Operation Asha – Wellesley in Cambodia

Operation ASHA is a registered nonprofit based in Delhi, India, Phnom Penh, Cambodia and Chicago, IL. Its mission is to eradicate tuberculosis by bringing high quality treatment to the doorsteps of slum dwellers in India and Cambodia. Cambodia is one of 22 high-burden TB countries in the world and the disease is estimated to kill 13,000 Cambodians annually. This death rate is due to Cambodia’s unusually high HIV/TB co-infection. Further, an estimated 40% of TB patients are not being identified or brought in for treatment. Cambodia’s rural villages provided a new test for Operation ASHA’s model. Because of the low population density, community DOTS centers were not the most effective method of bringing TB treatment to Cambodia. In response, OpASHA started training mobile counselors, who could quickly travel from village to village on motorcycles.

Since January 2011, Operation ASHA has hired 11 mobile counselors to provide DOTS treatment and sputum collection. Currently we cover a population of .5 million in the Western Operational District of Phnom Penh. By 2012, we expect to reach 40 centers and approx. 1,000 patients.

Internship Description for 2012

All interns will begin their time with Operation ASHA by visiting treatment centers and viewing all aspects of the functioning of the organization. Based upon her strengths, interests, and qualification the intern will work with her supervisor on one or more of the following areas:

Organizational Development /Communications
• Improve Operation ASHA’s public visibility through various media outlets
• Maintain, update, and improve website
• Learn about organizational strategy for developmental health services
• Develop working knowledge of non-profit finance, including accounting and costing
• Complete office administrative tasks, including drafting and editing documents and grant proposals

Health Services Research
• Analyze health services data and develop current assessment and future trends
• Quantify quality control measures and develop useful reports of patient data (ie. Cost per patient, or the relationship between distance to nearest treatment center and the total number of patients)
• Research potential areas of expansion of health services, including having a diagnostic lab and treating MDR-TB

Medicine/Global Developmental Care
• Work alongside counselors and physicians in slum health centers
• Observe clinical treatment of patients with TB and other ailments
• Conduct detailed quality control checks and develop in-depth understanding of TB DOTS program

Other
• Research of funding and donors
• Assist the development office of Operation ASHA

Desired Qualifications
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Interest in public health and social justice
• Ability to work in challenging conditions
• Flexible
• Resourceful
• Mature
• Independent