Public Health Internship Placement

Overview

Our public health internship program works in partnership with the government of Ghana health facilities. Each facility supports outreach in approximately 20 communities in their respective districts. The Public Health division of each health facility reaches out to communities and individuals in their homes and educates them on health preventive measures. They provide treatment to some patients under certain conditions, undertakes disease surveillance, immunization, and family planning.

Internship Participant’s role

Participants will shadow public health nurses and assist with health education outreach. The most common health issues are HIV/AIDS, STDs/STIs, malaria and tuberculosis. Other issues include teen pregnancy, family planning practices (breastfeeding) and sanitation. Participants also have the opportunity to work with Public Health NGO's where their main role will be to prepare materials and assist with health education events in Schools and Communities.

Internship Description

Day to day activities description

Child Welfare Clinic

Health Education of caregivers on a chosen topic of importance
Growth monitoring of babies (weighing and plotting of weight in Child health record booklet)
Assessment of child health record cards and vaccinating those due for vaccination
Vitamin A supplementation
Counseling of caregivers about weight of child and immunization

Curative Service

Taking of records (vital statistics; age, sex etc.)
Temperature taking
Weight taking
Measurement of height
Prescription of medication

Home Visit

Tracing of defaulters to immunization, Antenatal care, Post natal care, pregnant women
Follow up on discharged patients
Follow up visit to malnourished children
Health education of patients based on conditions of home; personal and environmental hygiene

Family Planning

Assessment of patients for family planning services
Counseling of patients on the various family planning commodities available and their side effects
Administering of injectable
Condoms dispensing

Report Writing

Collation and compilation of data at the end of the month for onward submission to the Municipal Health Directorate