Course details

Contemporary Issues in International Health Aid:

Course outline

Organization of International Health Aid

– Who are the players? States, NGO’s, International Organizations
- In context- The responses of the players: why NGO’s are needed?
- An introduction to Non Governmental (International Health Aid) Organizations

Case Studies in International Health Aid

– War, conflict and the refugee situation. Case Study: Darfur
- Natural Disasters. Case Study: Sri Lankan Tsunami
- The health care systems of failed or fragile states. Case Study: One of Rwanda, Nigeria
- Healthcare in developing countries- reaching the marginalized populations. Case Study: Mumbai, India.

The role of the Media

– The role of media in advocacy
- The role of media in spurring political action
- Media as a double edged sword: does it always work well?
- How to use it beneficially and effectively (ties into creative component)

Sustainability of International Health Aid

- Effectiveness of International Health Aid organizations in unfamiliar environments
- Importance of grassroots organizations
- Importance of sustainability of aid
- How to evaluate International Aid Organizations

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Grading Scheme

- Journal Recording 15%

1. At least one page recording on thoughts and reflections of events over a period of one week (includes two classes, any guest lecturers, field trips etc). Hence a participant should have one page of reflections per week of class.
2. It will be due at the end of the semester.
3. It will be marked for completion only.

- Term Project 50%

1. Term project on one of the key themes presented the course. It will be a research project. The students may choose their desired topic, then consult the course coordinators to seek approval of the project topic.
2. It will be peer evaluated.

- Creative Component 20%

1. The class will be divided into groups (either 2 or 3 groups), and each group will be responsible for producing a creative component (related to the media topic of our course).
2. Each group will choose a topic discussed in class that requires attention from the National/ International media, the government, or just awareness among the general public. The group will then have to devise a strategy to engage the attention of the above group(s) through their project.
3. The project should consist of some aspect of audio or visual media (ex: a film, a poster campaign, a TV advertisement, a radio jingle etc).

- Participation 15%

1. Attendance (5 %): This is just for regular attendance to all classes, field trips and activities. Absences with a doctor’s note (or other significant reasons) will be excused.
2. News presentations (5%): These will be presentations based on current events related to International Health Aid that will occur at the beginning of every lecture. They will be rotated between all the students, so everyone gets a chance to present. News presentations will be marked for completion.
3. Group discussions on news topics (5%): These will be discussions based on the news presentations and how they relate to the material covered in class. The class will be divided into smaller groups, and each group will discuss the presentation and its implications among themselves. One person from the group will then summarise the group’s discussion to the entire class.