Medical and Healthcare Programs in Ghana

My experience volunteering through ogvo was very rewarding in Ghana. The coordinators were very efficient in getting me started on time. The found me the right opportunity in mental health services in Kumasi. I also had quite a rewarding staff and patient encounters at the hospital. Mr Frank always checked in to make sure everything is going as expected. Their fees are super affordable compared to other organizations in the region. Check them out if you are looking for a real educative rewarding volunteering experience in Ghana. Albert

My experience at Tafo Government Hospital was exceptional. The program manager, Mr. Frank, was extremely helpful. The nurses and doctors were nice and supportive. Kumasi is one of the best cities in Ghana with many rich cultures. There are so many places to visit as a tourist. The king's palace was one of my favorite places to visit. I was impressed with the outcome of this trip.

I had the most fun time volunteering with OGVO! I did the volunteer Dental program at WillBen Dental Clinic, and couldn't have been happier with my experience. All the staff were exceedingly friendly, and were always happy that I was there to learn. My host family was probably the best part of my experience. I stayed with Bella, and her three wonderful children. It was such a blessing to have such a great host family that always stayed up talking to me, and making sure I was having a great time every day. Frank, the coordinator, even made sure that I was in a host family that had another volunteer as well, which I would highly recommend. The orientation process was very informative, and Frank even accompanied me from my work site to home for a the first couple days, to make sure I got around safe. If you are looking for a very, very immersive experience in Africa, this is the program. I had an incredible experience in my time in Ghana, and I met people that I will never forget.

This placement was one of the best decision I have made so far. I was introduced to the Administrator of the Hospital, the Deputy Head of the Biomedical Scientists Department, the Laboratory manager, other Biomedical Scientists and the trainee staff in the department. They took me through the departments in the hospital as an induction. I was given brief overview of the various tests and procedures that are undertaken in their lab and assured that by the end of the placement I will be able to undertake these tests and procedures by myself. The placement organisation took me and other student from other parts of Europe on mini adventure and history visits in our first few weekends such as the Manhyia palace in Kumasi, Lake Bosomtwe in the outskirt of Kumasi, Kakum National Park and The Cape Coast Castle. These trips were amazing and helped us learn more about the culture and history of Ghana. I have learned so much more about Ghana, myself and working in a Hospital over the 9 months I stayed in Ghana and I would gladly do it all over again. I would like to personally thank Mr Frank and his family and all the staff I encountered whilst having my placement at Tafo Government Hospital in Kumasi. Everyone made it a pleasant experience for me and would 100% recommend this opportunity to other student all over the world when they are looking for somewhere in Africa to have an experience.

I chose this program because I was immediately taken by the personalized responses I received from the program director. I had contacted multiple organizations and felt like a little fish in a big pond. Also, most of the larger organizations I contacted were outside of Ghana and I really wanted a local program. For 3 or 4 months before, I exchanged emails with the director. I had many many questions and Frank always responded within 48 hours and never made me feel like I was a hassle. He also developed the program to meet my very specific needs. I did this program on my own accord, so I was not part of a school or work program. I wanted to challenge myself in a new country and help as well. I was concerned about traveling alone, since this was my first solo trip abroad. But I can honestly say, I never once felt unsafe the entire time I was in Ghana. Although, I was rarely alone. I decided to volunteer in a rural area of Ghana, about 30 minutes outside of Kumasi. I'm glad I did, because Kumasi was a little bit more polluted so I had to have my inhaler handy a few times as I passed through. Onwe was a terrific little town and very friendly. I was placed at the Onwe Government Hospital. I arrived at a challenging time, the pharmacies were on strike, so there were less patients than usual. I rotated around the different wards and helped when I could. I specialize in dermatology, so I got to help with a lot of the dermatology cases. Overall, I didn't get to do as much as I wanted, but like I mentioned I came at a trying time. I highly recommend doing the cultural immersion portion that is offered. Those were some of my favorite moments of my time here. I learned lots of Twi (local language spoken) and cultural traditions. It's definitely worth the extra money. I also signed up for the weekend tour to Cape Coast which was amazing. Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Ghana. I'm glad I did the cultural immersion and weekend tour, I learned a lot about the country through those activities. I would've liked to have gotten more from my time at the hospital, but that wasn't really anyone's fault. The selling point of this program though is director Frank's individualized attention and sincere care to make a program that meets your needs as well as the local coordinators and Twi tutor that are part of the organization. The people really made this whole experience memorable. I definitely will return to Ghana and I highly recommend this program.

My experience in Kumasi was instrumental in my successful application to medical school in Australia. Based in a small, hands-on clinic in Kumasi, I was actively learning from day one. It was hot, humid and the small waiting room was full of prenatal women, patiently waiting their turn with the doctor. Staff were busily attending to patients with barely time to raise their eyes to notice the awkward Obruni half-cocked and hesitating in the doorway. "Alex!" Frank gestured in his direction, "come and meet the team". I needn't have worried: within five minutes, I realised that I had just made 10 new friends. And I realised that I didn't have time to be nervous! Primarily a maternity clinic - and given the high fertility rate in Kumasi - you are going to be busy. You are given as much or as little responsibility as your experience will allow. However, it must be said: you will be permitted to be involved in procedures that would otherwise be impossible back home. This is an unparalleled opportunity to observe, learn and even practice the messy, chaotic and REAL side of primary care medicine in a developing country. That kind of hands-on experience was indispensable and is a driving factor of my recommendation for OGVO. I began simply shadowing a GP while he went about doing consultations. During this time I learned about all the prevalent maladies affecting Kumasi's many residents: malaria, typhoid and more malaria. After some time just observing, the GP got me consulting with patients, before I went into the lab to learn how to identify different pathogens under the microscope and make a proper diagnosis. You get to check for malaria, sickle cell anemia - the list goes on. I also weighed and immunised infants, helped deliver two babies, and gave talks to antenatal women on how to stay healthy during pregnancy. This educational role saw me head out into (very) regional villages to give out medication and give more talks on primary healthcare. It was challenging and daunting at first, but entirely awesome and a hugely important experience for me. Undertaking a medical internship through OGVO is a life-changing experience and something that I would recommend without hesitation. Frank and the organisation will ensure that you are happy and well looked-after, from the moment he meets you at the airport to the time you say a difficult goodbye. At times you will need to draw on your inner-strength and the new friends around you, but I promise that you will leave a different, more-resilient person with a better-developed global outlook. Not to mention an impressive set of skills to aid you as you begin or continue your medical training.