Description

Our voluntary Medicine & Healthcare programmes in Ghana are based in Accra, Cape Coast, Kumasi, Ho and the Akuapem Hills. In Accra, Cape Coast and Kumasi you will be based in a bustling city hospital, working with patients who have a wide range of illnesses. In the busy town of Ho you will work in one of the local hospitals which deal with all types of conditions.

In the semi-rural Akuapem Hills, the hospital is smaller, but still has a range of different departments where volunteers can work. Small village clinics in Ghana often lack even basic healthcare facilities, so you will be attending to patients from a huge catchment area, who have often travelled many miles to reach a hospital with the facilities they need.

When you first arrive at the hospital you will discuss your work schedule with your Projects Abroad co-ordinator and the placement supervisor who will be a member of the hospital staff. Most volunteers choose to spend time in a variety of different departments within the hospital, including accident and emergency, paediatrics, maternity, pharmacy, physiotherapy and surgery.

The hospitals where we work provide an excellent backdrop for learning and improving your medicine and healthcare skills. You will find yourself coming into contact with conditions that you wouldn't normally see in Europe and North America, such as malaria and typhoid, on an almost daily basis.

Volunteers in all regions also take part in regular medical outreach work which involves treating children with minor wounds or illnesses from small villages or paying a visit to an orphanage for example.

"In certain departments I felt I benefited the hospital - the ward, laboratory, outpatients - by helping with the workload. In other areas - operating theatres - it was more of a work experience placement where I benefited from the experience I was gaining. Above all, it was great to be able to choose which departments I worked in and for how long."
-Rachel Archer, Medicine & Healthcare Volunteer in Ghana

* Elective Placements in Ghana

You can do an Elective placement in Ghana in Medicine, Physiotherapy, Nursing, Midwifery or Dentistry.

If you wish to do your elective in Ghana, you will have a choice of a large hospital in a city, or working a more rural setting. You will shadow one of our supervisors who all speak English and are very experienced at working with western medical and healthcare students. They will be keen to test out your medical knowledge, as well as giving you the benefit of their training and experience.

Outside of the hospital you will live with local host-families. There is plenty to do in whichever region of Ghana you are located and, as one of our most popular destinations, there will always be a large Projects Abroad volunteer community available to join you.

Highlights

Living in vibrant, colourful Ghana will feel like an explosion; an enchanting sensory overload. Music is a central part of Ghanaian culture, so in the bigger towns - especially Accra - you will hear some great live bands and have some memorable nights out.

There are many, many attractions and places to visit. You will want to see the slave forts and spend a night in the rainforest at Kakum Rainforest Reserve, feed wild monkeys at The Boebeng Monkey Village or elephant watch at Mole National Park. If you're even more adventurous, consider the challenge of a journey to Timbuktu.

Travel across Ghana is cheap and easy, whether it be in a taxi, a tro-tro (a sort of minibus) or on a lake boat. There are clean, affordable places to stay and eat in all the main towns.

Ghana is a superb location for bird watching and is developing a good ecotourism philosophy. It's also an interesting place for history lovers and, once your overseas voluntary work is over, it's a great stepping-off point from which to explore West Africa.

Qualifications

No previous qualifications or experience are necessary.

Intern Types

• Medicine
• Health Sciences
• Nursing

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

Please go to our website for prices.

Cost Includes:

• Food
• Housing
• In-country orientation/Training
• In-country staff support
• Medical insurance
• Medical services
• Pre-departure orientation/Training
• Registration fees
• Travel while in host country
• Written materials abroad
• Written materials pre-departure

Program Fees Include:

Food, Accommodation, in-country Transportation, Travel & Medical Insurance, Constant Support of Full-Time Staff.

Experience Required

no

Volunteer Types

• Health
• Health Care
• Health Education
• Medicine
• Nursing

Typical Volunteer

Open Minded with a desire to travel

Age Range

16-70

This Program is open to

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

Typical Living Arrangements

• Home-stays

Participants Travel

Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work

Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Typically The Application Process Time is

10 days

Post Services Include

• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
• Exit Debriefing Abroad

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