title: A Student-Led Global Health Education Initiative: Reflections on the Kenyan Village Medical Education Program.
abstract: The Kenyan Village Medical Education Program is a student-led global health initiative that seeks to improve health outcomes in rural Kenya through culturally appropriate health education. The month-long program, which is organised by the Melbourne University Health Initiative (Australia), is conducted each January in southern rural Kenya. Significance for public healthThe Kenyan Village Medical Education (KVME) Program is a student-led global health initiative that involves exploring well-established strategies for the prevention of disease through workshops that are conducted in southern rural Kenya. These workshops are tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of rural Kenyan communities, and are delivered to community leaders, as well as to adults and children within the wider community. Aside from the KVME Program's emphasis on reducing the burden of preventable disease through health education, the positive impact of the KVME Program on the Program's student volunteers also deserves consideration. Throughout the month-long KVME Program, student volunteers are presented with opportunities to develop their understanding of cultural competency, the social and economic determinants of health, as well as the unique challenges associated with working in resource-poor communities. Importantly, the KVME Program also represents an avenue through which global health leadership can be fostered amongst student volunteers.
authors.affiliation: Melbourne University Health Initiative, Level 4, Alan Gilbert Building, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: John
authors.affiliation: Melbourne University Health Initiative, Level 4, Alan Gilbert Building, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asquith
authors.affiliation: Melbourne University Health Initiative, Level 4, Alan Gilbert Building, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wren
authors.affiliation: Melbourne University Health Initiative, Level 4, Alan Gilbert Building, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mercuri
authors.affiliation: Melbourne University Health Initiative, Level 4, Alan Gilbert Building, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Sian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Brownlow
keywords: Kenya; Student; community health; cultural sensitivity; global health education; preventive healthcare