Harm Reduction in Amsterdam
Key Information
Information
Application Deadline: 21/10/24 at 9:00 am
Opportunity type: Academic-led trips
Faculty: Health and Life Sciences
Ref: 10008984
Dates
Departure Date: 08/04/24
Return Date: 11/04/25
Costs
£450: the estimated cost for travel and accommodation (excluding DMU Global bursary). Students will also be required to pay for: UK and in-country transfers, city tax at accommodation (12.5% of the overnight rate) mandatory visits (approx. £97), food and drink, visa (if applicable)
Funding
DMU Global Bursary: £200
Booking
Accommodation: Shared rooms in a hostel booked by DMU
Travel: Eurostar or flights booked by DMU (students travel as a group)
Contact
General Enquiries: Global Mobility Office - dmuglobal@dmu.ac.uk
Trip Lead: Janet Sayer - janet.sayer@dmu.ac.uk
How to pay
Payment details: Students will be required to pay £250 as a contribution towards the cost of travel and accommodation after being offered a place on the trip. The DMU Global bursary will be deducted directly from the overall cost of the booking.
Carbon Levy
Student contribution: To offset the carbon emissions from the flight for this trip there is a £3 Carbon Levy for this trip. Information about how this Levy will be used can be found here.
Eligibility
All third Year Nursing Students who have or will be undertaking NURX/Y3103 – Complex Care Module are eligible to participate on this opportunity. There is a maximum of 30 places available, with a minimum of 15 participants required for this opportunity to take place. Students are recommended to check the eligibility criteria before applying.
About
Through past DMU Global opportunities, relationships with Dutch health care providers have been established in the areas of Harm Reduction with regards to those who use street drugs and those engaged in sex work. This visit is well aligned to the third year nursing module: NURX/Y3103 Complexities in Nursing Practice, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being (improving public health).
The Netherlands are key players in public health prevention programmes, especially those relating to sexual health care, HIV, and drug use. Dutch intervention strategies are based on a public health harm-reduction model rather than a criminal activity perspective, which has translated into better health outcomes for its citizens. This visit will provide an opportunity for nursing students to learn more about different public health promotion perspectives and to compare and contrast UK and Dutch health care policies, especially in relation to sex work and drug use.
There are current moves by the Amsterdam City Council to move the red light district to a multi-story erotica centre on the outskirts of Amsterdam which is controversial. There will be opportunities to explore such political views and those of those who could be affected by such a move.
The range of proposed visits (health-related services and museums) will explore topics such as anatomy and physiology, physical and mental health, the impact of lifestyle choice on well-being, sexual health and HIV, pharmacology and drug mis/use, as well as enabling students to reflect upon the ways in which personal and societal attitudes and stigma can impact on health inequalities through among others, visits to a drug consumption room with a two hour talk about Dutch health care provision, risk and harm minimisation and a comparison of differing political agendas in relation to a UK comparison.
A visit to the Prostitute Information Centre consists of a talk from a sex worker with a nursing degree and relates to her area of expertise with clients who are disabled, elderly or may have mental health issues. This is then contrasted with the work of a window sex worker. Prior to this visit students will go to the Red Light Secrets Museum in order to gain background information to inform the visit and talk at the Prostitute Information Centre.
Why take part?
This trip provides an excellent opportunity for third year nursing students from all four fields of practice. Closely aligned to NUR3103, complexity of care will be considered in relation to harm minimisation for those who engage in drug use/misuse and also sex work. It offers the chance to explore health care systems and policy in a different country and different attitudes to punitive versus rehabilitative policy in relation to drug use and sex work.
Learning Objectives
Participating in a DMU Global opportunity can help you develop knowledge, skills and competencies that enhance your studies. The objectives of this trip to Amsterdam are:
Before the trip there will be a briefing that will include details of the nature of the visit and how opportunities will meet specific learning objectives. This will be followed up by a post-trip evaluation/reflective meeting with students.
Cultural Activities
While in Amsterdam, students will have the opportunity to visit a wide range of cultural activities in their free time. Recommended visits include Anne Frank Huis (entry is around £14 and tickets are released two-weeks ahead of time), the Van Gough Museum and the Royal Palace Amsterdam.
There will also be a mandatory group visit to Zaanse Schans, a working museum set in the picturesque country town of Zaandam. The museum is made up of working windmills and workshops (including clog making) and depicts life in 18th and 19th century Holland.