanne at:

Joanne Gartner, RN, BScN, MSc (CH&Ep)

Provincial Clinical Coordinator

College of Nursing

University of Saskatchewan

(306) 966-6265

joanne.gartner@usask.ca

Also, feel free to check out Lynn Lagore's blog at http://lynnlagore.blogspot.com/. Lynn and her husband Dwight are members of the SAMM team and we have the privilege of working with them for the next six weeks. Her blog has been a great resource for our team in preparing us for daily life in rural Mozambique.

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JOANNE GARTNER

I'm the Project Coordinator and clinical facilitator from the College of Nursing who is accompanying the student team to Manica Province in rural Mozambique. My husband Dave is joining the group as well, and with his background in telecommunications and technical support with SaskTel, will be assisting SAM Ministries in electrical and IT projects. In my role as Clinical Coordinator for the College of Nursing, I have had the privilege of developing study abroad opportunities for nursing students since 1998, and have facilitated a number of student experiences in Niger, India and Mozambique. I was born and raised in West Africa, and have had a life-long interest and passion for maternal-child, international, and community health practice. Both Dave and I look forward to working with this enthusiastic team of nursing students, as we partner with Dwight and Lynn Lagore and their SAMM team in community development and health initiatives in Mozambique.

BRITTANY KRUEGER

I am a fourth year nursing student at the U of S and I feel so blessed to have found a career that allows me to combine my passion for people with ongoing opportunities to learn and grow. This final community health care practicum in rural Mozambique is a culmination of the past four years of work and I was beyond ecstatic to be chosen as part of this group. Preparing for Africa has fostered my interest in international health issues, made me increasingly aware of my role as a global citizen and given me direction for my future nursing career. As far as sleeping in a tent for six weeks, warding off tarantulas and enjoying the Mozambican heat with the ladies, I can’t wait!

CINDY MACKAY

Hi! I am traveling to Mozambique with these other fine people. I have always been interested in Africa and confirmed that love when I traveled to Tanzania in 2004. I was just waiting until I got another chance to go back and here it is! I spent my first four years of University finishing a BSA majoring in Animal Science. After working in food safety and traveling to New Zealand, Australia and Africa I decided to apply to Nursing, Second Degree Entry option. I hope to eventually move to Africa with my husband and work as a nurse there. I wanted to complete this practicum overseas so that I could get a good idea of what it might be like to be a nurse in Africa.

LARK KONECHNY

I’ve been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to be a part of an international nursing practicum since the very first day of my four-year journey through nursing school. My friends and family would surely say that I’ve had one foot in Canada, and one foot abroad throughout my training! My passion to help others, combined with my seemingly unquenchable adventurous spirit, has taken me throughout the world…and now to the rural province of Manica, Mozambique. I look forward to experiencing their vastly different culture, and putting my skills and knowledge to practical use for the benefit of the people with whom we’ll be working. As for roughing it in the African bush with our team, and having my world rocked in every sense, I say: "Bring it on!"

LEEANNE SCHMIDT

I am a postRN degree student. After spending 10+ years in acute care, I am ready to open the doors to other nursing opportunities. I look forward to a life changing/challenging experience in Mozambique. Africa has been on my heart since I was a child and am very excited to finally be going!! It will be neat to be part of another culture, observing the differences and similarities in health care. Having a blast to the senses with new smells (maybe not all good *smile*), sights, tastes, etc is something I actually look forward to. With the high level of needs in health care, I anticipate being a useful part of a team that is trying to make a difference in Mozambique.

Mozambique Nursing Practicum '08: Project Manica