Medicine in Ghana with Projects Abroad

  Ghana

• Accra: 
Accra

Durations of Program: 2-4 weeks, 5-8 weeks, 3-6 months and 7-12 months
Typical Duration of Program: 9-12 weeks
Dates: All Year Round (you choose the start and end dates)

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: The Ghanaian people, in general, are the friendliest you will meet. They pride themselves as being the friendliest in Africa, sometimes in the world! In order to appreciate the sincere friendliness of them please make every effort to instigate conversations with your host family and workmates. Only by doing this will you really learn and therefore appreciate the Ghanaian culture.

For your accommodation, you'll live with a host-family. All the families involved are extremely supportive of Projects Abroad and are eager to experience an inter-cultural exchange so they can learn more about the lives of volunteers.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: No previous qualifications or experience are necessary.

Cost in US$: USD 2,995 and up

Experience Required: no

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

Participants Travel to Ghana Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post-Program Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

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