Working in International Health

by Gedde, Maia; Edjang, Susana; Mandeville, Kate

• ISBN13: 9780199600717
• ISBN10: 0199600716
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-12-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Working in International Healthis a practical guide for UK health professionals wanting to work in low and middle income countries. Drawing on the experience of a broad range of people who have made international health work a reality, it is an essential guide whether you plan to work internationally as a one-off, a protracted period or as a full time international career. The book addresses the what, where and hows of international work. Early chapters cover issues such as whether working overseas is possible, how to arrange a placement, the range of organisations which recruit UK health professional for international work, key considerations when choosing a location and the reality on the ground: what working conditions are like in resource poor and emergency contexts. Uniquely it not only focuses on the individual, but also the 'host' country and what they stand to benefit. How will your time overseas help to achieve health equity? A reality check is important, and later chapters look at the important considerations when working overseas, and how one can make an impact, rather than being a burden in the host country. Drawing on the latest guidance and knowledge, and written by highly experienced, and travelled experts, this book has something for everyone, whether they are a medical student planning their first elective overseas, or a seasoned international worker wanting to broaden their options and understand some of the issues in more depth.

Author Biography

Maia Gedde is an international development professional with experience of programme management and institutional capacity building in the health, education and employment sectors. While at THET she helped to develop, coordinate and evaluate health partnerships between the NHS and hospitals and training institutions in Malawi, Ghana and Uganda. She wrote the first and second editions of The International Health Links Manual: a guide to starting up and maintaining long term health partnerships. She currently lives between Rwanda and Morocco.

Susana Edjang is a physiotherapist and development economist based in London, UK. She worked at THET where she was Health Links Manager in charge of supporting and promoting institutional health partnerships across the UK's health and development organisations. She is now the Programme Manager of the Zambia UK Health Workforce Alliance, a growing network of 45 Zambian and UK health organisations that support health initiatives in Zambia. Susana is also a member of the Council of the Royal African Society, and a trustee of Progressio, an INGO engaged in civil society development in 11 countries around the world.

Kate Mandeville was born in Malawi and grew up in Nepal. She studied medicine at Imperial College London. During her foundation training, she set up Medic to Medic, a charity supporting trainee health workers in low-income countries. In 2008, she began her specialist training in public health medicine and completed a MSc in Public Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is currently a Clinical Research Fellow at LSHTM, researching a PhD into the cost-effectiveness of incentives to retain health workers.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	p. vii
Foreword	p. ix
Foreword	p. x
Introduction	p. xii
Who this guide is for	p. xiii
How to use this guide	p. xiv
Authors' biographies	p. xv
Abbreviations	p. xvi
Is international work for me?	p. 2
The global perspective	p. 5
Why do it?	p. 27
The rewards and challenges	p. 35
Is it possible?	p. 51
Making it happen	p. 74
What work could you do?	p. 77
Where could you work?	p. 93
Planning your placement	p. 123
Humanitarian relief	p. 165
Before you go	p. 177
In the field	p. 194
Settling in	p. 197
At work	p. 215
Getting the most out of it	p. 243
Making an impact	p. 253
Homecoming	p. 268
Returning home	p. 271
What now?	p. 283
Appendices
Useful contacts	p. 294
Useful resources	p. 300
Useful courses	p. 308
Index	p. 317
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