Community Education Program Objectives

 

Introduction to Belize Health System:

• Describe how the Belize Healthcare system is designed.
• Understand the available providers of care and the process of obtaining referrals.
• Describe demographics and review current health trends in southern Belize.
  

Cultural Issues and Communication

• Describe characteristics about the 9 different ethnic groups living in Belize including the history, cultural practices, typical living conditions and diet, and health beliefs.
• Discuss principles of cultural awareness and humility including awareness of one’s own biases, avoidance of assumptions and stereotyping, and consideration of the patient’s perspective.
• Demonstrate how to use Kleinman’s Principles when taking a medical history.
• Demonstrate how to negotiate with patients to develop a plan that considers the patient’s level of acceptance of western medicine, literacy level, and limited access to resources, in a respectful and non-judgmental manner.
• Demonstrate how to use key skills in motivating patients to change behaviors including using open ended questions, reflective listening , affirmation, summarization, and eliciting self motivational statements.
  

COPC

• Define COPC including how it includes environmental, social, and economic factors affecting health, and how it can provide a means through which communities are empowered to address selected problems that influence a particular behavior pattern that contribute to ill health through a logical and systematic approach.
• Describe the five step model that demonstrates how community interventions can have a sustainable impact on health: Define & Characterize the Community, Involve the Community , Identify the Community’s Health Problems, Develop Interventions, and Monitor and Evaluate the Impact of the Intervention.
• List examples of COPC interventions that have been successful in Belize and describe how these interventions can provide a compliment between clinical care and public health issues.
  

Community Nursing

• Describe services offered by Rural Health Nurses and Public Health Nurses in Belize.
• Review cultural, environmental, social and economic factors that affect the provision of healthcare in southern Belize.
  

Vector Conrol

• Describe the system for prevention, surveillance, and treatment of insect-borne diseases in Belize.
  
• Describe the life-cycle of the malaria parasite
• Discuss the clinical presentation and treatment for Dengue Fever and Chagas disease.
  

Natural Healers-Bush Medicine and the Snake Doctor

• Explain the basic treatment of snake bites performed by the natural healer.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the power of belief in the outcomes achieved in healthcare.
  

Community Education Project

• Design a community project that educates a particular group on a chosen topic with consideration given to age, literacy, and cultural beliefs of the audience.
• Chose from the following possible topics:
  • disease transition and hygiene including HIV
  • clean water and water borne diseases
  • food and nutrition
  • chronic diseases: heart disease, diabetes (“sugar”), and hypertension (“pressure”)
  • parasites including scabies, lice, worms
  • asthma
    

Topics in the Tropics- Tropical Diseases

• Prepare a brief presentation that outlines a disease or condition that is common in southern Belize with emphasis on cases seen in the clinic or on mobile visits
• Chose from the following possible topics:
  • Leishmaniasis
  • Scabies and lice
  • Other common skin diseases
  • Spectrum of strep sequelae- rheumatic fever, glomerulonephritis, etc…
    

Project HOPE Presentation

• Provide an interactive lecture presentation to this group of elderly Belizeans on a chosen topic with consideration given to age, literacy, and cultural beliefs of the audience.
  

Newsletter Article

• Prepare article(s) for the Hillside Healthcare International Newsletter that outline or highlight parts of the program such as clinical care, community projects, student activities, clinic needs, and other pertinent topics that might be of interest to prospective students and volunteers, past participants, and current and potential program supporters.
  

Alternative Presentations for Wednesday Grand Rounds

• Organic Vegetable Farming – Peace Corps volunteer
• Health benefits of soy with food preparation ideas – Gomier
• Tropical disease specific presentations – Physician from PG Hospital
• Rehabilitation needs in southern Belize – Rehab field officer or volunteer therapist