Practicum in Honduras

[rpi...@gmail.com]

Request for Candidate to Conduct Public Health Practicum in Flores,
Honduras

Background
Pilgrim Congregational Church, Lexington, MA, Esperanza, a nonprofit
headquartered in Concord, MA and Rotary are working with the water
board and local government of Flores, Honduras to develop a
sustainable potable water system as well as sewer and sanitation
programs.

In August 2008, a team of engineers and scientists conducted a site
survey and collected water quality and public health data. Additional
data was collected following our visit. The team is working on
recommendations to improve the potable water supply.

Unfortunately, we do not have the expertise to fully assess the public
health needs of the community and to develop a public health program
that can be implemented by the water board, elementary school, health
clinic and churches. It is our goal to get as many of the community
institutions involved because the need is so great and during the
recent site visit representatives of each of the aforementioned
institutions offered their support.

Objective
The leaders of Flores understand that they do not have a public health
system that enables the residents to protect themselves and the water
system from common diseases and infections. They desire a public
health system that will enable the residents to better determine when
the water has been compromised. They need a public health education
program that will teach them how to keep their potable water clean and
proper sanitation practices.

We desire a candidate that is interested in health promotion and
disease prevention in the developing world. The candidate is to spend
4 to 10 days in Flores, Honduras collecting data and assessing the
public health needs and the legal, political, economic and social
hurdles that need to be overcome. The candidate should have good oral
and written Spanish skills to facilitate communications prior to,
during and after the site visit.

After the assessment, it is our goal that the candidate develops a
public health plan that uses the community assets and available
resources identified during the assessment. The plan should be
culturally sensitive and multi-pronged so that it can be effectively
delivered by the aforementioned organizations. In addition, the
sponsoring organizations will need a brief assessment report, public
health plan and budget estimate that they can use to secure funding.

At this time, the plan is to travel to Honduras in last January. The
selected candidate’s airfare will be sponsored by Esperanza. As a
member of Rotaract, some travel expenses and lodging will be covered
by Rotary. There is an active Rotary Club in Comayagua that will want
to see the candidate at their Friday night meeting.

Please send any questions and resumes to Sean Osborne at
sosb...@haleyward.com or call 781-890-3980.