As
my fourth semester was ending up, I was searching for a suitable health
organization for my internship that I had to carry out for the fifth semester.
I ran different NGOs and Primary Health Care Centres for this. Writing a cover
letter, sending a resume, stating the concrete objectives of the internship was
quite challenges for me as I was the beginner for these things. Due to
different reasons like meeting the internship objectives in that organization,
distance, time, and working modality, I
got rejected from 3 organizations that I thought and approached. It was a kind
of frustration for me. One day, I was talking about my internship with my co
fellow from Samaanta Foundation. He shared his internship experiences with me.
I had asked him more about the organizations that he had worked as an intern.
After listening to him, I got to know that the organization he interned in is
also working towards a health program in child and maternal health. I searched about
it on Google and found it interesting that suitable for my internship as well.
Yes,
I am talking about the Child Development Society(CDS) of Kapan Kathmandu that
works in the welfare of children and mothers. I
had a call with the health department of CDS. They asked me to visit
them once. I went there with my college reference letters and CV. I talked with
Health Incharge and Executive director. It was a kind of interview so, I felt
some nervousness as well. Finally, they accept me and call me for the
internship. My internship duration was initially for 45 days. My purpose of the
internship was to understand the health care system of CDS, their health
programs, their strategies and activities for the respective health program and
to involve with their works.
My
role was to assist the Lab Technician and Health in-charge in their work especially
administrative. Apart from that, I could design the health programs from the
child and maternal care. For that, I had to make a concept note/proposal and
execute the plans. After the program, I had to make a final report and had to
submit to the program manager. Apart from that, I was involved in medical care,
first aid, counseling in the Maternal and Child Health clinic of CDS. I was
also involved in report writing, logistics management, health camps, etc. It
was a completely new experience for me.
During my internship period, I lead mainly three health
programs there. I had conducted the communicable disease awareness program for
the women group (Brick Factory Workers) of CDS, a Personal Hygiene education
program for the children, and a Mental Health and Self Care workshop for the
student of grade 8. The experience of leading those programs at CDS was
great. I get different perspectives and
understand the community with regards to health practices and behavior. I found
that there is still a lack of health education and health awareness in the
society. The result of which they are adopting superstitious beliefs and
unhygienic practices. I was so glad that they reflected their understandings
and gratitude at the reflection part of the session. The active participation
of all participants made it easier to run the session.
(Pic: Health Awareness session on Prevention of
Communicable Diseases )
Working and involving with the students was engaging and
fun to me. Their curiosity made me more engaged throughout the session. It felt
so satisfied while engaging with them and tried to answer their concern
regarding well-being, hygiene, and self-care.
(Pic: Mental Health, Self-Care and Personal Hygiene
Management session)
However, managing the time for an internship as a
challenge for me. After college, I had to travel 40 minutes on a public bus to
reach CDS. But the everyday new learning from CDS and working with the team of
the CDS health department always thrive me to arrive there on time. It pushed
me to explore more. I learned basic things that are essential for professional
life there such as concept note writing skills, report writing skills, heath
camp management skills, documentation skills, leadership skills, and
interpersonal skills. It was always fun to work with Lab technician sir, Health
in-charge mam, consultant sir, and colleagues. I also got a chance to learn
first aid skills and essential medical care skills there. The great thing for
me is that they are still calling me for their work like health camp and health
education programs.
(Pic: Health Camp)
My internship was last for three months though
I was going there for only 45 days initially. I am grateful to CDS for
providing me a platform to learn new, sharp my knowledge and skills. I found
more professionalization in my work after this internship. It was worthful to
work there as an intern. At last, I want to express my sincere gratitude to Ms.
Anuradha Chaudhary (Health Incharge), Mr. Sajay Acharya sir (Lab Technician),
and my intern colleagues Rushma and Srijana for their kind cooperation and help
throughout my internship period.
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