Medical and Healthcare Internship Abroad in Ghana, Accra

Medical Care in Ghana
Medical care in developing countries is often desperately limited due to problems of ignorance, under funding and oversubscription. Hospitals and clinics throughout these countries can be severely under resourced and are continually in need of extra support. This story is also true of Ghana, and we have developed a close relationship with a number of hospitals and clinics in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, to give those who have an interest in medicine the chance to help improve the quality and delivery of local healthcare services.
Our medical and healthcare placements will therefore allow you to support developing communities in Ghana while giving you a valuable insight into the medical services that exist in Africa and the issues that the medical professionals and patients face on a daily basis.

Your Medical Placement
The medical placement has links with a number of hospitals and specialist clinics in and around the capital, Accra. These range from maternity clinics, where you can assist with pre and post natal care, to family planning clinics where you can work with local staff to give advice on sexual health issues, and large general hospitals in the city, which are understaffed and do not have the financial support needed to always give sufficient care to all the patients who come through the doors.

Some clinics run community outreach programmes that see teams of medical staff go into the local communities to visit patients and families from poorer areas. During your time on our medical care project, you will therefore be able to shadow and assist the local medical staff in the clinics and/or hospitals in Accra, and take on a supportive and extremely rewarding role.

Your Role as a Medical Volunteer
We welcome pre-med volunteers looking to gain some experience before starting their medical degree, as well as medical students looking to gain the crucial degree credits from a medical elective. Depending on your experience in the medical field, the level of responsibility you are given on your placement will vary. Much of your role will be in a support capacity working alongside professional medical staff in Ghana. You are likely to spend much of your time shadowing the local staff in their day-to-day work, learning how they manage and interact with patients. At other times you will be invited to offer a more hands-on role to the medical care being delivered. The experience you can gain from a medical placement or elective in Ghana can be a huge boost to your CV

Your time in the clinics and hospitals can involve a variety of work, including time spent in maternity wards, operating theatres and recovery wards. The local medical staff will at times invite you to offer practical assistance while sometimes it will be more appropriate for you to simply watch and learn. A number of volunteers have had the experience of witnessing, and in some cases, assisting with the delivery of newborn babies, as well as essential post natal care. Holding and weighing a newborn baby for the first time is sure to leave a lasting memory of your time in Ghana.

As well as practical work, you can also make a lasting impact through the emotional support you offer to patients and their families. Due to extremely busy days, the local medical staff are often unable to regularly meet with relatives and patients in recovery. You can bring a great sense of reassurance by simply spending time chatting and providing basic updates for these patients and families.

It is important to note that while your medical placement will allow you to make a positive impact on healthcare in Ghana, and will also give you a valuable insight into the workings of African hospitals, and you need to accept that days can often be quite challenging. Positive attitude is everything in Ghana and especially when working in medical care! If you are willing to be proactive in your role as a medical volunteer and get ‘stuck in’ to the work around you, this medical placement will be a truly life changing experience, for both you and the patients you work with.

Criminal Records Check
We require you to complete a criminal records check in order to take part in this experience. We can accept those that have been done in the last two years if you have the certificate. In the UK it can be done through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS), in the USA further details can be found on Travel.State.Gov, otherwise please search for your local service provider. We may also request a reference from a reliable source. You must supply these to us before departure and also take a copy with you to present to the in-country team.

Why do we require a criminal background check?
1) Ensuring a safe environment is conducive to learning, productivity and overall positive experiences for everyone involved.

2) We implement thorough screening processes and we are committed to safety and integrity, fostering trust among participants and the local community.

3) Conducting background checks serves as a preventive measure, deterring individuals with questionable backgrounds from attempting to participate in our programme.

4) Safeguards vulnerable people from potential harm within the programme.

Gap Year and Career Break Medical Placements and Electives in Ghana
The experience you can gain from a medical placement or elective in Ghana can be a huge boost to your CV. In a volunteer internship capacity a medical placement can give your medical knowledge and understanding a huge boost before embarking on a career in medicine or healthcare. The medical placement in Ghana can also become a crucial part of your medical degree as you can utilise the opportunity to cover the elective element of the degree course. No matter your medical experience the placements available will give you the opportunity to experience the turbulent life of an African healthcare professional, as well as the amazing relationships that can come from a role in the Ghanaian healthcare system.

You can arrive any weekend of the year to start the project on a Monday. We’ll pick you up from the airport and take you back to the accommodation to settle you in and meet the rest of the team.

