Faculty-Led | Health Science
Overview
This Medical Support Program seeks to address issues of quality healthcare by partnering with Tigoni Hospital, Limuru Nursing Hospital, Limuru Health Center and Lari Sub-district Hospital to build capacity in the health sector. The faculty-led program is for students studying a medical, nursing or healthcare qualifications. Students will fulfill a supporting role for Kenyan medical professionals at clinics and hospitals, participate in cross-cultural learning workshops and promote health education through community outreach.
Why Kenya?
Healthcare services in Kenya are desperately underfunded. With a population of more than 45 million people, approximately half of whom live in poverty, access to basic healthcare services is a challenge for multitudes of Kenyan people. Furthermore, the country’s shortage of healthcare professionals exacerbates challenges such as low-quality treatment, understaffing, ill-equipped facilities and unaffordable health care for many citizens.
This faculty-led program will be based at Brackenhurst learning center in Limuru, Kenya. Brackenhurst is located on 100 safe and scenic acres approximately 25 miles north of Nairobi. Here, visitors will find a peaceful and quiet area, nestled in the rolling hills of the Limuru region most famous for vast fields of tea and farmland. Its location makes the partner hospitals with which students will be working conveniently accessible.
Learning Outcomes
During this program, students will:
- Develop valuable intercultural communication skills through language and culture lessons and first-hand engagement with communities
- Reflect on the notion of healthcare as a human right and the ways in which non-provision can translate into social injustice in particular communities
- Critically reflect on individual growth and transformation by means of structured reflection sessions and transformation questionnaires
- Assess the ways in which the Kenyan medical community has attempted to tackle the various challenges faced in the provision of healthcare
- Build capacity and support within the Kenyan healthcare system; and observe and analyze the benefits and challenges of using a holistic approach to well-being in Kenya including physical exercise, health awareness, and knowledge sharing.
Note: Specific learning outcomes and activities can be constructed in collaboration with EDU Africa’s dedicated curriculum development team.
Contributors
Dr. Georges Maloba
Dr. Georges Maloba completed his medical studies at the University of Lubumbashi, one of the largest universities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He graduated with his MD in 2008 and went on to practice medicine at various institutions. He is currently the resident doctor at the Limuru Nursing Home. Dr Maloba is a respected member of the Limuru community and harbors a deep passion and commitment to caring for those in need.
Dr. Juma Olunga
Dr Juma Olunga was born in Mumias in western Kenya. He attained his MBChB from the University of Nairobi and became a registered medical officer in 2011. Dr. Olunga is currently pursuing his Master of Surgery in Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Nairobi. He is a family man who has a passion for practicing medicine and enjoys watching television and traveling in his spare time.
Customize Your Program
Our friendly and experienced program consultants will work closely with you to develop your custom faculty-led program from conceptualization to execution. We believe every journey to Africa gives students the opportunity to learn and transform and we pride ourselves in our ability to create unique, sustainable and truly African transformative learning journeys.
Featured Experiences
Brackenhurst Botanic Gardens
Brackenhurst Botanic Gardens is a vibrant gateway into the world of pre-colonial climate diversity. Rising out of misty, rolling hills of emerald-green tea, these gardens stand as a testament to the power of environmental restoration and protection. The project began in the year 2000 and includes an arboretum of rare tree species that are critically endangered across the continent.
Big Cat Monitoring
Incredible wildlife is one of Africa’s most appealing icons and is desperately in need of protection through conservation and educational projects. Many conservation efforts give rise to amazing service-learning programs, such as the opportunity to research and monitor big cats. Taking part in this project gives students a chance to deeply experience and engage with some of Africa’s most powerful and breathtaking wildlife.