Description

During your time at Puesto de Salud Jose Olaya, as an Obstetrician's Assistant, you will be vital in easing the work load at this understaffed center. Along with the staff obstetrician and nurses you will be assisting with the OB. patients.
Your duties may include: assisting the doctor during physical examinations, cleaning and sanitizing the equipment and explaining safe sex practices and healthy parenting to mothers and fathers. You may also be asked to organize and give presentations on such topics as HIV/AIDS, pregnancy and sexual health to community members when they visit the clinic.

When not busy with the obstetrician, you may be able to sit in on patient-nurse appointments to learn about the health concerns in the area. Sometimes you may be asked to accompany the staff on house visits in the neighbourhood for follow-up appointments and/or provide health education.

Highlights

MINSA (Ministerio de Salud) is the Peruvian Ministry of Health. Their mission is to protect personal dignity, promote health, prevent disease and ensure comprehensive health care for all Peruvian citizens. The individual is at the centre of MINSA's mission, and MINSA aims to provide respect for life and fundamental rights of each individual from before birth through the natural course of life. The Ministry is responsible for proposing health policy guidelines in consultation with all public sectors and social actors and to ensure that health care is accessible for the Peruvian people.

The Ministry of Health is dedicated to providing every Peruvian with the opportunity to receive health care. During the early 1990's, MINSA began reviewing the conditions of both urban and rural health facilities. Not surprisingly, most of the medical centers were situated in and around Lima. As a result, for every 400 people in Lima there was one doctor, however, in the northern part of the country it was one doctor for every 12,000 people.

The members of MINSA decided that they had to start implementing a program that would ensure that anyone who needed to receive medical attention would receive it. This goal was not easy to achieve as over 70% of Peruvians live at or below the poverty line. In an attempt to try and make health care more accessible MINSA launched Peru's Health Care Policy which would provide free or low cost health care to low socio-economic individuals.

MINSA now operates both small clinics and large hospitals throughout Lima, in both affluent and low-income areas, and in rural areas throughout Peru, offering comprehensive health care and emergency treatment.

This placement is in the District of Independence, in the North-Eastern part of Lima. Independencia, as the region is called, is home to the lower middle class, as well as, poverty stressed families. Most of the inhabitants lack the basic necessities of life, including clean drinking water and accessible healthcare and medicine. The majority of the residents in the area are children whom have never been seen/visited by medical personnel.

This small medical center caters to over 6,000 people, most of whom are in relatively poor health due to lack of nutritional foods and access to medical care. In addition the Puesto de Salud Jose Olaya is seriously understaffed, with only one doctor, one nurse, two technicians, a part-time obstetrician and a part-time pediatrician. There is simply not enough people working at this center to manage all the patients requirements. Volunteers by providing hands-on assistance to the obstetrician will help improve the situation.

Qualifications

Volunteers should be at least a third or fourth year nursing or medical student. Experience and coursework in obstetrics is preferred. It is also important to be able to speak an intermediate level of Spanish in order to communicate effectively at this placement.

Minimum Education

High School

Intern Types

• Health Sciences
• Medicine
• Nursing

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

USD 3,245 for 8 weeks; USD 250 each additional wk.

Cost Includes:

• Emergency evacuation services
• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Upon arrival in country our staff will pick you up at the airport and return you to our Orientation Center for a safety briefing and general country orientation. For this program you are required to complete one - 4 weeks of language training and orientation which is included in the cost of the program. At the end of that week you will transfer to your placement to begin volunteering. Our staff are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you require help of any kind.

Experience Required

yes

Successful volunteers at this placement are those who enjoy working with expectant and/or new mothers and fathers.

Volunteer Types

Typical Volunteer

We believe everyone can contribute by volunteering. Recent graduates from high school, college or university, professionals taking a career break, recent retirees, individuals or groups who are interested in a change and the chance to enrich their own life and the lives of others. If you are 18 years or older you can apply for any of the placements available. If you are from 16-18 years old you may apply for placements near our Volunteer Abroad Office and Residence, so that we are able to give you more support. Both students and professionals are needed for placements in all our countries.

Age Range

18+

This Program is open to

Worldwide Participants. This Program is also open to Families, Couples and Individuals.

Typical Living Arrangements

• Dormitory
• Group living
• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of Depends on the placement

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Online Application plus Application Assessment
• Resume

Typically The Application Process Time is

24-48 hrs

Basecamp International Centers's Mission Statement

We believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. Our volunteers have taught in schools, provided disaster relief support for the International Red Cross, conducted essential research to improve the management strategies of threatened environments, built homes for impoverished people, provided vocational training and programs for street kids and have worked in co-operation with hundreds of local organizations to distribute aid and improve the quality of life for people throughout Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Year Founded

1998