Description

Volunteering abroad on a Medicine & Healthcare internship in Kenya is an excellent way to gain experience combined with the chance to help people in some of the poorest medical institutions in the developing world.

Projects Abroad works with both small health clinics and large government hospitals in Kenya, allowing interns the unique opportunity to assist in a variety of different departments and to work closely alongside local doctors and nurses. You do not have to have any previous medical experience to do a medicine internship in Kenya.

Medicine interns in Kenya work with a variety of medical institutions in and around the town of Nakuru, 160km northwest of Nairobi. In both the smaller health clinics and the larger hospitals interns will find themselves working with patients who have a wide range of illnesses. There are many different departments in most of the hospitals we work with including maternity, general medicine, surgery, pediatrics, palliative care, working with HIV patients, and in laboratory work. Interns can choose whether they want to work in a variety of different departments or whether they want to focus on one in particular.

Facilities within the hospitals and clinics are basic and treatments are sometimes not of the standard you would expect at home. You should be prepared to see some shocking cases and try not to get emotionally involved with the patients. Most interns work from Monday to Friday and have the weekends free. Your exact working hours will usually be decided on a weekly basis.

Highlights

Your exact role within the hospital or clinic will be determined by your level of medical experience as well as the enthusiasm and effort that you show to the local staff. Pre-university interns usually start by observing the doctors and nurses; however, you may find more practical opportunities arise once you get to know the local staff and if you can demonstrate a good understanding of local medical conditions. The role of interns who already have some medical experience also varies, and it is important to build up trust and a good relationship with the local medical staff.

We hold regular medical workshops for all our Medicine & Healthcare interns. These are run by qualified doctors who work in the busy hospitals and clinics in Nakuru. These workshops allow you not only the opportunity to ask about specific things you have seen during your placement but also to learn different techniques and skills that you can then put into practice when you go to work at your placement.

Interns also take part in medical outreach work that often involves traveling to local villages, rural areas, or orphanages to carry out basic medical checks on the local community.

Intern Types

• Medicine

Type of Programs

• Community Service / Volunteerism

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Please see our website for price details.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Written materials abroad

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Aids
• Community Health
• Hospital
• Medicine
• Volunteering

Typical Volunteer

Open minded with a desire to travel

Age Range

16+

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement

As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded

1992