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14th Tropical Disease Biology Workshop Summer 2006 |
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14th Tropical Disease Biology Workshop Summer 2006 |
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Description of the program:
The high prevalence of tropical diseases in developing countries is a consequence of a large number of issues that come together to create a propitious environment for the spread of disease. A key element for the improvement the health of a population is the improvement of living conditions and information about prevention at the community level. We will examine first hand the issues that hinder community socio-economic development and their consequences on the prevalence of diseases.
During the two weeks that the group will spend in Ecuador, we will use 4x4 vehicles to travel to both the Amazon Basin Region (Oriente) and in the Coastal Region of the country. In these areas, we will visit rural communities and examine issues related to public health, health care delivery, community socio-economic development and education. Our group will interact directly with community leaders, health care providers and school teachers. In addition, we will visit regional health care facilities and interact with public health officials at the provincial level. Round tables with the participation of our group, public health officials and community members will be organized to allow for discussion of our observations and exchange of points of view among the participants. Finally, we will examine the role that traditional healers play as health care providers and their interactions with the “western” medical establishment.
This multidisciplinary experience is intended for participants of all majors. Undergraduate, graduate and medical students are encouraged to apply. This program is open to students from any institution of higher education in the USA or abroad. Special arrangements can be made for faculty interested in attending the program.
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Map of Ecuador showing the proposed route for the Tropical Disease Biology workshop route 2006 |
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(Subject to change. Detailed itinerary with specific activities will be distributed ONLY to participants)
The specific route of the 2006 workshops will be announced in February/March 2006
General description of route: After landing in Quito, Ecuador's capital, these workshops is going to take us to the heart of the rain forest in the Upper Amazon Basin. We will visit several areas in Napo province where we will conduct activities in rural communities in the rain forest; We will then cross the Andes mountains into the Coastal Region where we will visit communities in Esmeraldas Province near the Pacific Ocean. Finally, we will visit communities in the inter Andean Valleys, before returning to Quito. If time allows we will visit the Otavalo Indian market.
The workshop will take place during the following approximate dates:
To be announced
- 5 to 6 credit hours -
These dates are subject to change to accommodate flight availability and logistical arrangements in country. Cancellation and rescheduling of the workshop is at the discretion of the Tropical Disease Institute.
Logistical arrangements:
The group will travel in rented 4X4 vehicles (Budget Rental Car). Each
vehicle will be equipped with two-way radio and cellular communications
equipment. There will be bilingual Ecuadorian assistants helping the group
in everything from translation and driving to recommending what to eat.
The group will stay in a variety of different accommodations, including
hotels and economic hostels. The accommodations will be chosen to achieve
a balance between safety and cost.
Safety: A large portion of the financial resources and the
efforts by the personnel are focused on ensuring the safety of the
participants. Workshop destinations and logistical arrangements are carefully
planned to maximize the safety of the group. Although previous workshops
have not had any major trouble, participants will be reminded to follow the
subsequent recommendations, most of which are just general common sense
travel tips: Luggage should be locked at all times in airplanes, hotels
and vehicles; carry only small amounts of currency in your pockets for occasional personal
expenditures; conceal location of passport and other important documents;
do not put cameras or expensive equipment in your luggage for
international flights; Observe the new travel regulations regarding items
not allowed in carry-on; do not accept to carry
Web Journal and e-mail access: A series of Web pages containing pictures and description of activities will be published upon return to the USA. These pages will serve to inform friends and family about the group's experiences. These pages will remain online documenting the workshop. Students will have access to e-mail from our Infectious Disease Research Laboratory located at Catholic University in Quito. Many of the larger towns and cities have internet cafe services available at reasonable prices ($1/hour). An effort will be made to provide opportunities to check email. However, connection speeds are extremely slow or down altogether. Therefore, time available for email checking will be limited.
Airline Tickets: Participants are responsible to arranging their transportation to Quito, Ecuador. Price quotes will be obtained from a consolidator. If participants choose to purchase the tickets from the consolidator, they would have to pay for them directly.
Arrival to Quito: Since participants may arrive from different destinations in the USA and other countries using different airlines, arrangements will made for pickup at the airport in Quito by the Ecuadorian crew. Similarly, arrangements will be made to drop off at the airport at time of departure.
CDC recommendations for travel to Ecuador will be followed.
Participants are required to take anti-malarial prophylaxis medication as directed by a physician
Bacterial Meningitis
Yellow Fever (Proof of vaccination required to enter the Amazon Region)
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Rabies (Not mandatory but recommended)
Participants are required to have health insurance that would cover any medical expenses in Ecuador.
Bed nets, insect repellent (20% DEET recommended) will be used in tropical areas.
If you have any medical condition that would prevent you to conduct physical exercise (moderate hiking) in a hot and humid environment please contact Dr. Grijalva to determine your eligibility.
Updates will be posted regularly.
Critical
Items:
Passport
Vaccination record
International
student identification card
Prescription
drugs
Plane
ticket
Clothing:
one
or two sweaters (Quito and other cities in the Andes get quite cool at
night (45 F)
one
sets of “dressy” clothing for visits to hospitals and other
institutions
Clothing
for long hikes and vehicular travel (long sleeve shirts recommended
for jungle walks; fast dry trousers recommended)
T-shirts
Hat (a good hat is a must!)
