Bangladesh Health Project

Upcoming volunteer opportunities

2012-01-29T19:00:00.000-08:00

The IUBAT College of Nursing has a few opportunities for visiting faculty in 2012.

June 15 to August 15 – maternal-child nursing (classroom and clinical)

September 5 to October 15 – professional orientation

September 5 to October 15 – medical-surgical nursing (classroom and clinical).

We will post opportunities for 2013 shortly.

If you are unable to travel to Bangladesh, we have some volunteer tasks that can be completed from home using the internet.

For more information please visit the website, where you can also contact us.

On-going collaboration between IUBAT and U Vermont

2012-01-23T15:40:00.001-08:00

Each year BScN students from University of Vermont visit IUBAT College of Nursing with their instructor Dr. Rycki Maltby. In this photo students from UVm and IUBAT work together at the Centre for Woman and Child Health, our clinical teaching partner. (In case you are wondering about the winter head gear, January can be chilly even in Bangladesh!)

Nursing students at IUBAT Convocation

2012-01-23T13:53:00.001-08:00

Previous visiting faculty can share the pride of these students and their families. This was the third formal Convocation for the University and the first Convocation for the College of Nursing. Twenty-two BScN graduates had their Certificates of Graduation confirmed by the Government of Bangladesh. In the first picture, they are shown with Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mahmuda Khanum and Chair, Health Sciences, Dr. Karen Lund. The other photo shows some of the graduates with IUBAT Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Alimullah Miyan as well as Chief Guest Prof Dr Gerald Reisinger, President of Upper Austria University of Applied Sciences.

Nursing Practice Lab opens at IUBAT

2011-12-31T19:14:00.000-08:00

As part of on-going campus development at IUBAT, the College of Nursing now has new laboratory space. Keeping teaching materials clean and protected from insects, dust and humidity will be much easier with curtains, air-conditioning and running water in the new facility. In addition to practicing bedside care, the lab is also suitable for microbiology experiments. The university has provided modern furniture, and we are now fund-raising to replace our aging demonstration mannequins. Your donations are always welcome. Our only program expenses in Canada are for book-keeping; there are no overhead charges. Most money raised is spent in Bangladesh to operate the volunteers’ guest-house and to pay for educational supplies and services, and a few scholarships. You can find our 2011 annual report, financial statement and a donation form on the website www.bangladeshhealthproject.com .

IUBAT Convocation in the media

2011-12-31T10:11:00.001-08:00

With the first batches of BSN graduates officially recognized, Convocation 2011 was the culminating event of a busy year for our project. The popular national newspaper, The Daily Star published a colourful supplement on Convocation Day and also reported on the event the following day http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=215159 . Another popular national daily, The Independent, produced pictorial coverage on the following day http://www.theindependentdigital.com/index.php?opt=view&page=32&date=2011-12-27. This is the source for the photo of Dr. Karen Lund, Chair of Health Sciences, receiving an award from the presiding Minister, Dr. Hasan Mahmud. The IUBAT website has more at www.iubat.edu.

Thanks to our 2011 volunteers!

2011-12-29T19:34:00.000-08:00

We are grateful to many people who have helped the Bangladesh Health Project this year: In Canada, we thank Mid Main Community Health Centre, especially Directors Deirdre Evans and John Richards and Executive Director Irene Clarence (check out the new website at www.midmain.net ). Christina Paone (www.paonecreative.com ) designs our website and communications. VCC faculty, Kathy Fukuyama, Susan McNeill and VCC students raised funds to support their classmates’ inaugural visit to IUBAT. Melodie Hull, Tracy Lee, Rabiya Merani, Mohammed Morshed and Susie Wai supported various activities. Library staff at the College of Registered Nurses of BC passed along surplus books. In Bangladesh, visiting faculty during 2011 included Murad Bakht, Alex Berland, Moira Cameron, Monique de Groot, Dan Hawkins, JoAnn Leavey, Karen Lund (shown in this photo), Andrea Marrie, Gillian McKay, Susan McNeill, Sonie Meyer, Judi Morton, Linda Rollins, John Ringhisen, Ray Scott, Sam Simpson and Permjit Soomal. We appreciate their dedication.

