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Medical Volunteering in Kenya

by: African Impact

8.97 (35)Verified

The vibrant tea town of Limuru, Kenya, faces challenges in its healthcare system, which has limited resources and overcrowded facilities. Our medical volunteer program partners with local healthcare providers, offering invaluable support and assistance. You’ll contribute directly to patient care while gaining valuable experience in a diverse medical environment. Whether you’re a seasoned medical ...

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Program Highlights

Offer medical support and assistance to doctors and nurses at local clinics, hospitals, and healthcare centers.

Gain experience while improving your skills and abilities.

Experience the complexities and challenges of public healthcare in a developing country .

Engage with the local community and experience Kenya's traditional way of life.

Visit the world-renowned Maasai Mara National Reserve on your free weekends.

Quick Details

Locations
  • Rural Areas, Kenya
Availability
Year(s) Offered2024, 2025Duration:
  • 2-4 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 9-12 Weeks
Cost Per Week$900-1250
Age Requirement:Varies
Types & Subjects:
  • AIDS
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Health Education
  • Hospital
  • See more
Guidelines:
  • American
  • Argentinian
  • Asian
  • Australian
  • Austrian
See all program details

Awards

GoAbroad Top Rated Provider 2024 - Volunteer AbroadTop Rated Volunteer Abroad Organization 2022

Program Reviews

Hear what past participants have to say about the programs

Overall Rating

8.97

Total Reviews

35

My experience at Limuru nursing home

by: MarianaProgram: Medical Volunteering in Kenya
8

Everyone is always very friendly and available to answer any question you have or just talk, if that´s what you need. The information provided was helpful, however I did not feel fully prepared. I did not have any feedback from any other participants, so I did not know how the day to day was going to go and what to expect. Breakfast and dinner were mostly very tasty, however lunch is always the same, chips with a juice, cookies and a fruit, which isńt very healthy and after a while is a bit too repetitive. I spent 1 month alone at the volunteer base, so during that time there was no vibe, however when new people started to arrive there was always a good atmosphere and good communication, if anything need to be sorted out. Our project manager, Neema, was also very on top of making sure we all felt comfortable and heard in our struggles.

Not what I signed up for.

