Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, and Public Health E33.2316.099 Community Health: A Society in Transition: Capetown, South Africa Dates: July August (Application Deadline: March 14) Course Description: The seminar examines the impact of these changes on community health. Students examine how primary health care is delivered through the South African health care system; the current distribution of infectious and chronic diseases (including HIV, TB, Malaria and various cancers) in South Africa; specific issues related to reproductive health in South Africa, including the implementation of HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention programs and issues in family planning; and shortcomings in health policy and service implementation, associated with the legacy of apartheid as well post-apartheid era developments. Students also spend one week shadowing the activities of community-based social advocacy groups or health NGO s, in order to gain insights into the important role civil society organizations play in community health in South Africa. Course Objectives: To enable participants: To acquire a better understanding of some of the priority areas in reproductive health and infectious diseases in South Africa. To examine key changes that have & are occurring in health policy and service delivery in South Africa, in particular in reproductive health, within the context of broader health service transformation in the country and within the context of South African history To gain insights into key constraints affecting changes in health policy and delivery, especially in reproductive health and in better and less resourced areas of the country. The objectives will be achieved by focusing on the following content areas (by week): Week One: Overview of some key events in S.A. history The transformation of the health policy and services in post-apartheid South Africa An overview of changes in reproductive health policy and reproductive health problems in SA Health and human rights Gender-based violence Men s involvement in reproductive health Fertility and infertility TB and malaria HIV The course will take the form of informational inputs and discussion. In addition, there will be a site visit to public sector health services at the beginning of the second week of the course. A compilation of readings is supplied to provide background for the course content in week 1. Week Two:
Students will have an opportunity to be attached to community-based organizations and shadow their activities Week Three: There will be a field trip to the province of Kwazulu-Natal where there will be a series of informational inputs, research field site visits and visits to a rural hospital and community. Week 4: Students will have an opportunity to consolidate the information and experiences obtained in the first three weeks of the couse and prepare a presentation to their peers and coordinators, preferably on their attachments to organizations in week 2. Evaluation of Student performance: Students work on a group project, exploring in greater depth one of the issues discussed in class. Evaluation of student performance is based on a group project, a log, and course participation. Please note:this summer abroad course forms part of a credit course for the NYU summer abroad program. Attendance at ALL sessions and till the end of the course is compulsory unless the student has liaised and received approval from the student liaison/one of the coordinators for missing a session.
SCHEDULE: July/August 2007 Orientation programme: Friday 6 th July Saturday 7 th July Sunday 8 th July Morning: Orientation session, 11am 1pm Visit to Stellenbosch Dop stop project Free time Evening: Group Dinner 7:30 (Marco s place) (Transport depart Brentwood at 7pm) (whole day, transport and lunch arranged) (Depart Brentwood 8:30am) Possible group outings: Table Mountain Winelands Tour Week 1: Reproductive Health: Transitions in Health Care Delivery, University of Cape Town Week 1 July Monday 9 th Tuesday 10 th Wednesday 11 th Thursday 12 th Friday 13 th Sat/Sun 14 & 15 th a.m. S1: Overview of South African History (9:00-10:30am) S7: Infectious diseases: TB & Malaria (9-10:30am) S10: HIV (9-10:30am) S2: The transformation of health policy and services in postapartheid South Africa (11am- 1pm) S4: Gender-based violence in S.A) Sexual violence: 8am 9am Domestic violence 9-10:30am S5: Fertility and contraception (11am-1pm) S7: Infectios diseases: TB & Malaria continued (11am-12:30pm) Site visit: Public sector health services (transport depart outside Barnard Fuller Building) 9:00am for Mithchells Plain 9:30am for Langa S10: HIV cont d (11am-12:30pm) 12:30pm Placement Info. 1-2pm LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH LUNCH (12:30-1:30pm) p.m. S3: An overview S6: Termination S8: Men s S9: Infetility 2- S10: HIV cont d of Reproductive of pregnancy involvement in 4:00pm) (1:30-3pm) Possible group outings: Table Mountain Winelands Tour
Health Policy changes and key reproductive problems in S.A. (2-3:00pm) Reproductive Health and Male circumcision a male reproductive health issue (2-4pm) Thursday 19 nd Week 2: Students shadow representatives of community-based organizations Transport for placements depart Brentwood Monday-Thursday at 8:15am Week 2 Monday 16 th Tuesday 17 th Wednesday July 18 th NGO/ NGO/ NGO/ NGO/ Communitybasebasebasebased organizational organizational organizational organizational placements placements placements placements Group dinner at Obs café, Main Road, Observatory at 7pm: Feedback on placements Evening: Social gathering with UCT students at Brentwood: 7:30pm Friday 20 th Saturday 21 st Sunday 22 nd Group work: On presentation Possible group outings: Table Mountain Winelands Tour Travel to Durban Transport depart at 7:30am to airport
Thursday 26 th Week 3: Shadowing cont., students depart to Durban Week 3 Monday 23 rd Tuesday 24 th Wednesday July 25 th NGO/ NGO/ NGO/ NGO/ Communitybasebasebasebased organizational organizational organizational organizational placements placements placements placements Group dinner at Obs café, Main Road, Observatory at 7pm: Feedback on placements Friday 27 th Saturday 28 th Sunday 29 th Group work: On presentation Possible group outings: Table Mountain Winelands Tour Travel to Durban Transport depart at 7:30am to airport
Week 4: Sudents return from Durban. Project presentation Week 4 July/Aug Monday 30 th Tuesday 31 st Wednesday 1 st August Morning in Durban Sally & Di arrive at 11:30am Program arranged by Africa centre at Somkhele: 9:30-2pm Program/site visit arrange by Africa centre Thursday 2 nd Friday 3 rd Saturday 4 th & Sunday 5 th Visit Hlabisa Time off for site Time off for site Hospital seeing seeing Return to St. Lucia Slide show by Paul Weinberg 12-1pm Travel after lunch to St. Lucia Bay Mid/late afternoon: social get-together with Hlabisa community Afternoon: time off for site seeing St. Lucia St. Lucia: free time Group dinner at Lucia Stay over with families in Hlabisa Week 4 July/Aug Monday 30 th Tuesday 31 st Wednesday 1 st August Thursday 2 nd Return from Durban Transport collect from airport at 21:30pm Project preparation Project preparation Project presentation LUNCH Project presentation & evaluation of course Evening: end of course party