Please note that some national holidays may cause disruption to normal sessions but our in-country team will do their best to support activities around this.

Visa
British Nationals (and most visitors to Ghana) will require a visa to enter Ghana and we suggest you apply for a tourist visa. You can check your visa requirements by visiting the Ghana High Commission website. Please search online for details.

Everyone will also require a yellow fever vaccination to enter Ghana and a certificate to prove you have had this. You should contact your travel nurse/doctor to discuss this further.

Optional Teaching in Ghana
In addition to your coaching role, you will have the opportunity to teach classes, or assist in teaching classes, in one of the sports academies or schools based in Accra. This will give you another impacting experience while allowing you to make a difference outside the world of sport. With a western education, you will be able to contribute massively to the standard of tuition that the students receive. Subject areas include English (language and literature), math, science, journalism, business, IT, RE and a whole variety of extra-curricular activities.

Other Options in Ghana
It is likely that there will be a whole variety of other activities you can get involved with while you are away. Because we have focused in-country teams, they will be able to inform you of other opportunities both inside and outside the capital. This gives you a unique chance to combine projects and experience the country in a whole variety of ways.

Equipment Donation for Ghana
We are dedicated to sustainable development. This is why part of the fee you pay goes towards buying decent equipment for beneficiary organisations in Ghana. You will often use this equipment during your project and it is always left with the community when you leave. In some cases, an equipment donation may not be appropriate so a financial contribution is made instead.

Social Life in Ghana
Our social life is unrivalled and we believe it is important to give volunteers the chance to unwind and have fun while they are away. Our in-country team therefore organises a variety of activities to bring volunteers together, to share their experiences and, above all, have a good time. Some of these activities include visits to the best night spots, group meals, trips away and sports teams where you can to take on local competition.

Akpateshi FC
If you fancy a game of footy while you are away, or simply enjoy the social side of football, you should join our volunteer team, Akpateshi FC. This gives you the chance to play alongside the other volunteers and challenge some serious African opposition. However, although the team has a competitive edge, the emphasis is on the social side of football and is aptly named after the locally brewed bush whiskey! If you play in the team, or simply become a supporter, you will soon see why Akpateshi FC is so renowned for its unpredictable matches and fiery social life.

Travel and Adventure in Ghana
You will be encouraged to explore Ghana during your free time so you can sample some of its breathtaking sights and meet some of Africa’s friendliest people. The capital, Accra, is full of great places to visit and you will meet both locals and other travellers at a variety of bars and restaurants that provide authentic African live music and dancing. There are also a large number of western-style pubs and clubs, including an Irish Bar, an American Sports Bar and a series of dance-venues very close to where you are living. And, if you fancy a football experience to remember, then prepare yourself for watching Hearts of Oak at the National Stadium where the locals wave flags, blow horns and dance on the roofs of the terraces!

Beyond Accra, there are countless places to visit. You could take a Sunday pleasure-cruise on Lake Volta (the biggest man-made lake in Africa) or you might want to visit the history-laden slave castles of Cape Coast and Elmina. You may want to take a walk on the wild side with the elephants at Mole National Park or spot tropical birds in the rainforest canopy at Kakum National Park. Then there is the 60-metre-high Wli waterfalls, the Buabeng-Fiema Monkey Sanctuary (where monkeys are preserved as ‘sacred’ creatures!) and the endless palm-tree beaches lining the Atlantic coastline! The captivating places, intriguing people and diverse landscapes will make Ghana one of the most enlightening experiences a traveller could wish for. Our in-country team will also help you build a travelling itinerary and give you plenty of advice on how to make your way through the country.

Accommodation
The accommodation is basic but comfortable and you will stay in a dormitory style room. The accommodation has a very sociable atmosphere and you will find it a great place to relax and unwind in the evenings. The accommodation is also centrally located to the placements. Shops and other useful amenities are either a short walk or taxi ride away.

Accommodation
Communal House; Basic but comfortable; Dormitory style rooms (4-10 people per room); Shared toilets and showers.

Food
3 meals a day; Basic but nutritious local foods

Airport Pick-Up
Included on arrival date. Ask us for details if you are arriving early.

Training
Full project induction and local orientation given on arrival.

Support
Pre-departure help and advice; Local in-country team; 24 hour emergency support.

Flights; Travel Insurance; Visas; Vaccinations; