Global Health Rotation for International Scholars at MediCiti

A program to enrich the experience of young health care professionals by exposing them to a unique experience in rural India. In many parts of the world, including rural India, access to modern healthcare is severely limited. Many dedicated healthcare professionals have however learned to improvise and make best use of scarce resources to provide critical services to the underprivileged. This environment will have a salutary effect in providing perspective to young physicians, training in the prosperous developed countries, whose experience is that of a relatively high cost and high tech healthcare system.

The best physicians are those who have a broad education in life sciences and this would obviously be enriched by exposure to different cultural experiences. Reaching out to clients of different cultures will improve a physician's ability to appreciate diversity and be more empathetic. It is also expected that this experience will provide an opportunity to witness a variety of medical problems and illnesses not always seen in traditional western training. Interaction with western trained physicians should promote an exchange of ideas that may enhance the quality of healthcare in India. Many of the lessons learnt in serving the underprivileged may provide the seed for innovations applicable to under served areas of the USA and perhaps the rest of the world.

The global health rotation at MediCiti Institute of Medical Sciences has been developed with a vision of providing the student scholar a perspective of medical care in rural/resource-limited setting. The experiences gained by the exchange scholar can help enrich his/her perspective of clinical medicine.
 

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Faculty members nominating the student scholar, should note the following.

•  Scholars who wish to rotate at Mediciti Institute of Medical Sciences need to provide their Resume   and  Statement of purpose incorporating their goals upfront. The Global Health Program Coordinator and the Director of Research shall review their resumes. Students will be notified regarding their eligibility.

•  As a general rule, there is no vacation time especially if the rotation period is just as long as 4 weeks. Please note that  weekends and scheduled hospital holidays are free.

•  Scholars are encouraged to meet with the Global health program coordinator regularly to provide updates regarding their progress. Any concerns can be discussed during these visits. Due to constraints in the schedule, if unable to meet in person, correspondence through email/phone is available.

•  Dress code: Scholars are required to wear professional/formal but comfortable clothing. Formal wear for women includes salwars suits and trousers paired with shirts. For men trousers and formal shirts are mandatory. To maintain professionalism, we strongly encourage students to stricly adhere to the dress code at all times, especially during their interaction with patients and field staff.

•  Accommodation will be provided on campus.

•  Towards the end of the rotation, the scholars are required to generate a report regarding their activities at Mediciti and provide feedback regarding their overall experience. The Director will evaluate the final report towards the end of the rotation.

RESUME FORMAT

Name
Age
Passport size picture
Contact Address /Email/Tel number
Educational Qualifications
Previous Work Experience
Awards and Honours

Please read over some of the details of the program.

1. Airfare
IIt is advisable to book for /schedule air travel as soon as possible as the flights tend to fill up. The destination is Hyderabad, India (not Hyderabad, Pakistan). Airfare may cost anywhere from $1200-1600. Lufthansa operates a direct flight from Frankfurt; KLM operates a direct flight from Amsterdam.

Hyderabad's domestic and international airport is the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport located in Shamshabad, Hyderabad.  It is located in the outskirts of Hyderabad and is approximately 35 kilometres from MediCiti, city centre at Saifabad and 50 km from MediCiti, Ghanpur. Almost all major airline companies operate regular flights to and from Hyderabad.
International Airlines: Air India, Air Sahara, Emirates, Indian Airlines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa, Malaysian Airlines, Oman Air, Qatar Airways, Saudi Arabia Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines and Thai Airways Taxis are available at the airport if you are not being met by a hotel shuttle, a local tour guide, friends, or MediCiti personnel. Upon request, MediCiti visitors will be met by a MediCiti representative upon arrival and transferred to accommodations in Ghanpur.

2. What you need to bring?
Tourist Visa (Indian consulate is downtown), passport, immunizations (would start getting immunizations 2 months prior to leaving in the student care clinic (Japanese Encephalitis vaccine for medical students - this can be obtained at the ID travel clinic (series of three shots); typhoid vaccine, hepatitis A; polio booster; up to date MMR and tetanus vaccine; assumption is that hepatitis B has been completed). Malaria prophylaxis is recommended .Policies is available for evacuation insurance in the case of an emergency.