Convocation for IUBAT graduates

2011-12-21T22:41:00.001-08:00

In Bangladesh, university convocations are a special event, held only when the country’s president accepts an invitation to preside. On December 21^st 2011, IUBAT conducted its third convocation in twenty years as a university. The President was unwell, so Dr Hasan Mahmud, a senior government minister, conferred degrees on all IUBAT graduates including those from the College of Nursing. A former professor himself, Dr Hasan noted the contribution of IUBAT’s Centre for Policy Research, which is led by Bangladesh Health Project Director, John Richards. We were especially proud that Bimala Rai (BSN 2009) was chosen from among the eight hundred graduates to be Valedictorian for this event. Read more about the 3^rd IUBAT Convocation at http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=215159

What do we do as volunteer faculty?

2011-12-16T05:19:00.000-08:00

We try to connect prospective volunteers with people who have visited IUBAT previously. US nurse-midwife, Sally Sando taught at IUBAT in 2010. Answering a question from another nurse, she says, “I think that we provide so much for the students as role models and mentors. I taught 3rd year students so they were ready to take on their professional role. I supported them in that, trying to find experiences for them, listening to them. They felt a lot of frustration due to the discrepancy between what they had been taught about nursing standards and the reality in Bangladesh. These are issues that we don’t have to deal with in the West, so they are sobering to think about. It is important to try to be realistic about what we can achieve. Everyone at IUBAT maintains very high standards in teaching the students. Although the students seem earnest and anxious to learn, it is difficult in light of the realities. But - if we don't hold to the standards as best we can, then we don't give them a vision to aim for. I never doubted that I was doing something of benefit for the students.”

Collaborative action for nurse education

2011-12-14T23:11:00.000-08:00

On December 10, IUBAT College of Nursing hosted a workshop to discuss the topic, “Collaboration for Nurse Education.” Those attending came from the public and private sectors in nurse education, health care services and policy. Participants analyzed issues that affect nurse education, including lack of qualified educators and poor educational resources, as well as negative social attitudes towards nursing. They identified joint actions such as sharing library materials, working together for quality assurance and collaborating to train nurse educators. They also proposed more dialogue between private and public sectors and urged action to inform the general public about the contribution of nurses. Finally, they considered holding a conference on nurse education in 2012. The workshop ended with agreement to create a “Nurse Education Network” that will carry forward this action plan.

Exploring Dhaka

2011-12-05T01:47:00.000-08:00

What do IUBAT volunteers do when they are not teaching? Often they explore the local neighbourhood as well as downtown Dhaka and even further afield. In this photo Dan Hawkins, Arman Azad, Sam Simpson and Andrea Marrie stand outside Bangladesh’s famous National Assembly, designed by Louis Kahn. Another popular destination is Old Dhaka, described in this news feature http://www.bbc.com/travel/feature/20110815-saving-dhakas-heritage

Leadership development

2011-11-28T07:39:00.000-08:00

Perhaps even more urgent than the demand for well-trained nurses in Bangladesh, is the need for effective nurse managers and educators. IUBAT faculty encourage the BSN students to think of themselves as future leaders of the profession. Their studies in Nursing Administration help them develop some skills. This course is also attended by practicing nurses and managers from our teaching hospital partners, ICDDRB and United Hospitals. The experienced practitioners always help the IUBAT students gain a realistic perspective on the challenges of management. The course includes a hospital management workshop, shown in this photo. In this day-long simulation, participants solve various problems related to personnel and care management issues. Visiting faculty Moira Cameron and Sam Simpson assisted Alex Berland in presenting the workshop.

"Nursing, once again, leads the way!"

2011-11-25T04:45:00.001-08:00

In an editorial, Dr. Jane Robinson, editor of the International Nursing Review states, “ A briefing from the International Department of the Royal College of Nursing, England (http://rcn.org.uk) gives an update on the European Year of Volunteering 2011. The RCN gives as an example of international collaboration in nurse education the case study on a Canadian-Bangladeshi partnership published in INR (Berland et al. 2010). The RCN cites amongst the mutual benefits derived from the partnership: the material resources made available; the sharing of expertise between high and low income countries; professional development; and interaction between faculty and students. This seems to be a classic example of what the Europe for Citizens programme, which includes the European Year of Volunteering within its brief, aims to achieve ‘in bringing people closer together’.... In promoting participation and shared values, achieving intercultural dialogue, employment, social cohesion and sustainable development (European Commission – Citizenship 2010), it appears that nursing, once again, leads the way!"

