Conservation Medicine Course

Namibia

Course Dates

  • 01 December 2024 17:00 - 08 December 2024 10:00
  • 05 May 2024 17:00 - 12 May 2024 10:00

GBP £2,195.00


This unique conservation medicine course promotes the “One Medicine” movement, combining the interests of human and veterinary medicine. If you’re keen to work in nature reserves, remote communities or wildlife sanctuaries, this is an ideal route into these opportunities.

Join World Extreme Medicine and the N/a’an ku sê Foundation and explore the amazing work of existing conservation projects and learning what you’ll need to take your medical skills into the wild. Conservation Medicine is open to both medical and animal health professionals.

CPD Award: This course has been awarded 34 CPD hours by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh.

“This should be a compulsory course for any burned out medic or vet. It has been truly inspirational to see how much can be achieved by people’s passion to help both humans and animals.”
Conservation Medicine course attendee

Sign-up now for just a £500 deposit.

Key facts

We’ve created a course like none other, where the true meaning of the One Medicine ethos is demonstrated through equal focus on animal and human health.

The One Medicine concept is linked to a 19th century German physician Rudolf Virchow who coined the term “zoonosis” and passionately believed there should be no dividing line between species in medicine.

This veterinary and wildlife conservation medicine syllabus brings together the expertise and unique experience of medics, vets and conservationists to deliver highly specialised content to prepare you for work in the wilds of nature.

Location: Shiloh Wildlife Sanctuary, Namibia

Is this course right for you?

This course is perfect for healthcare and veterinary professionals and students interested in applying their clinical knowledge and skills to conservation settings.

CPD Award: This course has been awarded 30 CPD hours by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

What’s included:

  • Tutoring, accommodation and meals

What’s not:

  • International travel costs
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal equipment

What to expect

Much of the course will be based at the N/a’an ku sê Foundation, set within a 10,000 hectare reserve which now includes the newly developed Shiloh Wildlife Sanctuary – a safe retreat for rhinos and elephants who have been injured or orphaned in poaching incidents.

You’ll also visit Epikuro – a remote settlement home to the N/a’an ku sê Lifeline Clinic. This provides primary healthcare to almost 3,500 patients every year, 40% of whom are children and babies, and more than 90% are indigenous San peoples.

During the learning parts of the course, you’ll explore subjects such as African zoonosis, venomous animals, wildlife immobilisation , anti-poaching, survival in the bush, life in remote clinics, rural outreach and infectious diseases.

This week-long course also includes special highlights such as a safari tour, Namibian braai and your choice of a Cheetah walk, baboon walk or horse riding which will leave you with lifelong memories of this incredible location.

Course content

  • Introduction to Conservation Medicine
  • Background of the Naankuse Foundation
  • Research work at Naankuse
  • Snakes of Namibia
  • Snakebite and Treatment
  • Survival in the African Bush
  • Food and Water in the Bush
  • Water Purification
  • Approaching Animals in the Field
  • VF Telemetry
  • Rhino Conservation in Namibia
  • Anti-Poaching
  • Working Dogs in Anti-Poaching
  • Harnas Wildlife Foundation Tour and Case Study
  • Ancient San Skills
  • Wildlife Immobilisation and Pharmacology
  • Dart Gun Target Practice
  • Common African Zoonosis
  • Wildlife Animal Bites
  • Live Animal Immobilisation and Health Check
  • Carnivore Tour
  • Lifeline Clinic Tour and Case Study
  • Treatment TB and HIV at the Lifeline Clinic
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Case Studies at the Lifeline Clinic

What you need to know

Transfers to the course location will be available from Windhoek and you will return back to the city at the end of the expedition.

When making travel arrangements, we find Rome2Rio a very helpful site.

Travel insurance is absolutely essential and therefore, for your safety and security, we reserve the right to refuse access to an expedition until we have details of adequate insurance cover provided to us. A suitable policy can be booked through Campbell Irvine Direct.

To assist with packing, please review and refer to our kit list below:

  • Hold-all or day sack
  • Lightweight boots (or ‘off-road’ running shoes) for bush walking
  • Trekking trousers
  • Shorts
  • T-shirts
  • Warm top or fleece
  • Clothes for farewell dinner
  • Toiletries and towel
  • Spare socks and underwear
  • Padlock or means of securing/locking luggage
  • Passport, ticket and money
  • Mosquito net
  • Photography kit (optional)
  • Binoculars (optional)
  • Swimwear (optional)

Day sack, which will be carried every day while trekking, containing:

  • Sunscreen (min factor 15) and lip block
  • Sun hat with tie-cord (a baseball covers your nose but not your ears) and sunglasses
  • 2 x one litre water bottles or Camelback/equivalent
  • Insect repellent
  • Torch, preferably head torch
  • Toilet paper and lighter or matches
  • Personal first aid kit

Personal first aid kit, comprising:

  • Painkillers (avoiding those that include aspirin)
  • Ibuprofen or other anti-inflammatory (not for asthmatics)
  • Antidiarrheal
  • Antiseptic wipes
  • Plasters
  • Gauze pads
  • Crepe bandage
  • Zinc oxide tape
  • Adhesive tape
  • Moleskin and/or Compeed for blister treatment
  • Dehydration mix such as Dioralyte
  • Small tub of Vaseline
  • Tweezers (not in luggage on flight)
  • Safety pins & scissors

Feedback from previous courses

What went well on your Conservation course?

“Loved the course, great people at Naankuse, everyone is so enthusiastic and nice.”

“I thought the lectures were really well done, very informative and engaging, better than most I had in med school. I love the practical activities, I thought they were a great introduction, for my level of experience.”

“The incredible passion of the team was so evident in every activity. It made it hugely engaging, interesting and exciting for us to feel a part of it.”

What was the single most valuable thing you learnt from your Conservation course?

“How complex conservation is and how beautiful life can be if you meet people who are full of passion and love what they are doing.”

“Conservation in the greatest way possible; there is so much more to nature/life than just human health as we treat it.”

“To find a job you are passionate about and you won’t have to work a day in your life.”

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