Rain gear (light poncho)
Rubber boots/hiking boots (comfortable)
bathing suit, sandals
Other:
Two
flashlights (main good and small emergency)
Extra
batteries and bulbs
Personal
first aid kit (antifungal powder, neosporin, Band-Aids, kaopectate/peptobismol,
prescription medicines (copies of critical prescriptions with generic
composition)
Bednet
-Twin size
Camera
& supply of film and extra batteries for the camera
Insect
repellent (~20% DEET recommended; 100% DEET is NOT recommended)
Pocket
knife
Small
notebook to keep as journal
Ziploc
bags (mix of sizes, e.g. large one to keep journal in)
Small
backpack, Small duffle
Suitcase
larger than needed (Please limit luggage to one piece so we can
transport small equipment and supply items and so you will have space
to bring back souvenirs)
Ecuador
guidebook
Spanish
language guide (calculator-type useful too)
Sun block High PF recommended)
Hand sanitizer gel
Large
garbage bags
Rope/string/duck
tape
An
emergency pair of glasses/contacts and a copy of your eye prescription
Driver
License
Money
belt; Concealed money/passport bag
MONEY for personal use- bring mostly low denomination bills ($5 to $20) in good condition (no tears, not too wrinkled, no writing on them)
Program fee (~$1,100 to ~2,000) + cost of 5 UG credits tuition or Non-credit fee (contact program director for non-credit information) + $150 administrative fee.
Program fee and tuition will cover all participant's expenses in country (food, lodging, transportation, logistics, etc). Cost not covered include: souvenirs, entertainment, telephone and internet access charges, food while in route from USA to Quito to USA.
Airline ticket cost (participants are responsible for arranging their own flight, see above). Past participants have purchase tickets from different cities in the USA to Quito from $450 to $750, depending on dates and airline.
Beyond that, cash for souvenirs, etc. A backup credit card is a good
idea in the event of unforeseen expenses. You can cash travelers
checks in Quito, but are unlikely to be able to do so at most of our
other destinations. Traveler’s checks are useless outside of the
cities.
Participants that take place in more than one TDI Sponsored program in Ecuador in summer 2005 will receive a $200 discount in the program fee of one of them. For information about other opportunities visit the TDI Workshops page.
Most financial aid can be applied to the costs of this education abroad program.
OU students should check with Stacia Stutzman in the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships to confirm your aid package. Study abroad scholarships are available through the office of Education Abroad. Contact Catherine Marshal at the Education Abroad office directly (740-593 4583), for more information about other Financial aid opportunities.
Non-OU students, please check with the appropriate office in your home school. Credit for this program can be given by your home institution to facilitate financial aid if previously arranged. Contact Catherine Marshal at the Education Abroad office directly (740-593 4583), for more information.
Sponsorships: Participants are encouraged to seek financial backing by individuals, businesses or other organizations. Any contributions to student participation will be listed in the acknowledgements web page.
Attend information meetings (See announcements above) or participate in conference calls.
Send a two copies of the completed application from and $10 application fee to Office of Education Abroad, 107 Gordy Hall, Athens, OH 45701. Make the check to Tropical Disease Institute, Ohio University.
Students will be notified of the decision in two weeks after the receipt of their application materials.
A non refundable deposit will be required upon acceptance into the program. The deposit will be applied to the program costs and deducted from the participant’s bill:
OU - Participants will be given a deposit slip at the Office of Education Abroad (107 Gordy Hall), and will have to pay a non-refundable deposit of $500 to the Bursar's office (Chubb Hall). Cash, check or credit card payments accepted.
Non-OU Participants will be asked to mail non-refundable deposit of $500 to the Office of Education Abroad, 107 Gordy Hall, Athens, OH 45701. Checks are payable to Ohio University.
Get International Student ID (107 Gordy Hall, at education abroad office at your home school or directly from STA)
E-mail a current picture showing your face as a jpg attachment to the program director. This picture will be used for the participants dossier.
Get passport (review expiration date)
Get vaccinations (Hudson Health Center or other health care provider - appointments usually required)
Final payment will be billed by Ohio University Prior to departure (Mid May to Early June).
Eligibility:
All students from institutions of Higher education (Undergraduate, graduate, medical, non-degree) are welcome to participate.
Admission into the program is contingent on:
evaluation of application
written statement by TDI
good academic standing
Registration:
Education abroad office will register participants after payment of deposit fee
Permission (acceptance into the program) is required prior to registration
Preparation:
Prior to the workshop every participant will be required to attend the organizational meetings (unless not residing in Athens) or participate in conference calls, read assigned material related to tropical infectious diseases and other topics, and to be prepared to share knowledge with the group during the course of the workshop.
Information related in organizational meetings will be made available to out of town participants via e-mail/web.
Evaluation:
Each participant will be expected to participate in the different activities and to contribute with their observations during discussions.
Each participant will be required to take turns taking digital pictures with the group's camera. These digital pictures will be given to participants in a CD-ROM after completion of the program.
Each participant is required to keep a journal during the trip and, upon their return to the U.S., to submit a paper describing their experiences and summarizing insights they have gained. - Specific topic will be assigned by the program director.
Each participant is required to work in group to compile the web journal.
Promotional and informational:
Participants will be asked to contribute with written material to be used n the Workshop Web Journal and other informational and promotional media
Consent
will be asked for the use of photographs or video material
depicting participants in the Web or other media.
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Mario J.
Grijalva, PhD |
Ohio
University Office of Education Abroad
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