Madagascar: Traditional Medicine and Healthcare Systems (Summer)

Educational Excursions

“It was during the hike to Kingory when I realized that the knowledge I have gained on this program could not have been obtained anywhere else. The lecturers we had, the places we saw, and the staff members that I had at my disposal to query all provided unique learning opportunities that I had never experienced before.”

Ellie Shetter, American University

Students listening to a traditional medicine vendor at the market in Antananarivo

At every step of the program, students examine current healthcare models and debate the social and political dimensions of healthcare delivery; this is achieved through thoughtful and sustained engagement with Malagasy values and perspectives in both rural and urban settings.

Sample excursions may include visits to:

Rural and urban allopathic healthcare centers
Local herbalist markets
The University of Antananarivo Faculty of Science's Pharmacology Department
IMRA (Institut Malgache de Recherche Appliqué), a traditional medicine research center
SoTraMEx (Societé de Transformation Malgache et d'Exportation)

Educational excursions provide students with deeper insight into the many facets of healthcare delivery in Madagascar. These include: the relationship between cultural beliefs and health delivery; national health policies and their implementation via existing government structures such as ministries and schools; nutrition and sanitation challenges; and the proliferation of non-formal education mechanisms (such as folk tales, stories, and taboos) in healthcare personal practices.

Credits: 9

Duration: 7 weeks

Program Base: Antananarivo

Language Study: Malagasy

Prerequisites: None, although students with a background in French will have many opportunities to use their French language skills. Read more...