Global Health

Language of Instruction

English and Norwegian

Pre-requirements

Students having passed 2.nd year of the medical school or equivalent. Students in research track.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

After the course students should be able to

• Explain differences and similarities between low-, mid-, and high-income countries regarding health and demographic development
• Describe important global diseases and epidemics
• Discuss ethical issues related to international health
• Describe the human rights perspective for improving global health
• Outline financial obstacles related to global health

Skills:

After the course students should be able to:

• Discuss how some important diseases affect development in the society.
• Clinically recognize some important diseases
• Understand how various interventions can improve public health
• Discuss priority setting in low-resource settings

Generell kompetanse:

After the course students should:

• Have a global perspective on being a doctor
• Understand the consequences of globalization for medical sciences.

Contact Information

Scientific contact person: Sven Gudmund Hinderaker, sven.hinderaker@cih.uib.noAdm. contact persons:

Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry:

Tone Larsson, tone.larsson@mofa.uib.no

Centre for International Health:

Borgny Kvalnes Lavik, borgny.lavik@cih.uib.no

Course offered (semester)

Autumn

Language of Instruction

English and Norwegian

Course Unit Level

Bachelor (100)

Access to the Course Unit

Medical students at University of Bergen who finished their second year and have elective term ("valgtermin"), or students with similar background, can apply for this course. Students in the Medical Student Research Programme may apply, but will have to demonstrate that the course is relevant for their research project and must have a recommendation from their supervisor. The number of students selected depends on the number of vacant spaces in the field sites. If there are more applicants than can be accommodated, there will be drawing lots

Aim and Content

The course aims to provide an understanding of major global health challenges with theoretical and practical training at the University of Bergen (UiB) and collaborating institutions in low-income countries.

The course consists of three parts

1. Theory and group work (6 weeks), UiB

2. Field visit (8 weeks): Observation/participating in health care in a low income country.

3. Exam period

1. The first part covers a broad range of aspects concerning global health. Focus will be on major global health challenges and theoretical and practical preparation before going to a low income country. The interaction between health and poverty and between health and social, political, economical and cultural factors is highlighted. Major themes are: Global health in general; Public health; Major diseases and disabilities; Global health and ethics; Anthropology, economics and health systems; Clinical examination techniques. Attendance in lectures and group work is compulsory.

2. The second part of the course is observation and involvement in hospitals and community health care settings in either: 1) Christian Medical College, Vellore in India. 2) SHAWCO, Cape Town in South-Africa 3) Haydom Lutheran Hospital, Tanzania. Eight week modules in other low-income countries can be accepted on an individual basis, primarily in collaboration with institutions with an institutional agreement with the University of Bergen.

3. The third part - Write an essay (10 p.) on an aspect in global health, two students may collaborate on one topic. The essay is presented and discussed in the group of students at the end of the term. Debriefing and evaluation will also be done during the final weeks.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge:

After the course students should be able to

• Explain differences and similarities between low-, mid-, and high-income countries regarding health and demographic development
• Describe important global diseases and epidemics
• Discuss ethical issues related to international health
• Describe the human rights perspective for improving global health
• Outline financial obstacles related to global health

Skills:

After the course students should be able to:

• Discuss how some important diseases affect development in the society.
• Clinically recognize some important diseases
• Understand how various interventions can improve public health
• Discuss priority setting in low-resource settings

Generell kompetanse:

After the course students should:

• Have a global perspective on being a doctor
• Understand the consequences of globalization for medical sciences.

Pre-requirements

Students having passed 2.nd year of the medical school or equivalent. Students in research track.

Teaching Methods

Plenary lectures, seminars, group exercises, discussion of films, practical training, observation of health care in low-income settings.

Compulsory Requirements

Attend theoretical part, write an essay about a self-selected health related topic, present and defend the essay in plenary.

Assessment methods

Approved oral presentation and discussion of essay in plenary.

Approved presentations in groups.

Grading Scale

Pass/Fail

Reading List

Levine: Case studies in Global health. Millions saved.

Skolnik: Essentials of Global health.

Optional: Lindstrand: "Global health"; Markle: "Understanding global health"

Place of Teaching

Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, UiB and collaborating institutions.

Collaborators includes Christian Medical College, Vellore in India, Haydom Lutheran Hospital in Tanzania and SHAWCO, Cape Town in South Africa

Course Unit Evaluation

Electronic evaluation of the course on MySpace by the students, and oral evaluation in plenary.

Contact Information

Scientific contact person: Sven Gudmund Hinderaker, sven.hinderaker@cih.uib.noAdm. contact persons:

Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry:

Tone Larsson, tone.larsson@mofa.uib.no

Centre for International Health:

Borgny Kvalnes Lavik, borgny.lavik@cih.uib.no