| Volunteering with NSI |
| Detailed NSI Volunteer Needs |
NSI is an organization located in Nepal with a mission to train and support skilled, compassionate rural health care workers
The three leaves of NSI's work are
- Health care training: for a range of types of worker, conducted in partnership with a network of hospitals across the country.
- Rural staff support: seeking to enhance performance in remote hospitals through such supports as communication linkage, continuing medical education, connection with a larger hospital, and children's education.
- Scholarships: intended to fill certain leadership roles on the rural health care team.
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| While NSI, in the composition of its management team and Board, is primarily Nepali, it has (and can foresee in the future) opportunities for foreign volunteers to join its team and contribute for varying lengths of time. The table below gives an idea about the range of NSI's programs and possible ways a volunteer could help. This list is not exhaustive, though, so please drop NSI an email if what it's doing interests you. We may be able to find a "fit." |
Research
NSI is testing the local health care system and training outcomes, and will continue to do so. Student volunteers have already made fine contributions in this area, while traveling widely in Nepal and meeting its health care workers.
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Program Development
NSI is in close communication with others around the world who are grappling with issues relating to human resources for health. NSI is eager to develop further connections that facilitate information sharing and advice.
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Anesthesia Assistant Training
NSI is working with the Nepal government to scale up this 6-month course, which enables nurses and medical assistants to safely administer anesthesia in remote locations. There is a need to lengthen the course and expand the number of training sites.
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Skilled Birth Attendant Training
NSI has joined the Nepal Safer Motherhood network is starting this international in-service training (1-3 months) here in Nepal. NSI has 6 hospitals to develop in this regard.
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Biomedical Equipment Training
NSI has partnered with the government at a time when this 1-year course is just being started in Nepal, and when the critical need for this cadre of worker is being recognized.
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Clinical Medicine
NSI is negotiating to support a number of remote government hospitals. It expects that by late 2007/early 2008 it will have opportunities for doctors and nurses to volunteer in these remote hospitals. Because these positions will be in support of Nepali colleagues, NSI expects that this will be for fully qualified professionals, rather than for med students.
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Other
As it develops, NSI can utilize a range of help: those with expertise in website design, photography, and marketing, and even primary school teachers.
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| NSI Program |
Volunteers |
NSI Tasks |
Place (Length) |
| Home Country |
Nepal (1-2 mos.) |
Nepal (3-12 mos.) |
| Research |
Health care professional or student |
Participate in human resources research projects |
+ |
+ |
- |
| Program Development |
Public health professional |
Review and advise Oversee statistics and design |
+ |
+ |
- |
| Anesthesia Assistant Training |
Anesthesia Doctor Anesthesia Nurse |
Revise curriculum |
+ |
+ |
+ |
| Teach course |
- |
- |
+ |
| Skilled Birth Attendant Training |
Nurse, Doctor with Ob experience |
Supervise trainers |
- |
- |
+ |
| Medical Assistant Training |
Physicians Asst. or Doctor with training background |
Develop curriculum |
+ |
+ |
+ |
| Biomedical Equipment Technician Training |
Biomedical Technican |
Develop curriculum |
- |
+ |
+ |
| Teach course |
- |
+ |
- |
| Mental Health Block Training |
Psychiatrist Psychiatric Nurse |
Teach courses |
- |
- |
+ |
| Marketing |
Marketing expertise |
Consult on marketing courses in Nepal |
+ |
+ |
- |
| Website Design |
Website design expertise. |
Revise website |
+ |
+ |
- |
| Photography |
Photography/video expertise |
Document NSI work |
- |
+ |
- |
| Staff Children's Education |
Primary School Teacher |
Teach English in remote Nepali school |
- |
+ |
+ |
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Our website (www.nsi.edu.np) will give you a better idea about NSI in general and about each of these programs, and it has a specific section on volunteering with NSI in Nepal. Please note above that you need not come to Nepal to join the team. Drop us an email.
Mark Zimmerman, MD (markz@nsi.edu.np)
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