Please note this program is an unpaid global health education program. There is a program fee required to participate. This program fee pays for on-site services such a lodging, language classes (if relevant), 24/7 emergency support, coordination of rotations and/or placements, and on-site staff. CFHI is a nonprofit organization committed to fair-trade partnerships around the world. Please use the following code when applying for a program on the CFHI website “HandshakeCFHI” in order to have the application fee waived.
Mexico, the most populated Spanish-speaking country in the world, retains influences from Mayan and Aztec culture, as well as European colonialism. It is famous worldwide for its ancient ruins, tropical beaches, and colorful traditions. The city of Oaxaca, the capital of the southern state of Oaxaca with a population of over 260,000. This region is distinct from the rest of Mexico, with over 16 different ethnic groups, each with their own unique language and culture. The city of Oaxaca is well known for its cuisine, skilled artisans, and traditional handicrafts. Yet, with all its cultural richness, the state of Oaxaca health and economic indicators trail behind the rest of Mexico. It is one the poorest regions in all of Mexico and faces challenges in literacy, sanitation, unemployment, and access to healthcare services.
Join CFHI’s Global Health Intensive in Oaxaca to learn about primary care and preventative medicine, as well as community health education programs in this region. Rotate at community clinics and hospitals serving low-income populations. See Mexico’s three-tiered insurance system, and understand how quality of care, wait times and access to medications varies between each. In 1940, Mexico’s life expectancy was 40 years of age. Today, with increased industrialization and longer life spans, Mexico is struggling with “first world diseases.” Witness chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension that are increasingly common as a result of poor nutrition
, unhealthy lifestyle and lack of education. This program will provide participants with unique insight and cultural competency when serving the growing Mexican immigrant population in the US and abroad.
Get a crash course in Mexican culture and language by spending 2 weeks taking Spanish classes and living with a local Oaxacan family. Around the city go shopping, explore museums and art galleries, or hang out with locals in the vibrant Zócalo or main plaza. CFHI participants may also organize trips over the weekend to nearby destinations such the Zapotec ruins of Monte Albán.
