UW Malawi Nursing Summer 2018 IAP Program Handbook

Transcription

1 UW Malawi Nursing Summer 2018 IAP Program Handbook The UW Malawi Nursing program is offered by International Academic Programs (IAP) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, in partnership with the UW-Madison School of Nursing. This IAP Program Handbook supplements the general IAP Study Abroad Handbook and provides the most up-to-date information and advice available at time of printing. Changes may occur before your departure or while you are abroad. Questions about your program (housing options, facilities abroad, etc.) as well as questions relating to academics (course credit and equivalents, registration deadlines, etc.) should be directed to IAP at UW-Madison. This program handbook contains the following information: Contact Information... 2 Program Dates... 3 Travel and Arrival Information... 3 Pre-Departure Preparation... 3 The Academic Program... 5 Living Abroad

2 Contact Information On-Site Contacts Karen Solheim, PhD, RN, FAAN UW-Madison Program Leader Director, Undergraduate Program and Coordinator of Global Health Initiatives School of Nursing 701 Highland Ave, Room 4167 Madison, WI Phone: In-Country Cell: available upon arrival Emily Schumacher, BSN, RN, Pediatric Primary Care DNP Candidate UW-Madison Program Leader School of Nursing Phone: In-Country Cell: available upon arrival Malawi Contacts: Chichiri Lodge: Ms. Lucy Mkandawire, Tafika Tours Program Leader: cell number available upon arrival Mr. Caesar Mkandawire, Driver: Do not dial +265 when calling in Malawi, only when calling from the U.S. IAP Contacts Lindsay Heiser, Study Abroad Advisor Joanna Poinsatte, Enrollment Specialist Advisor 301 Red Gym 716 Langdon Street Judy Humphrey, Financial Specialist Supervisor Phone: Emergency Contact Information In case of emergency, call the main IAP number at between 8:00am-4:30pm Monday-Friday; after hours or on weekends, call the IAP emergency line at Embassy Registration All program participants who are U.S. citizens must register with the U.S. Embassy before departure as this will help in case of a lost passport or other mishap. You can register at If you are not a U.S. citizen, register with your home country s embassy or consulate. 2

3 U.S. Embassy in Malawi U.S. Embassy Lilongwe 16 Jomo Kenyatta Road Lilongwe 3, Malawi Phone: +265 (0) Fax: +265 (0) U.S. Citizens with emergencies, please call Program Dates Class begins in Madison: May 14, 2018 Class ends in Madison: May 18, 2018 Arrival Date to Blantyre, Malawi: May 22, 2018 Program Start Date: May 23, 2018 Program End Date: June 8, 2018 Departure Date from Blantyre, Malawi: June 8, 2018 A full course syllabus will be provided by the Program Leaders. It is crucial that you remain flexible while in country, as the program s schedule may shift with minimal notice due to local community events (wedding, funerals, etc.) beyond the program s control. Travel and Arrival Information Travel and arrival information will be provided by your Program Leaders during spring semester (typically in February). Airport pickup in Malawi is facilitated by Tafika Tours, the program provider. You will have an orientation on-site upon arrival. Pre-Departure Preparation Be sure to complete all items under the tiles of your MyStudyAbroad portal. Refer to the Pre-Departure Checklist of the IAP Study Abroad Handbook for essential information. Immigration Documents: Passport A passport is needed to travel to Malawi. Apply immediately for a passport if you do not already have one. Passport information and application forms can be found on the U.S. State Department website ( If you already have your passport, make sure it will be valid for at least 6 months beyond the length of your stay abroad. Visa A passport, return ticket, and adequate funds are required for entry into Malawi. A visa is also required for U.S. passport holders. Here is a list of the requirements for the visa: 3