Bring your basic medical equipment, stethoscope etc. White coat is not necessary.
Mosquito net and repellent, a roll or two of toilet paper, sunscreen, hats, iodine tablets or a filter in case of emergency can be brought; however, the water at the medical school is safe to drink. Good chocolate is hard to find. Clothes are reasonably priced here.

3. Weather in India
Being a tropical country, climate tends to be warm for most part of the year. The peak of summer in Hyderabad is in the months of April, May and first half of June. During the summer months (April-June), the temperature in Hyderabad can be very warm. Summer temperatures range from 24^O C (75^O F) - 39^O C (102^O F). During the rainy season (July-August), temperatures range from 23^O C (73^O F) - 34^O C (94^O F). Hyderabad enjoys a relatively warm winter (Oct-March), with temperatures between 15^O C (59^O F) - 32^O C (90^O F). Summer temperatures can be uncomfortable as air conditioning is not available. If possible it is better to avoid scheduling the rotation during this season.

Communication
The International dialing code for India is +91. The code for Hyderabad landlines is 040. Cell phone numbers usually begin with a 9 (99, 98, 93, etc.) Telephone booths (STDs and ISDs) and internet cafes can be found throughout Hyderabad. Internet cafes tend to be the cheapest and most accessible option for international communication. The speed of dial-up and broadband connection varies. There is internet connection at MediCiti, but there are limited computers. It is advisable to bring your laptop if you would like to work on a computer and/or access the internet on a regular basis.

Regarding cell phones, ask your contact person if there is a phone and SIM card you can use for your stay. If you are here for a long period of time, you can obtain a prepaid SIM card from local telecommunication companies (Hutch, Airtel, Idea, and Reliance). You may need a local person to assist you with obtaining a SIM card as many places require documentation with a local address.

Time Zone
Hyderabad is in the Indian time zone - UTC + 5:30. New York City is 9 ½ hours behind Hyderabad in the summer and 10 ½ hours behind Hyderabad in the winter.

Money
India's standard unit of currency is the Rupee. It is divided into 100 Paisa. As of November, 2008 1 US Dollar is approximately equal to 40 Rupees.

Credit Cards: Most major hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and bigger shops accept credit cards and debit cards, VISA and Mastercard are preferred. If buying airline tickets directly from the airlines companies, you may need to pay in cash as they have recently stopped accepting international credit cards. Visitors should also beware of credit card fraud.

Banks: There are several banks in Hyderabad, including the State Bank of India, Andhra Bank, and Citibank. Working hours vary between banks. Most banks are open from 10am to 4pm and are closed for one hour during lunch. Banks are open in the mornings on Saturdays and closed on Sundays. Most visitors use the ATM machines, some of which remain open after banks close. If you would like to exchange money, you may do so upon arrival at the airport or at any local bank. Using your ATM card is the preferable way to obtain cash. Since banks have short working hours, lines at banks for exchanging travelers' checks or US Dollars is time-consuming and inconvenient.

Energy / Electricity

Local current is 220 volts, 50 cycle AC. India's outlets accept round two or three prong plugs. Visitors are advised to bring their own outlet adaptors. Adaptors can also be purchased at any travel store.
Though most current shortages occur in the more rural areas, it is advised that you bring a flashlight in case there are any current shortages in the area

Medical Facilities

We recommend that visitors bring sufficient supplies of any drugs that they need regularly. If additional medications are needed, visitors may go to any pharmacy ("general medical store") throughout the city. Pharmacies may be found near any major hospital and are throughout the city.
If visitors need to consult a physician for their personal health concerns, they may schedule an appointment with either MediCiti Hospital. For emergencies, the local emergency number in Hyderabad is 108.

Language
The official languages in Hyderabad is Telugu, however most of the people speak Hindi and to some extent English.

Business Hours
Most offices are open from 10am to 6pm and most shops are open from 10am to 9pm Monday to Saturday. Many offices and shops are closed on Sundays, but malls and movie theaters are usually open. Restaurants and diners generally have longer working hours, and open earlier and close later than shops.

