Medicine in Peru with Projects Abroad

  Peru

• Cusco: 
Cusco
• All Other Areas in Peru: 
Urubamba

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

Description: Volunteering on a Medicine & Healthcare project in Peru is a fascinating experience. As a Medicine & Healthcare volunteer you will gain a great deal of valuable work-experience alongside skilled medical and dentistry professionals. The facilities are generally of a basic standard, although the huge disparity between rich and poor means that there are also a number of well-equipped private hospitals in the country.

Our Medicine & Healthcare program in Peru is based in the World-Heritage city of Cuzco, the ancient capital of the Incan Empire. We work with several hospitals in the city, and volunteers are allocated to a particular hospital depending on their experience and preferences.

Volunteers who are qualified or part way through their medical training often work at Es Salud hospital, which is the biggest hospital in Cuzco. This hospital is modern and well equipped and volunteers can work in a variety of departments with specialist medical professionals. We also work with the second biggest regional hospital in the Cuzco area and with a specialist hospital for anyone focusing on obstetrics and gynecology.

Volunteers can also work at one of several health clinics, where volunteers with less experience will usually work closely with one doctor, who has more time to explain the illnesses and treatments than the staff at the bigger hospitals. The main areas here are general medicine, gynecology and pediatrics. Outreach visits to local communities are also sometimes arranged.

Finally we have the option of working at a children's rehabilitation hospital. This hospital is run by a priest and looks after many children with special needs. Volunteers here help to feed and play with the children.

Our program coordinator is Patricia Davila, a dentist, with many years of experience in the social health sector in Cuzco. Patricia previously worked for German and Dutch NGO's and understands the needs of volunteers.

Throughout the year we are also invited to help with some specific health campaigns. For example in September 2007 we were invited to assist with the CIRPLAST campaign, where children with a harelip undergo operations. All volunteers who apply for Medicine & Healthcare in Peru will be kept up to date with these extra projects.

Volunteers on the medical placements usually work from Monday to Friday and have the weekends free. Daily hours vary from place to place, and will be decided during your first meeting with Patricia and your placement supervisor. Please remember that these medical placements should be taken seriously and the doctors with whom you work will expect you to be punctual and attentive. Volunteers with a positive attitude and pro-active approach will get a great deal out of the program.

For all Medicine & Healthcare placements in Peru, you need at least intermediate Spanish.

Volunteer Dentistry in Peru

Volunteer Dental placements in Peru take place in a health centre in Cuzco. Our supervising dentists are very keen for volunteers to get involved, provided they have a good level of experience and an intermediate level of spoken Spanish.

Elective Placements in Peru

You can do an Elective in Peru in Medicine and Dentistry.

If you wish to do your elective in Peru, you will most likely be working in a large hospital or a health centre in Cuzco. You will shadow one of our supervisors who are all very experienced at working with western medical and dental students. They will be keen to test out your knowledge, as well as giving you the benefit of their training and experience.

Outside of the hospital you will live with a local host family, who will provide you with all your meals outside of your normal working hours. When you aren't at work there is plenty to do in Cuzco, with ancient Inca buildings awaiting discovery amongst the cobble-stoned streets, as well as plenty of bars and restaurants. At the end of your elective why not take a short holiday and trek up to the lost Incan city of Machu Picchu?

Highlights: For your accommodation, you will live with a local Peruvian famly who will provide you with meals and an opportunity to practice your Spanish.

Peru is a country of contrasts, a place of extremes: desert and jungle, snow-peaks and sand dunes, great wealth and grinding poverty.

This project offers you 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: None.

Cost in US$: From US$ 3,345 up

Experience Required: no

Typical Volunteer: Open-minded with a desire to travel.

Age Range: 16-80

This Program is open to World Wide Participants. This Program is also open to Couples and Individuals

Participants Travel to Peru Independently Or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently Or in Groups

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit DebriefingAbroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home
• Alumni Network

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