4 Using a visa agency is the most reliable way to obtain your Malawi visa. It s recommended to visit for detailed information on applying for the TOURIST visa for Malawi. It is essential that you apply for a TOURIST visa as you are not enrolling in a Malawian university. Carefully complete the required steps to apply for a visa (details at the above website): Two applications completed in block letters. Please see the example application for guidance. Make sure your passport is valid six months beyond the end date of the program, and remember to sign your passport on the signature line provided toward the front of your passport book. You will need to mail your actual passport, not a photocopy. Passport photos can be purchased at the WisCard Office, many drugstores (Walgreens, CVS, etc.), and some post offices. These must meet the specified guidelines and be printed on photo paper. Print out your round-trip flight itinerary to and from Malawi. Make sure your name is on the itinerary. At the Passport Visas Express site, select a SINGLE ENTRY visa valid for 3 MONTHS unless you have personal travel plans beyond the program dates that would require multiple entries or longer validity. Select any additional services such as expedited service as needed. The agency should not require you to upload or mail an invitation letter. Please contact your Study Abroad Advisor to provide the letter if the site asks for one. Mail all required documents to Passport Visa Express via FedEx, UPS, or another carrier that will provide you a tracking number. Include a self-addressed prepaid envelope (again, from FedEx, UPS, etc. so that your mail will have a tracking number on its return trip) or choose to pay the visa processing agency for mailing fees. Visa Timeline You need to apply for your visa within a window of time not too early or too late as the validity of your visa starts the moment the visa is pasted into your passport, not the day that you enter Malawi. For example, if you apply for a single-entry visa valid for 3 months, you should apply no earlier than March 9, 2018 in order for your visa to remain valid through June 9, Nationals of India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, China, Burundi, Rwanda and Pakistan should allow up to 4 weeks for visa processing. Handling Money Abroad The unit of currency is the kwacha (MK), which is made up of 100 tambala. You ll find a few ATMs at banks in Lilongwe, Blantyre, and Zomba. Very few places outside main cities will accept credit cards. Most banks and Forex exchanges won t charge you for changing cash, but there is a commission for changing travelers checks. If you are considering credit/debit card use (Visa is most widely accepted), be sure to inform your provider that you will be using your cards in a foreign country so your account is not blocked due to unexpected activity! Two optional excursions are built into the program schedule; if you wish to participate you will be expected to pay a participation fee on-site. Estimated costs of these excursions will be made available during class/orientation the week before the group departs the U.S. for Malawi; we anticipate around $75 total. 4

5 Please note that you may not take more than MK200 out of Malawi. As it is difficult to exchange in the US, you should exchange any excess MK to US dollars before departure. You will need $30 for the Malawi Embarkation Tax (Departure Tax) when returning to the US. You will pay this fee at the airport or as part of your ticket price. Ask your agent if departure tax is included when purchasing your airfare. Details here: Packing Closed-toe walking shoes (sandals are okay for free time) Women should bring one or two below-the-knee loose-fitting skirts. This is a REQUIREMENT of the program. Below the knee, but not touching the ground, is best. Women can bring capris (loose-fitting; not leggings/tights) to wear on free days, but must wear long skirts on other days. Shorts and leggings are not culturally appropriate in Malawi. Tops/blouses with sleeves. Tops should not be low-cut; cap-sleeves are fine. Sleeveless tops/tank tops are not culturally appropriate in Malawi. Sweater or light jacket for evenings Pajamas (warm, as it can be cool at night) Hat, if desired Personal toiletries Towel, wash cloth Scrubs (you will wear these for clinic or hospital visits) Name Tag Stethoscope Water bottle Meal substitute snack bars (e.g., PowerBar, Luna Bar) Snacks Tissues, TP Hand sanitizer/wipes Sunglasses Prescribed and over-the-counter medications (in original container with documentation of prescription) Prophylactic medication as prescribed by your primary care provider to prevent travel related diseases such as Malaria Medications that you occasionally need, just in case (medication for rashes, urinary tract infections, yeast infections, ibuprofen, Pepto-Bismol, allergy, etc.) Rehydration salts Sunscreen/lip balm Permethrin spray, DEET insect repellent Backpack or messenger bag that you can keep close to you Waist or neck pouch for passport Travel book Headlamp or flashlight Camera Photocopies of all documents, credit cards, passports, flight itinerary About US $100 in cash. Make sure to bring bills newer than 2009, in good condition (clean, no rips or excessive wrinkles). Larger ($50) denominations generally fetch better exchange rates. 5

