While I’ve been back in the States for a few months now, I thought I’d contribute and share a little about my experience with the Safe Motherhood team from this past summer. I’ll start off by saying that I had an absolutely amazing experience and would highly recommend this internship!! I honestly wasn’t quite sure what I was getting myself into when I booked my flights to Lusaka, but I am so glad that I did!
Over this past summer, I spent 11 weeks in Ndola, Zambia working with the Safe Motherhood team. As an intern on the study, I was stationed at the Ndola Central Hospital and 7 surrounding rural clinics, where my duties consisted of working with midwives and nurses from various wards to collect data and track cases in which patients received the NASG garment. A good portion of the work involved strong diligence and persistence in order to clear up and finalize older outstanding cases. It was a bit overwhelming at first, but you learn how to read those data collection forms surprisingly well within a few short weeks!
I learned to carefully balance my efforts in working with local staff so that they maintained a strong sense of responsibility for the study—after all, it’s just as much their study as it is ours. In fact, the biggest work related challenge that I encountered was learning how be as supportive and productive as possible without overstepping my boundaries. For the sake of the study as a successful operation, it is essential that the local nurses and midwives take ownership of their work as data collectors. At times it can be fairly tricky to balance the work that you do as an intern versus the work that you leave for the local staff to do. Finding this equilibrium was something I struggled with at times, but the challenge of working side by side with the local Zambians is precisely why this internship was so rewarding.
Training at Lubuto Clinic
My day to day duties consisted of reviewing data collection forms, keeping supplies in order and stocked, and acting as a liaison for the researchers back in San Francisco. I also had the opportunity to take part in several trainings, which added a fun and interactive dimension to my work as an intern. These trainings essentially revolved around teaching midwives and nurses about the study protocol and how to apply the garment. Sometimes, I was even lucky enough to be the model and roll around in the big blue NASG suit, while nurses learned how to place the garment!
As you can tell, the roles of an intern are pretty diverse. There is never a dull moment and there’s always something to keep you busy! Your role as an intern is invaluable in the sense that you are able to give a face to the study for so many nurses who are working so diligently on the study. I think they really appreciate the hands-on involvement and face-time that an intern provides for the study. As you can imagine, the labor wards in Ndola are extremely busy. Because the nurses and midwives are so busy, it’s really important that they understand the strong impact and implications of all their hard work. In this sense, being an intern is an extremely rewarding experience because you have the privilege of being the person who reminds them and thanks them on a day-to-day basis of the wonderful work they are doing. It is truly an amazing feeling, and an equally amazing project to be a part of!
A Typical Sunday in Ndola
Apart from my work duties, I experienced and learned so much living in Ndola. Everything from walking to work every morning to trying caterpillar—quite the delicacy— brought new and exciting challenges. I learned something new every day and cannot even begin to put into words the personal growth that I experienced. I also gained an unbelievable amount of perspective because there is simply so much need all around you. But, one of the best parts is how welcoming and warm-hearted the local Zambians are, even when they have so little.
Returning home was definitely bittersweet. But, something tells me I’ll be making my way back to Zambia before too long….
- Melissa Duncanson, Safe Motherhood Intern May – August 2011
