Description

Most people in Ghana especially in the rural areas believe that mental health is a curse not a disease. A survey conducted shows that mental health disease is perceived to be incurable among the rural folks, and that, any person with mental problem has been cursed by the 'gods'.

Leprosy is also believed to a curse! Leprosy patients are mostly rejected by their family members or communities they live in. In fact, the discriminatory stigma against leprosy patients is very extreme than people living with HIV/AIDS. This is due to the fact that the disease is visible! But a cured leper is sometimes re-united with a family member or placed in a "Cured Lepers Village". The village is solely funded by the Government of Ghana but still lacks some basic needs and staffing. Volunteers are invited into the village to help in their basic daily activities. As part of our support to socio-economic development of the country and the means to educate people, we have initiated this program to engage the services of volunteers to educate and also help improve the health of the people.

Many of these communities we operate lack the very basic health care. There are a huge number people in these areas that have no access to better private/public health sector and therefore must rely on less equipped clinics at their disposal. These clinics are under-funded and lack services and facilities. Through this program, we aim to increase access to basic healthcare for rural people, decrease the prevalence of endemic diseases and improve overall village health by providing public health services in all aspects of clinical nursing.

By taking part in this program, you can offer vital assistance to a doctor or even non-professionals and nurses in these clinics whilst getting an insight into the lives of underprivileged individuals in the villages.

Additional Information:
Accommodation:
GCS mostly provide both on-site and host family accommodation for volunteers. Accommodation will sometimes be in shared rooms with typically no more than 4 to a room. Volunteers will have access to electricity, bathroom with shower and flushing toilet. Most projects are walking distance from the accommodation which will help minimize transport cost. Volunteers are placed with screened Host Families; this is to make sure the family is healthy and do not have any communicable kind of disease dangerous to volunteers' health. Placements are very flexible with your individuals/groups preferences and requests.

Know before you go:
Visitors to Ghana are expected to acquire a valid Passport and a Visa. All passports must be valid for at least six months on arrival in Ghana. GCS provide support for volunteer visa applications including references being required by Ghana Embassies abroad. Contacts and addresses of Ghana High Commissions will be provided including a Letter of Support. It is recommended and required of a volunteer to visit a health center in their home country for yellow fever and other health related vaccination, and also request malaria prevention drugs.

GCS Staff will guide you through every process in your preparation for the trip in our pre-departure welcome information pack in newsletter formats. The newsletters are contained in ten (10) different formats with varied information.

Highlights

Typical day:
Daily activities begin after breakfast is offered at 7am. Work starts at 8am and closes at 5pm from Monday to Friday. Extra work can also be done at the health center on Saturdays (optional). Volunteers working in both hospital or clinic and the leprosy village have a slightly varied schedule. Two (2) days are set aside to visit the leprosy village weekly. Tuesdays and Thursdays are the days of visitation to the center to help the inmates. This can be done at 10am or after lunch. But It is advisable to be with the lepers at 10am till lunch and beyond. Trips are allowed during the weekends.

Qualifications

Physicians, medical doctors, General hospital/clinical duty personnel, mental health volunteers, basic health care life supporters, Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). This opportunity is also for pre-health students, undergraduate students, graduates, professionals, workers and for persons interested in gaining extensive knowledge in the Ghanaian health system and administration.

Minimum Education

High School

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

550 USD (4 weeks)

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Language instruction
• Pre-departure orientation/Training

Program Fees Include:

Airport pick-up, Orientation prior to beginning of work, Transportation to project site, Accommodation (Host / Home stay / Volunteer room placement), Daily meals, Certificate of recognition and an opportunity to serve as GCS Ambassador in your city, college or community, A brochure, In-country support (24/7 support lines), Volunteer tag/card, A possible trip tour arranged by GCS, Basic local language orientation and Placement.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Community Health
• Health
• Health Care
• Health Education
• Medicine

Typical Volunteer

Despite our name, any person may volunteer with GCS as long as they are over 18 years old. The majority of our participants are 18-30 years old, but we welcome anyone who wishes to join us and make a difference. You do not need any special skills to volunteer with GCS. We just ask that you are willing to give back to your host country; you are willing to learn as much as you can about the people, environment and issues facing your host country, and are ready to make the best friends along your adventure of a lifetime.

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
• Other

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups of 5

Application Process Involves

• Other
• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Post Services Include

• Alumni Network
• Job and Internship Network

Global-Cultural Solution's Mission Statement

To help bridge the wide gap between the privileged and the under-privileged with the provision of general support to deprived and needy communities through sustainable human resource services.

Year Founded

2007