Family Planning in Andavadoaka - a Medical Elective

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Aim of the Project 
To incorporate the contribution of elective medical students to help further develop the Blue Ventures contraception and sexual health service in Southern Madagascar. To offer a period of attachment at the Blue Ventures expedition site in Andavadaoka which provides an experience that is enjoyable, challenging, makes a valuable contribution to local communities and meets the learning needs of elective medical students.To enable medical students to contribute to the development of the Blue Ventures contraception and sexual health service, through the development of satellite clinics in the region surrounding Andavadoaka.

Background
Blue Ventures is a UK based marine conservation charity working in the village of Andavadoaka, situated in a remote part of the coast of south west Madagascar. Through the development of a strategy that promotes sustainable use of the coastal resources, Blue Ventures aims to achieve its dual objectives of enabling the sustainable development of the coastal communities, and ensuring the protection of the surrounding delicate coastal ecosystems. An integral part of this work is the newly developed family planning service for the communities in and around Andavadoaka.

The service is currently manned by the Blue Ventures (BV) Medical Officer and local BV staff, and operates a clinic in Andavadoaka, population 1,200. BV currently needs additional skilled technical support in order to expand the clinic to reach a wider community, as well as to assess the feasibility of offering an outreach service, deliver a programme of education and awareness raising initiatives, and facilitate the delivery of outreach contraception and sexual health clinics.

Incorporating the contribution of elective medical students will enable BV to meet these objectives with huge potential for mutual benefit. Working alongside the BV medical officer in Andavadoaka will offer medical students an experience that offers a number of learning opportunities (see Appendix 1) and an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the health care of one of the poorest resource-dependent communities in the world. In addition, it would provide an exciting opportunity to contribute to the work of an award-winning marine conservation and sustainable development charity, whilst experiencing life in one of the most beautiful and biologically unique countries in the world.

This project will appeal either to individual students or small groups of two or three. The proposal has been split into two phases, and it is anticipated that these phases will be undertaken by two different, successive students or groups of students. Phase Two, which is concerned with delivery of the service, need not be limited to one student or one group. Since long-term continuation of the project is required, successive students or groups of students may wish to be involved with the delivery of the service and effectively repeat what is outlined in Phase Two. Alternatively, as the project evolves new opportunities for medical student involvement may emerge.

Medical elective costs:

• The cost of your trip will be £22.50 per day plus a £75 administration fee per person. These costs will cover three meals per day, accommodation in shared eco-huts, transfer to and from our site as part of the main expedition dates, travel when working on the project to outlying villages, the support of Blue Ventures staff for project guidance, translation, medical and logistical support and pastoral care.
• Please add a supplement of 10% if you want your own hut; or for two people sharing, please add 5% each.