The University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, Bachelor of Health Sciences and UCVM global health field school is held every year and is based on an interdisciplinary program committed to promote excellence in global health research. The program is based on the principle of mutual capacity building with international and local partners. We operate at the undergraduate, graduate and faculty levels, the field school offers UofC students’ unique opportunities to learn about global health issues and collaborate in international research. The field school is unique as it combines undergraduate and graduate research training. Secondly, the research projects will be interdisciplinary focused on the human, animal and ecosystem interface. We believe that these global health issues are best addressed in this multidisciplinary setting.
The field school is driven by international research projects conducted through established equitable partnerships with international institutions. Research projects are led by a faculty member, staff or graduate student and will host and mentor student researchers. Students receive cross-?training in veterinary, medical, social and laboratory sciences.
Currently the field school is organized as a collaboration of the UCVM and Cumming School of Medicine: Bachelor of Health Sciences and Global Health & International Partnerships department.
Scientific, organizational and logistical input in the setup and running of the field school and various research projects is obtained from the Ngorongoro conservation area authority (NCAA), Sokoine University of Agriculture at Morogoro, Bugando; Catholic University College of Health Sciences at Mwanza (all Tanzania) and input from the University of Aberystwyth (Wales UK). Memorandums of understandings (MOU’s) are signed with both Tanzania university partners, as well as the Nelson-Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology.
The Maasai is a pastoralists society we collaborated with in Endulen for multiple years, is built upon age set structures and gendered divisions of labour. Literature identifying the link between a pastoralist way of life and health status is extensive, and there is mounting evidence to suggest a strong link between specific cultural practices of the Maasai and an increased risk of certain diseases like brucellosis and sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV.
The Maasai understand that without cattle they cannot survive and without the care of the Maasai the cattle wouldn’t survive in this harsh environment .They depend on livestock directly for milk, blood and milk and often prioritize the health of their cattle over their own. Ethnographic research into the veterinary diagnostic capabilities of the Maasai suggests that they are as good or even better at diagnosing illness in livestock as a western veterinarian with modern diagnostics at their disposal. The extensive knowledge about and the immense respect for cattle make the Maasai an impactful society for students working with and amongst them.
After several consultations with the Maasai community, our help was requested for support of education of girls. Sending kids to secondary school is a huge challenge for Maasai families. This has resulted in the girls voice project and our current collaboration with the local NGO DUPOTO.
After initial support of 2 girls, we can proudly say that based on fundraising activities we are currently supporting 2 girls per year to be send to secondary school (a total of 4 years). Six girls have already graduated from secondary school and we are trying to fund additional training for them (like nursing diploma's) to help them build a career locally.
Please help us sending girls to school: the following will direct you to a tax deductible option to donate!
Resources to learn more about the project
In 2013, Lisa Allen created an information pamphlet. It can be found following this link.
Sherie Bastien runs a Grand Challenges funded project on hygiene and sanitation; check out her FB page.
