Boston-based Practicum Opportunity with Pharmaccess Namibia

in Practicums/Internships
October 18th, 2011

Pharmaccess Namibia is seeking a dedicated and independent student to conduct a thorough review of the literature on the operation of mobile clinics in developing countries.  Pharmaccess currently runs one mobile primary care clinic (Mister Sister) in Namibia, and is considering expansion, but first wants to absorb the lessons learned from the operation of other such programs.  Ehimen Aneni, a second year MPH student at BUSPH, worked as an intern with the Mister Sister clinic this summer, and can provide direct insight.  There will be opportunity for Skype interchange with the Pharmaccess Namibia Executive Director and staff as the literature review and “lessons learned” summary are developed.  The report may become the basis of an article for which the practicum student would be an author.

Pharmaccess Namibia

Created by the Dutch NGO Pharmaccess, which was a leader in making antiretroviral therapy available in the private sector in Africa, and in the sponsorship of health insurance programs in Namibia, Nigeria and Tanzania. Pharmaccess Namibia is a health policy think tank and innovation center that developed a mobile multi-disease screening program, and started the Mister Sister mobile primary care clinic.  BUSPH has worked with Pharmaccess on a number of program and project evaluations since 2005.  Rich Feeley has been the primary liasion at BUSPH, and can provide further information.  He will serve as the BUSPH supervisor for the practicum.

Substance of Practicum

  1. Review materials on the current Mister Sister program, including data collected and cost/budget models.
  2. Review field experience of Mister Sister with Ehimen Aneni.
  3. Conduct preliminary literature search for materials (evaluations, program descriptions) on mobile clinics in developing countries
  4. Develop preliminary summary of findings from literature review.
  5. Review literature review and receive feedback from Pharmaccess Namibia managers via Skype.
  6. Supplement literature review based on discussions with Pharmaccess Namibia.
  7. Prepare report summarizing the lessons learned on the operation of mobile primary care clinics.
  8. Adapt report into article format

How to Apply

Interested students should submit resume & cover letter to Rich Feeley at: ffeeley@bu.edu