Difficult conditions in public hospitals

2011-11-18T17:35:00.001-08:00

Dhaka Medical College Hospital is the country’s largest public sector general hospital. Conditions there are illustrated in the weekend edition of The Daily Star, one of the major English language newspapers http://www.thedailystar.net/magazine/2011/11/02/photo.htm . IUBAT BSN students do not practice in this hospital. Naturally, though, we believe that our graduates will be part of the human resource solution to improve health services for all sectors of society.

Training of trainers - our next priority

2011-11-17T19:00:00.000-08:00

The global shortage of nurse educators is a major barrier to increasing supply of nurses. To tackle this problem, we prepare students for teaching roles when they graduate. Senior students have the opportunity to learn as volunteer Teaching Assistants; our BSN graduates are paid for part-time positions. Visiting faculty coach and support novice educators as they develop classroom management skills. In this photo, Teaching Assistant Asha Gurung (BSN 2010) demonstrates wound care, observed by volunteers Monique de Groot and JoAnn Leavey and Teaching Assistant Shahed Chowdhury (BSN 2012). Already this strategy has made an impact, with some IUBAT graduates teaching in nursing colleges in Nepal.

Positive impact for volunteers

2011-11-03T15:51:00.000-07:00

Cassandra Ma was a senior nursing student in Canada when she went to IUBAT last year. In addition to helping junior students in the nursing labs, Cassandra used her long experience with St. John Ambulance to teach first-aid to nursing students, IUBAT security guards and faculty. About her experience at IUBAT, Cassandra says, "Increasingly, I find that what I learned in Bangladesh is transferable to my practice in Canada and even to how I carry myself as a person. Although initially I felt 'out of my element', I gained confidence in my knowledge base. Now I am more vocal about my strengths, more assertive in contributing my knowledge to other healthcare professionals. For example, in my first preceptorship, I had the confidence to advocate for my patients with other team members. That’s not all: I also gained first-hand knowledge about the value of cultural acceptance. And I had no idea of the struggles nurses face in Bangladesh – these encounters have been invaluable in my own development."

IUBAT alumni perform well

2011-10-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to IUBAT College of Nursing graduates, Poonam Limbu, Karuna Sharma and Bimala Rai. They recently passed exams for an advanced ACLS course offered at Dhaka’s BIRDEM Hospital. Of about 40 health professionals attending, only 10 passed, with the three IUBAT graduates in the top rank. When the head of the Critical Care Unit announced the results, he told the audience that nurses are intelligent professionals, as these three IUBAT alumni had demonstrated.

Health information for volunteers

2011-09-20T07:48:00.001-07:00

People interested in volunteering with our project are sensibly concerned about their health and safety in Dhaka. IUBAT is very experienced at keeping its many international visitors secure and comfortable. The university is located in the north of the city, far from occasional political demonstrations downtown. On the daily walk to work, neighbours greet us as members of the community. Our guest house is run by housekeepers who have been trained in food safety. Preparations before you leave are available from the USA Centre for Disease Control http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/bangladesh.htm#notices You can also read more about all these matters in our Volunteer Guide.

IUBAT at the School of Hope

2011-09-20T07:15:00.000-07:00

Dhaka’s School of Hope provides free education to local poor children (http://www.schoolofhope.net/ ). Each year, IUBAT Nursing students provide free health screening as part of their training in Community Health. This summer they were taught by an educator from Vancouver Community College Nursing Department, Susan McNeill. Susan says, “We screened approximately 200 kids for hearing, vision, height and weight. The students actively participated in developing and evaluating the program. The additional picture of Rakib at the white board shows an impromptu lesson during our global health class. He was illustrating the distribution of donor aid, and how most gets siphoned off before it reaches the end user. Part of one of our lively class discussions! I was impressed by these thinkers and future leaders.”