6 Academic Program Academics and Learning Objectives The program course is N436: Health and Illness Concepts with Individuals, Families and Communities: Experiential Learning. Learning Outcomes: 1. Take part in providing care to individuals, families and communities, planning, prioritizing and evaluating nursing care that is consistent with clients needs, goals, preferences and social identities. 2. Utilize strategies to promote social justice in health, and culturally congruent care while developing a global perspective to care-giving. 3. Determine collaborative approach to effectively work within nursing and interprofessional teams, fostering open communication, mutual respect and shared decisionmaking to achieve quality individual, family, community and system care. 4. Develop partnerships with individuals, family, community and systems in decision-making about care and planning for care. 5. Utilize concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention based on genetics, family history, social ecological factors, and environmental exposure. 6. Apply learning related to health and illness concepts, and their interrelationship among individuals, families and communities as encountered in experiential practice setting. Registration You will be registered for a placeholder class for Summer by IAP (Study Abroad Admin 100). When IAP has processed your grades for the summer, the placeholder will be converted to Nursing 436. Credits You will participate in a week of study in Madison (1 credit) before the 3-week (3 credit) program abroad. Upon successful completion of the summer field course, you will earn 4 credits of N436: Health and Illness Concepts with Individuals, Families and Communities: Experiential Learning. Grading You will be graded on a credit/no credit basis for this course. Living Abroad: Location Overview Malawi is known as the "warm heart of Africa" because of the friendliness of the people. Malawians typically live with their extended families small homes that are grouped together in villages. A spirit of cooperation prevails as family members share both work and resources. Malawi has a population of about 19 million (2017 est.), with 84% of the population living in rural areas, and population growth rate of 3.3%. 46% of the population is 0-14 years old. 6

7 Country Notes from Tafika Tours: Malawi is made up of many diverse tribes, and those tribes vary considerably in their beliefs, music, dance, customs, even in the ways they build their houses. The three major languages in Malawi are Chichewa, Chitumbuka and Chiyao all from the Bantu language group. Chichewa, the language of the Chewa tribe, is taught to all students in elementary school. Chitumbuka is the language of the northern-based Tumbuka tribe, although some Tumbuka along the lakeshore speak Chitonga. Chiyao is spoken by the Yao tribe, who reside along the southern lakeshore. (As you may have noticed, the language s name derives from the tribe s name plus the prefix chi which means language ). In addition, English is an official language and is widely spoken, especially in towns and major cities. Many other languages are spoken on a regional basis, most of them closely related to one of the three major languages. Malawi is south of the equator, so the seasons will be opposite of those in the United States. In June, July, and August the temperatures will range from 35 degrees Fahrenheit (F) in the higher elevations to 60 to 70 degrees F near the shore of Lake Malawi. In the cool season, sweaters or jackets are practical. Blantyre is the commercial capital of Malawi located in the Southern region of the country. It has a population of about 700,000 residents. It is the second largest city in the country, second to the capital, Lilongwe. Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, the largest hospital in the country and the referral hospital for the Southern region of Malawi is located in Blantyre. Living Abroad: Specific Reminders As noted, it is crucial that you remain flexible while in country, as the program s schedule may shift with minimal notice due to local community events (wedding, funerals, etc.) beyond the program s control. It is important that you do not give gifts to families during experiential activities without obtaining approval from your UW Program Leaders, who will coordinate gift-giving with partner agencies and any other host organizations and individuals. Please be aware that you will need to perform your teaching project multiple times during the program. For you own safety and to well-represent the UW, culturally appropriate dress (LONG SKIRTS) is a REQUIREMENT of this program. Housing You will stay in housing arranged by Tafika Tours. Facilities include lodges and inns in the various locations of the program. You will share a room with your fellow students (doubles, triples, or quads with a lockable door and bathroom access). Program Leaders will be staying at the same facility as students. The Chichiri Lodge manager has a lockbox and can store your passport and valuables for you. The Chichiri Lodge is also gated and has a gatekeeper. Please note it is the cool season (it can get down to 40 F at night) and there is not central heating. Hot water is usually but not always available, and electrical outages may occur. Generally, three meals a day will be provided from the Lodge. There is no washer or dryer at the lodge. Participants can either hand wash their own laundry, or there are people there who can hand wash your laundry for a fee (less than US $20 for the duration of your stay). The lodge boils drinking water for guests, but you should plan to purchase bottled water to carry with you. A bottle of water is about 70 cents and you can buy bottled water in bulk upon arrival to Malawi. 7

