What's not included: Flight, Visa Costs, In-country Transportation
Project Overview: This project provides volunteers with an opportunity to work and intern in two large regional hospitals in Koforidua, Ghana. The hospitals are an excellent placement for learning about the medical practices in another country. This project is ideal for those with an interest or qualifications in healthcare and is particularly suited to medical students, nurses, doctors, physiotherapist and other medical professionals.
Participating in this program will teach you more about international medicine and how medical professionals in other countries help their patients. You'll learn about the health care practices in Ghana. Many of the hospital departments welcome volunteers interested in orthopedics, physical therapy, surgery, pharmacy, nursing, dentistry, accident and emergency, maternity and midwifery. The work will be hands on, and have a great insight into the life of medical practitioners and the workings of a regional general hospital.
What will I be doing? You will be working in one or multiple hospital departments assisting doctors and staff with the treatment of patients. All volunteering is under the supervision of a department head. Specific tasks will be dependent on the department in which you choose to volunteer and your expertise in the area. The work is always highly interactive and hands on.
Where will I be volunteering? You will be based in Koforidua, a medium sized market town in the valleys just an hour's drive north of the capital Accra. Koforidua is the capital of the Eastern Region of Ghana, but unlike Accra and other more popular touristic towns it is very laid back and unhurried. Our home base is situated in a quite and safe neighborhood located 5 minutes from the center of town.
Kofftown, as it is known to its residents is a great location to experience why Ghanaians have a reputation for being kind and very welcoming. It is centrally located, making it an ideal base to volunteer and travel Ghana.
What will be my schedule? The project schedule requires that you work 4 days a week, Monday to Thursday, for a maximum of 6 hours per day in the mornings.
Below are testimonials of previous volunteers on this project. Click though to their full reports where you can view their video reports, photos and you can also contact them directly by email to ask about their experiences with us in Ghana.
My first placement was in the surgical ward, it was hands on, I started learning right way because the doctors explained the cases and treatment plan to me. I was let to draw blood and set up IV lines under the supervision of a doctor and with the permission of the patient. There were also lecture series that I attended. Attending theater was the best part, I was able to watch and ask question on the procedures being done.
The dorm now feels like my home in Ghana. It has been a comfortable and friendly environment to stay, with living arrangement beyond my expectations.
I can't believe my four weeks in Ghana is almost over!
Ghana is our chosen destination for Africa. This peaceful West African country is renowned for its people's hospitality, friendliness, culture and history. If you are interested in visiting Africa, we recommend you volunteer in Ghana. It's safe, the people are amazingly cheerful, and its diverse climate allows you to experience all that the continent has to offer.