Car Rental
Car hire facilities are available in Hyderabad. A non-A/C car should cost between Rs. 600 - Rs. 700 for 80km and 8 hours. An A/C car should cost between Rs. 800 - Rs. 900 for 80km and 8 hours. Additional kilometers and hours have extra charges. The number for Ibrahim's Car Rental Company is 93-46441667. You can also call the transportation coordinator at MediCiti, George, at 99-8502413.
Most importantly, come with an open mind, flexibility, and expect occasional unpredictability in scheduling. Be prepared to eat with your hands (right hand) - and 90% vegetarian food. Occasional missing of hot showers and using bathrooms that are not "American" may be part of the programme.

GENERAL VACCINE INFO

Hepatitis A: Recommended for all travelers. 1 shot protects for 12 months. 2 shots separated by at least 6 months protects for life. Approximately $52 each shot.

Typhoid: Recommended for all travelers. Shot must be repeated very 2 years. Pills every five years. Neither 100% affective so must be careful with food and water. NO STREET VENDOR EATING! Pills should be completed at least 2-weeks prior to travel and 1-month is better. Shot is about $55 vs $65 for capsules.

Hepatitis B: Must be vaccinated to work in health care.

Japanese encephalitis: All medical students should strongly consider this vaccine given risk and severity of illness if contracted. Residents can make their own decision. This vaccination is a 3 shots series at 0, 7-day, and 14-day or 30 day. Last shot must be given 10-day prior to travel. Each shot is approximately $145.

Rabies: High risk occurs in most parts of the country. Avoid contact with mammals. All dog bites or scratches while in this country should be taken seriously and post-exposure prophylaxis sought even in those already immunized.

Tetanus/diphtheria: Adequate primary series plus 1 dose of TD ($52) or TDaP ($41) within the last 10 years. Should keep this up-to-date even if not traveling.

Measles: Indicated for those born in 1957 or later (1970 or later in Canada) without history of disease or of 2 adequate doses of live vaccine at any time during their life. Second dose is usually given just before starting grade school. Parents nearly always remember this vaccine; one must either get a shot or find proof. When in doubt, it is advisable to get another vaccination. (Price $47).

Polio: Adequate primary series and 1 adult dose. Unless you have traveled to the developing world before, you will not have gotten an adult booster prior to this trip. $32 each.

MALARIA
Malaria Risk (approximately 50% P. falciparum) exists throughout the year and peaks after the monsoon season, which is usually June to September. Risk is widespread, though patchy, in the whole country. Malaria Prophylaxis: Recommend evening and nighttime insect precautions in risk areas. Medicines that protect against malaria in this area include mefloquine (Lariam), doxycycline, or atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone).

PROVIDER SUMMARY FOR INDIA
India is a developing nation in the lowest 25% of the world's economies. It is located in south-central Asia. Climate in most areas is either tropical or subtropical and is subject to seasonal monsoon winds. Adequate medical care is available in major cities but is not up to the standards of industrialized countries. Medical care is substandard in the rest of the country. Adequate evacuation coverage for all travelers is a high priority.

TRAVELER'S DIARRHEA: High risk throughout the country including deluxe accommodations in major cities. Consider empiric treatment with loperamide and azithromycin.

Tuberculosis is common in all developing countries. However, this country has a prevalence of over 100 cases per 100,000 population, the highest WHO risk category. Travelers planning to stay more than 1 month should have pre-departure PPD skin test status documented.

Dengue fever occurs in urban and rural areas. Recommend daytime insect precautions.

Visceral leishmaniasis (kala azar) is epidemic in Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam states; limited risk to travelers. Recommend insect precautions.

Avian influenza H5N1, excreted in large amounts in the droppings of infected birds, has been confirmed in this country in birds, including poultry, but not in humans. Although risk to travelers is minimal, avoid places where direct contact with birds and/or their secretions may occur, such as live animal markets and poultry farms. Well cooked chicken is safe to eat. Current influenza vaccines are not protective. Oseltamivir is effective.

The blood type of the general Asian populace is Rh positive; Rh negative blood may be difficult to obtain.

Due to a large recycling industry, apparently disposable syringes may have been previously used. Travelers may want to carry their own syringes.

Persons discovered to be carrying antiretrovirals will be denied entry at customs. A physician's prescription may be required for travelers carrying drugs not registered in India.