BN Field Study to Wat Chan Thailand

In January 2015, Dr Diana Jefferies and Dr Cathy Dickson accompanied twenty undergraduate students from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at the Western Sydney University on a field placement in the Wat Chan, or 'Temple of Light' in English, region in North Western Thailand. This field placement was organised in conjunction with Antipodeans Abroad and their in country partner, Buffalo Tours.

The purpose of the field placement was to give the students an immersion experience where they could explore how healthcare is delivered in different countries and contexts outside the Sydney metropolitan area. To experience this difference the students assisted the local healthcare staff to conduct mobile health clinics in the surrounding villages populated by the Karen people.

After arriving in Wat Chan, the students visited the local ten bed hospital and to meet the Medical director. Dr Prajin explained the health challenges facing the people in this region. The students saw how things that we take for granted in Australia, such as fresh water, may not be available in the Karen villages. This lack of resources led to many health problems and Dr Prajin explained how important it was to ensure that the people lived in a healthy environment.

With this new understanding, the students went out and assisted with seven mobile health clinics over a two week period. Each student had an opportunity to participate in each activity of the clinics including registration, observation, assessment and pharmacy. The students also conducted child health checks in local schools as they taught the students the importance of cleaning their teeth and washing their hands. In all, the students show approximately 1000 people during the mobile health clinics.

On the weekends the students were able to take in the cultural sites of Chiang Mai during their well-earned rest and recreation time. This also provided students with a chance to further understand the cultural influences that affect the Karen people and their healthcare needs. The students also visited the McCormick Faculty of Nursing at Payap University in Chiang Mai to look at nursing education in Thailand.

All in all this was an extremely successful trip. The students acknowledged that they had learned many useful new skills and made many new friends that would stay with them for a life time.