"An incredible experience"

2011-08-17T09:23:00.000-07:00

A Canadian RN working in a busy emergency department, Danielle LeMoine, volunteered at IUBAT during spring 2011. This photo shows her (back row, right) with Monique de Groot and medical-surgical students at United Hospital. “Teaching at IUBAT was an incredible experience …. I learned what it’s like living in a developing country, and saw first-hand the impact of social determinants of health like income, education and access to services. It is important for me to involve myself with projects that help create sustainable change… educating nurses is an excellent way to do this. Nurses can be leaders for change; we have all seen this in action. Sharing our knowledge and experiences, while helping build their confidence, practical and critical thinking-skills can help shape the future of nurses and health care delivery in Bangladesh.” Thank you, Danielle, for your passion and effort.

International Nurses Day at United Hospital

2011-08-15T10:40:00.001-07:00

Each year, the nurses of United Hospital celebrate International Nurses Day. United Hospital [UH] is one of Dhaka’s major international hospitals and an IUBAT affiliate. This an excellent setting for our students to practice medical-surgical nursing. At this year’s Nurses Day festivities sponsored by the hospital, management made a huge effort to show their support for nurses. IUBAT volunteers were proud to be invited. The UH nurses read poems they had written about their nursing experiences, and performed traditional songs and dances. Kudos to UH for the great work they're doing to elevate the status of nursing in Bangladesh!

Canucks fans at IUBAT

2011-08-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

It's not all work at IUBAT. Summer 2011 volunteers (l-r) Sean, Gillian, Jess and Ray introduced the IUBAT neighbourhood to Vancouver Canucks fever! Sean, Jess and Ray visited Dhaka for six weeks as part of their Community Health coursework at our BSN affiliate, Vancouver Community College. They conducted community assessments alongside IUBAT students, and participated in clinical rotations at local health care facilities. Gillian, an RN who is also from Vancouver, joined IUBAT as Visiting Faculty, teaching Medical-Surgical Nursing and Professional Issues.

Learning more about Dhaka

2011-07-11T12:36:00.001-07:00

Are you curious about living conditions in Dhaka while volunteering at IUBAT? Our website provides the basic information, which we follow with a personal discussion to answer your specific questions. Some other sources are these: the weather forecast http://www.wunderground.com/global/stations/41923.html ; an English-language newspaper http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/todays-paper.php, and a unique city view from The Day Begins in Dhaka video, produced by Julie Lindsay of the International School Dhaka.

Media support for more nurse education

2011-05-23T11:31:00.001-07:00

Bangladesh needs more nurses according to a recent article in The Independent, one of the country’s leading English-language newspapers. http://www.theindependentbd.com/paper-edition/frontpage/129-frontpage/51142-country-needs-more-nurses-than-doctors.html In addition to describing public sector nurse education, the writer comments on the role of private sector universities and the challenges they face. She cites senior officials in the Bangladesh Nursing Council, who suggest strengthening the government’s Directorate of Nursing Service “so that development issues of this significant sector can be properly addressed.... They also emphasized appointment of officials with nursing background at the policy making level in the health and family welfare ministry.”

Visiting faculty needed at IUBAT Fall 2011

2011-05-23T11:02:00.001-07:00

Recruitment is underway for Fall 2011. Two courses still require visiting faculty volunteers.

We teach Mental Health Nursing over two trimesters, summer and fall. The second segment starts about September 5^th and runs for 12 weeks. Classes, assignments and exams are prepared. We have a good clinical placement at the National Institute for Mental Health, which is a progressive tertiary facility in Dhaka.

Similarly, Nursing Administration is offered in the fall. This also involves three hours of lecture per week and includes a full-day simulation workshop.

Elsewhere on this website you can find additional details about arrangements for volunteers. If you are seriously interested and available please contact us info@bangladeshhealthproject.com.

National Geographic features Bangladesh

2011-05-09T09:31:00.001-07:00

Bangladesh features in the May 2011 issue of National Geographic magazine in a series on impacts of global climate change. http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2011/05/bangladesh/belt-text This photo is taken on the same Turag River that flows past IUBAT. The article emphasizes how river flooding, rising sea-levels and stronger tropical storms will stress an already-crowded region. It quotes a population health expert on the importance of professional education as a way to relieve some of the pressures. But the theme of the article is resilience – how Bangladeshis are already adapting with their centuries of experience in crisis management. “Precisely because Bangladesh has so many problems, it's long served as a kind of laboratory for innovative solutions... proving itself far more resourceful than skeptics might have guessed.” This is no surprise to anyone who has visited IUBAT.