by: Shelley HaylesProgram: Medical Volunteering in Kenya
6

Firstly, I notice the options offered for my chosen venue, Livingstone, do not include a medical one so I’ve had to list the wrong one. Girl impact and Teaching are listed but not medical. I think that is where the problems I had began! I came for a 2/12 placement to volunteer as an experienced community doctor. The AI set up in Livingstone is not really geared to this sort of placement, despite online assurance to the contrary, and so it was disappointing that I was expected to be involved in the other projects to pad out my days and which appear to be run for the convenience of others. If this had been made clear prior to my booking I definitely would not have come. Both the website and the program manager need to be much more specific about the work on offer to volunteers and what they will be expected to do prior to booking. I did discuss w this with the base manger a couple of weeks into my placement. The medical home-based care placement was pretty chaotic, with needless visits to the same area each week, that were purely for the benefit of the volunteers, instead of spaced planned visits based around patient’s needs. It was disappointing that the volunteer organiser was often in abstentia and hardly ever came out with us. The care offered to patients did not address the main issues that affect the people who live in this society, and it was playing at volunteering. This was not my opinion alone. The attendance at the clinics was not very organised either. It could have been so much more beneficial for the clinics and the patients, if they were all day placements rather than a couple of hours. The girl impact / teaching placements were interesting as a one off, but not as a ‘filler’ to keep medical volunteers occupied in the afternoon, whilst the ‘volunteer organisers’ stayed at the base. It wasn’t clear what they were doing either? This was frequently pointed out to the organisers and ignored! Why ask for comments/feedback if it is discounted? Secondly, the accommodation was adequate … just, but it did not justify the large fees charged, per volunteer per stay. I would give 1or 2 stars at most. The beds are uncomfortable. I realise the mattresses are being replaced gradually but they are in very poor condition. There is no air conditioning, and the supply of fans was inadequate when the house was full of volunteers. Promised, they never appeared despite nighttime temps of 28oC The windows don’t shut, leaving mosquito ingress at night inevitable, which was overcome by stuffing loo roll in every crevice. Why aren’t their nets over the windows? Malaria is endemic after all, and they are not expensive. The bathroom facilities were pretty poor with intermittent hot water (the base manger joked ‘why do you need hot water?’)!, broken shower heads that were not mended in ten weeks and intermittent plumbing issues. The pool is marketed as a bonus and, whilst it is a great item to have, it was constantly dirty and not kept well. 14 floating dead frogs one day, from the nighttime, was horrific and the filters were never working unless >6 guests were there . The Wi-Fi was truly appalling (not good enough for the price) so many people can’t contact home on arrival. They have to buy a data SIM card which is inconvenient to have any sensible access to the internet as one of your own managers found out. A bit of market research indicates it is not that costly either -350 ZKW per month for a good supply as I found out. The food that was served up were monotonous high carb, low protein dishes that was not a great example of a balanced diet. Fine for a couple of weeks if you like that sort of thing, but not for several months and certainly not healthy. I think the fact that several of the older volunteers left to live elsewhere to recover for a few nights, whilst still on placement, speaks volumes. Thirdly, there are too many under-worked ‘volunteer organisers‘ employed at this site and not enough thought, in terms of program integration, that benefits the community. Coming back from projects, am and pm, to be confronted with staff who appear to spend most of the day at the base chatting, on their phones, listening to music and possibly doing a bit of admin is demoralising - but it is what appears to be happening. When volunteers are put down for ‘office’ themselves they can observe this directly and it is baffling behaviour. It all gives the impression that the projects are run for the benefit of African Impact staffs and not as voluntary support system for Livingstone. I feel this project is run for young people who want to come for a couple of weeks to tick a box and leave feeling good about themselves. The staff, whilst perfectly nice, are certainly not professional. Staff appear to be having great fun themselves, most of the time, rather than being focused on providing a good service. Yes, they are supportive in terms of social things to do, but they also appear happy to propagate the volunteer work as it is. Attention to constructive feedback is paid lip service only and suggestions are ignored, largely due to the high turnover of volunteers. Those of us who stayed longer heard the same complaints week in and week out. A professional approach and fun are not mutually exclusive, so it’s a shame the staff are unable to achieve this. For these reasons I would not recommend this placement to people who wish to make any serious impact on the lives of the people that live here in Zambia. I have plenty of other specific examples I can give (also shared by the slightly older volunteers >25) but there’s no point in listing them unless someone takes this on board and changes the approach of AI to the expensive experience they offer volunteers.

Hospital internship- Limuru Kenya

by: Hannah RountreeProgram: Medical Volunteering in Kenya
9

Limuru was a great experience to learn about rural Kenya and how the various forms of healthcare work. The staff at everywhere we were volunteering we friendly and accommodating. They were very willing to teach Swahili which is a skill that is very beneficial on this rotation. For the most part the rotation will start off observational while they are assessing you ability to perform skills and understand you fund of knowledge. As the staff gets to know you you will have the opportunity to scrub into surgeries and assist the clinical officers. As for African Impact staff: Esther was fantastic is getting us oriented and making Kenya feel like home. Wambui and Anne took really good care of us at Brackenhurst. Jane will book super fun trips and will make sure your needs are met! The drivers will become your friends. Also the wildlife here is incredible! There are many monkeys at Brackenhurst which will provide much comic relief, especially during the occasional stress that come with student life. Overall I would recommend this rotation to anyone.

Program Details

Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know

Locations

  • Rural Areas, Kenya

Types and Subjects

  • Causes
  • AIDS
  • Health
  • Health Care

Availability

Years Offered: 2024, 2025

Duration:
  • 2-4 Weeks
  • 5-8 Weeks
  • 9-12 Weeks

Age Requirement

Age Requirement Varies

Guidelines

  • American
  • Argentinian
  • Asian
  • Australian

Cost per week

$900-1250

Program Cost Includes

  • Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
  • Weekday Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
  • Airport Transfer (Pick-Up)
  • Airport Transfer (Drop-Off)

Accommodation Options

  • Group living
  • Guest House

Qualifications & Experience

    Language Skills Required

  • English

    Accepted Education Levels

  • University Freshman (1st Year)
  • University Sophomore (2nd Year)

Application Procedures

  • Online Application

Frequently Asked Questions

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