Hand washing instruction, Isla de Mendez, El Salvador
The mission of HealthCORE is to engage in community health projects worldwide.
The group serves as a convening body for graduate and professional students interested in pursuing various health projects throughout the world.
- Put the fields of health promotion, program development, and global health into action.
- Identify and address health concerns in the communities we serve.
- Work towards sustainable and effective community health plans to achieve better health outcomes.
- Provide valuable field experience to graduate and professional students interested in international health issues.
- Provide valuable knowledge and support to the partnering communities and NGOs.
- Groups of students ranging from 4-8 people travel to various international sites during spring break (March).
- Partner with active and effective local NGOs.
- Live among families within the community.
- Implement programs with community leaders, health clinics, and schools.
Over the past five years, groups of twelve to eighteen students, primarily first- and second-year MPH candidates from the Yale School of Public Health, have traveled to Isla de Mendez for ten-day visits over spring break to address various health-related issues including:
- Reproductive health education for children, adolescents and adults through a variety of interactive, small-group discussions.
- Dental hygiene campaigns for elementary school children along with provision of dental supplies.
- Supporting local reforestation efforts.
- Refurbishing the local health clinic with medical supplies and health information through ongoing communications with the community physician.
- Identifying the extent of water contamination and developing alternative methods of water purification.