8 Transportation The main mode of transportation while in Malawi is walking or bicycling. You should bring adequate walking shoes. The group will be transported in vans for the various excursions and when transferring locations. The group van may be available during free time to go into town. You will plan these trips in advance with your UW Program Leaders and local staff. Safety Malawi is considered a developing country with tourist facilities, including health clinics, of good quality being available in major cities and resort areas. Reliable services in rural areas are limited and travelers should be advised to take necessary precautions as health care facilities would not meet typical U.S. standards and drinking water would not be considered safe for consumption. Spontaneous civil disturbances and/or demonstrations, primarily related to governance and economic issues can occur on occasion in Malawi. Crime is common, especially petty crime. Most crime against Americans tends to be theft of property, either through burglary or residential break-ins. Visitors to Malawi are advised to avoid large demonstrations and should avoid traveling at night, including walking at night alone in major cities, either individually or in a group. Pickpockets and purse-snatchers often loiter near bus stations, marketplaces, shopping centers, and restaurants. Fewer problems are reported at Malawian airports, but heightened awareness is recommended there as well. Should you become the victim or suspect of a crime, contact your Program Leaders immediately. The police emergency phone number is 990 and is the easiest means of obtaining police assistance. Adopting the proper mindset is essential to avoid crime; security takes advance planning and routine discipline and is incumbent upon everyone. To reduce the risk of crime keep belongings close, be aware of surroundings, and never walk alone at night. Personal security measures should be adhered to at all times. You are urged to maintain good situational awareness while in Malawi. Do not walk alone at night. Walk in a group, or at least in pairs. Avoid isolated areas. Maintain a low profile (clothing, behavior, speech, politics, etc.). Use extra caution when crossing the street. Minimize amount of cash and number of credit cards you carry. Always have a plan for communication and a list of emergency contact information with you. Only give personal information to known and trusted persons. Let someone know about planned absences and means of contact. Please note that no matter where in the world women travel, women will generally be safer and more included in the culture if dressed appropriately for the norms of the locale. While conforming to the local standards of dress might contradict American values of individual self-expression and equality, adhering to local codes of conduct, demonstrates respect for that culture. It is important for us to remember that we are guests in other countries. Though we may not fully understand the reasons for particular dress standards or other local customs, it is our responsibility to be courteous guests and well represent our University and our country. You will be advised about such safety considerations as part of the course week in Madison, and upon arrival to Malawi during the on-site orientation such matters will also be discussed, both about specific areas of concern and in general, and the program-specific emergency plan. Health It is very important that you consult with a healthcare provider well-versed in travel medicine or travel clinic to plan for your time abroad. University Health Services (UHS) has a travel clinic that provides health services for 8

