The SCOPH Exchange Project- The Calcutta Project (More Updates)

Name of Project

The Calcutta Project

Country

India

State/Province

Calcutta

Brief Project Description

Together with an Indian doctor and other international volunteers, you may either work at the Indoor Clinic or visit Outdoor Clinics in the south of Calcutta. The work mainly consists in treating skin infections and other smaller wounds, giving injections, taking care of malnutrished children and pregnant women.

Besides that, you can also take part in other projects of the Institute for Indian Mother and Child, which aims at improving the living standard of the rural population.

Duration

1 month

NMO

AMSA Austria

Special Requirements

No

Detailed Project Description, Mission and Goals of the Project

IIMC Health Unit Programme

The Health Unit Programme at IIMC - Institute for Indian Mother and Child - means Primary Health Care Project in a developing rural area.

The IIMC staff works in the villages settled in the remote environment of the 24th South Parganas District (about 13km far away Kolkata City).

Usually IIMC welcomes 6 medical students monthly (during summer it could increase to 7 medical volunteers). IIMC accepts volunteers working in the Health Unit Programme for one month (5 weeks - no more time).

Every day - by rotation - few volunteers stay in the Indoor Clinic (IIMC Headquarter) while the others go to the Outdoors (medical offices in the villages). The daily job - from Monday to Saturday - consists in joining the IIMC medical staff (doctors and nurses) during the patients' physical examinations. The activities in which the international volunteers will be involved are: anti-septic dressing, ear-eyes drops, open abscesses, taking blood pressure, muscular massage with relaxing ointment, i.m.- injection (tetanus, neurobion; a Vitamin and b-complex).

About IIMC

The Institute for Indian Mother & Child (IIMC) is a non governmental voluntary organization, committed to promote child & maternal health, literacy and to accelerate International solidarity & Peace.

IIMC was initiated by Dr. Sujit Kumar Brahmochary and was set up in 1989, with the mission to give support to the medical needs of the poorest and most backward people of West Bengal, India; people who have no access to basic healthcare and medicinal facilities. Today, IIMC has expanded its activities to include Medical Program, Health Education & Health Promotion Program, Network Program, Education & Sponsorhip Program, and integrated rural developmental projects including women economical empowerment through Micro Finance Banking Program and agricultural program.

Goal and Mission: To be useful for others and to get a chance to participate in the service of our neighbours is very important for us. IIMC wants to improve the situation of the poor and suffering backward people. We are committed to promote child and maternal health, literacy; and to accelerate peace and solidarity.

Period

Anytime

Name of Exchange-Project-Coordinator

Anna Klicpera

Email of Exchange Project Coordinator

anna.klicpera@amsa.at

Homepage (of your project)

www.iimcmissioncal.org

Number of Students

6-7 students per month

Application

Curriculum vitae

Special questionnaire

optional: Recommendation letter

Mail to: anna.klicpera@amsa.at

Deadline: 4 months before the respective month

Project specific Costs

150 Euros including Accomodation, Participation Fee and a small donation to the project.

Accomodation

Volunteers live in a guest house, about one hour away from the Indoor Clinic. This house is very nice, for Indian standards almost luxurious. It provides a kitchen with two fridges, several bathrooms with western toilets and showers, as well as several rooms with different numbers of beds which all have mosquito nets.

Food is not included.

Leisure Activities

Any comments?

To participate to this project it is mandatory: good knowledge of English, willing to test and compare yourself in a country like India, good adaptation spirit in order to work in villages under uncomfortable situations and very closely with local people. Volunteering at the project, is a very precious help to IIMC activity but please remember this won’t make any immediate change into daily life of people.