Global health (GNK)

Experience health and healthcare on a different continent, in a different country, in a different setting & in a different culture. Change the World, or Stay Home!

Please note: This minor starts 19 August 2024

The Minor Global Health program is a very special 12-week program for 3rd year Bachelor students. After 5 weeks of lectures, practicals and masterclasses on all aspects of Global Health, you will go abroad for 6 weeks to experience Health & Healthcare in a completely different setting and culture. The Minor is concluded with a two-day Symposium.

Take a look at our Global Health video and learn more about this minor.

In the Minor Global Health you will come to learn every aspect of Global Health and international Healthcare in low and middle income countries (LMIC), as well as emerging economies to contrast with health and healthcare in The Netherlands. Determinants of Health and Disease (local, regional, national and international), the Global Burden of Disease, Climate Change, Sustainable & Planetary Health, Universal Health Coverage, Healthcare systems in diverse cultural backgrounds and learning to deal with limited resources (preventive, diagnostic and therapeutic) will be the main themes.

Next to Health & Healthcare at a tertiary level (urban, university medical centre), you will be exposed to Health & Healthcare in a rural setting (district hospital, related health centres and health posts, primary healthcare, community health, public health). All this in a very different culture and climate.
In 2024 you can travel to 20 countries on 4 continents:

• Europe (The Netherlands)
• Asia (Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam),
• Middle East (Oman),
• Africa (Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe) and
• The Americas (Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Suriname).

After completing the Minor Global Health the student is able to:

• describe the principles of (Sustainable) Global Health
• describe and explain the principles of Planetary Health
• describe and explain causes, effects and solutions for Climate Change and its effect on Global Health
• relate determinants of disease (Global Burden of Disease) to global AND local developments
• become aware of, experience and reflect on the factors associated with differences in health and healthcare in a different culture and in a different country.
• describe and explain what Universal Health Coverage is
• describe and explain the Millennium Development and Sustainable Development Goals
• describe the various healthcare systems
• describe and recognize the most important prevalent diseases, globally and locally, and name their
  prevention, diagnosis and treatment
• relate clinical care and public health in the broader sense, in urban and rural settings in developed and developing countries

Application

To apply for this Minor:
STEP 1
Please note that for this Minor you need to apply through your University’s Minor website
between 1 - 14 April 2024 23.59 hrs CET

STEP 2
Register (possible now already!!) with Global Health Education Erasmus (GHEE ) at and/or
Apply (possible now already!!) for the Minor Global Health 2024 via https://mgh2024.globalhealtheducation.nl/application and/or

Notes
NOTE 1 :

• Please note that for this Minor you need to apply (STEP 1) through your University’s Minor website
  ultimately Sunday 14 April 2024 23.59 hrs CET
• Please note that for this Minor you need to register and apply with GHEE (STEP 2)
  ultimately Sunday 14 April 2024 23.59 hrs CET
• You will be notified per e-mail on the definitive status of your application ultimately Wednesday 24 April 2024 23.59 hrs CET

NOTE 2: Please note that the formal registration is through your university’s website (so STEP 1)!
NOTE 3: The first compulsory Kick-off meeting will be 13 May 2024.
NOTE 4: Compulsory Preparation & Language Sessions will be held 3-6 June 2024.
NOTE 5: The Minor Global Health starts 2 weeks earlier than the regular minors, on Monday 19 August 2024. The Minor Global Health thus runs for 12 (instead of the regular 10) weeks!

NOTE 6:

• To prevent highly communicable diseases while abroad and thus to prevent you from getting ill, please note that to be eligible for the Minor Global Health we require you to be vaccinated according to the Dutch National Vaccination Program (Rijksvaccinatie programma - RVP ).

• Vaccinations against COVID-19 ,Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus and Polio (DKTP ) as well as Mumps, Measles and Rubella (BMR ) are compulsory. Furthermore, adequate vaccination against Hepatitis B is compulsory as well.

• For your trip you will need a compulsory booster vaccination against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP ), as well as compulsory vaccinations against Rabies and Hepatitis A .

• Yellow Fever and others only when indicated (LCR guidelines). Malaria prophylaxis will depend on the country and areas you will be visiting (LCR guidelines).

Specific Characteristics

The Minor Global Health is open to 3rd year Bachelor students in Medicine, Clinical Technology, Erasmus University College and the Institute of Health Policy & Management with:

• Demonstrable interest in Global Health.
• Good command of the English Language.
• Having acquired all study credits (60 ECTS) of Bachelor year 1 ultimately 6 June 2024
• Expected to acquire a minimum of 30 ECTS in Bachelor year 2 ultimately 6 June 2024
• Having NO Bachelor year 2 exam resits in the period 19 August – 8 November 2024.

The number of students that can participate in the Minor Global Health is limited. A maximum of 120 students can participate, of which:

• max 100 Medical students from Erasmus MC
• max 10 students from EUR (ESHPM & EUC)
• max 10 students from TUD (Clinical Technology)

Teaching methods

• Lectures
• Masterclasses
• Coursera online course ‘Essentials of Global Health’
• eLearning
• Workshops
• Bed-side teaching
• Student presentations

Students will participate in the regular activities of the participating host institutes abroad including:

• morning reports
• grand rounds
• outpatient activities: OPD, ART clinic, U5, antenatal, community health projects
• journal clubs and research meetings

ALL education during the Minor Global Health is compulsory.

Teaching materials Compulsory literature:

• Essentials of Global Health (Erasmus University Rotterdam on Coursera | Coursera), Coursera course

• Global Health 101, Richard Skolnik; Jones & Bartlett Publishers | 4th edition October 2019.

• Planetary Health, Andy Haines & Howard Frumkin; Cambridge University Press | 1st edition 2021.

• De Derde Wereld op je CV, Judith van de Kamp; Nieuw Amsterdam | 1st edition March 2019.

And:

• Lecture sheets.

• Education materials used during lectures and workshops.

• Reader with lectures and other materials from the host institutes abroad.

Advised literature:

• Factfulness ; Hans Rosling; Spectre | 1st edition January 2018.
• Millions Saved : New Cases of Proven Success in Global Health ; Amanda Glassman & Miriam Temin; Center for Global Development | 1st edition May 2016
• Millions Saved: Case studies in Global Health ; Ruth Levine; Jones & Bartlett Publishers | 1st edition April 2007.
• Foreign to Familiar . Lanier, Sarah A.; McDougal Publishing | 1st edition November 2000.

Method of examination
Examination in the Minor Global Health consists of three parts:

• Writing an Essay on a Global Health topic
• Professional behaviour and performance abroad
• Individual Assignment, for which students can choose to
• Write a Case Review
• Produce a Video Documentary, Vidcast series or Podcast series

The final mark will consist of:

1. The mark for the Essay (45%)
2. The mark for the final Individual Assignment (45%)
3. The mark for Professional Behavior and Performance abroad (10%)