9 those planning foreign travel, including vaccines and immunizations. Information about the travel clinic and how to make an appointment can be found online at The UHS travel clinic does book out in advance (sometimes as much as six weeks), and some immunizations must be done at particular times. Please make an appointment as soon as possible with the UHS travel clinic. Some countries require particular vaccines to enter. There is no risk of yellow fever in Malawi. The government of Malawi REQUIRES proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever. This does not include the US. If you are traveling from a country other than the US, check this list to see if you may be required to get the yellow fever vaccine: Countries with risk of yellow fever virus (YFV) transmission. Please note that if you are transiting through one of the countries on the list (Ethiopia is included), you will be required to have your yellow fever vaccine certificate with you. For more information on recommendations and requirements, see yellow fever recommendations and requirements for Malawi. Your doctor can help you decide if this vaccine is right for you based on your travel plans. If you are not covered by UHS care, please consult with your insurance company to see what clinics or healthcare providers with travel medicine specialties are covered. There are a number of travel clinics in Madison including: Dean and UW Health To learn more about travelers' health, please visit the CDC website: You can view vaccine recommendations from the same page, scrolling down to the vaccinations link. On the top of the Vaccinations page, there is a link for specific country recommendations. The estimated risk of Malaria for U.S. travelers is moderate in Malawi. Mosquito nets will be available and it is recommended you use them while in Malawi. Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a malaria-risk area and up to one year after returning home should seek prompt medical attention and tell a physician their travel history and what anti-malarials they have been taking. For additional information on malaria, including protective measures, see the CDC Travelers Health web pages Students are encouraged to drink large quantities of water and to bring oral rehydration packets. Past students also recommend bringing snacks. Additionally, it s wise to bring (in addition to, of course, any prescription medication that may be needed) a small kit of general over-the-counter medications and first aid. Past students have noted that it is particularly hard to obtain medications for rashes, urinary tract infections, and yeast infections and suggest students bring these if they are susceptible to such conditions. Communication Keep in mind time-zone differences when making calls. To make an international call to the United States, dial the access code for the country from which you are calling plus the United States country code (always 1 ) followed by the appropriate U.S. area code and local number. To call internationally from the U.S., dial 011, the country code, city access code (if necessary) and the phone number. Country and city codes can be found online: Some of the above steps can vary if you are using a calling card. How to Call Abroad ( is a helpful website for calling abroad. You will be able to purchase inexpensive cell phones (approximately $30) when you arrive in Malawi. It costs about $1/minute to call the U.S. Minutes can be purchased with the phone. Non-mobile phone use is expensive even within Malawi and can cost up to $1/minute as well. If you wish to take your own phone and use a 9

10 Malawian SIM, confirm that it is a 4-band, unlocked cell phone capable of accepting a SIM card. A SIM card in Malawi will cost $2-$3. If you buy a phone or SIM card in Malawi, you will have a Malawian number and it will be an international call for people calling from the U.S. Using Skype may be possible at some internet cafes: Please note that due to bandwidth, video can rarely be used and voice may not be reliable. WhatsApp is a free texting application. In order to use it, you will need the app on your phone in Malawi and mobile internet. Electronics You may bring electronic equipment as you wish, and at your own risk. Note that it can be challenging to obtain internet services; connectivity is not guaranteed. Use of computers is not expected for assignments and they can be cumbersome to carry and keep secure. Please consult your phone service providers for international services before traveling to assess the appropriateness of bringing a phone. You may need an electrical converter if you need to charge your camera batteries or use other electronics. It is best to bring several batteries since electricity is scarce. Internet cafes are in communities we will visit, including Blantyre. We recognize that you will likely want to remember this experience through photographs. Please remain mindful of whom, when and where you take pictures. Do not photograph government buildings, airports, health facilities or situations involving vulnerable people. Remember that you are engaging in a professional and academic experience. Please respect the privacy of individuals by asking permission to take their pictures. Consult with your field directors and/or host agencies about the appropriateness of taking photos. For more information on photography and ethics, please read Unite for Sight s helpful website: The electricity supply in Malawi is 220/240 volts/50 Hz (240V 50 Hz D & G). The electric sockets are three-pin square (British-type). You may want to consult your local electronics store for information on your particular converter needs or consult REI s guide: Web Resources U.S. State Department UW-Madison International Academic Programs Centers for Disease Control Exchange Rates Lonely Planet JourneyWoman 10