BACKGROUND :

Health care is the maintenance or improvement of health via the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in human beings. Healthcare is delivered by health professionals (providers or practitioners) in allied health professions, physicians, physician associates, dentistry, midwifery, nursing, medicine, optometry, audiology, pharmacy, psychology, and other health professions. It includes the work done in providing primary care, secondary care, and tertiary care, as well as in public health. Healthcare can contribute to a significant part of a country's economy.

Access to health care is not available mostly in remote and rural areas. OSVSWA needs need international volunteers and interns to work in rural communities, spreading public health awareness to women’s groups, youth groups and schools, with the support of local volunteers and translators.

One of the major barriers towards improved levels of health, sanitation and hygiene in rural communities of Odisha is the lack of awareness among local populations of health, sanitation and hygiene. Many community members are illiterate and this has prevented them understanding and adopting proper hygiene and safety methods in their day to day lives.

Joining OSVSWA Work Camp on the HEALTH CARE is a great way to give back to the local community for a better health and a sustainable difference to the lives of hundreds. This is exactly what the gap year travelers joining for providing Sanitation and Hygiene Education program and help to develop the skills of rural communities in nutrition, personal hygiene, sanitation, addictions, mental health, sexual health and reproductive health. You will work with groups of women and children and in government schools to provide guidance on current health practices and build awareness of major health risks. You will also work to mobilise groups of children and youths to act as advocates for health, sanitation and hygiene within the community, organising rallies or performing street drama in order to convey crucial messages to the entire community.

Duration: 3 weeks
Number of volunteers: 12-15
Participation fee: 350 EURO (excluding registration fees)

DENTAL CARE

Dental care is one of the most critically underserved areas of global health care. With the help of our volunteers, OSVSWA is able to enhance smiles, provide oral health and hygiene education and supplies, and provide dental care for thousands annually.

Our program focuses mainly on pediatric dentistry because:
1) This represents the greatest need area of dentistry in developing countries,
2) Pediatric dentistry is less invasive and therefore more amenable to more activity by both dental and pre-dental students,
3) Our efforts are focused on prevention and public health dentistry – clearly the advancing edge of World Health Organization guidelines and emphasis.

You will work in our communities / work camps in the following ways:
  Visit homes to assess the needs for oral health care
  Evaluate living conditions making connections between lifestyle and health issues
  Provide oral health screenings
  Distribute dental health kits and educational materials

You will also invite children and adults with acute oral health concerns to a field clinic staffed by a local dentist.

At the clinic, you will rotate through stations taking turns doing the following:

  Patient interviews/intake
  Oral health screenings
  Guide patients at manual cleaning stations
  Observe the dentist performing extractions, fill cavities and aid with pain management
  Participate in maintenance and management of dental support equipment, inventories and supplies
  Provide oral hygiene instruction to children and adult patients
  Set up and participate in pharmacy station
  Play with the community children

LANGUAGE:
English will be the language in the camp; basic conversational skills are needed. Surviving local language will be taught during the camp.

ACCOMMODATION:
Volunteers will be hosted in a local house / community house / volunteer house; sleeping on beds or mattresses in several rooms, shared by 2-4 volunteers each. Volunteers will share the duties of preparing food, cooking meals and cleaning. Please keep in mind that during this work camp, food will be provided by OSVSWA, which also means eating mainly local food, but will be taken care of less spicy.

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS:
Free time activities will be organized for OSVSWA volunteers; as day trips and excursions in the area, picnic in forest / tourist places, meeting with government officials to share the experience.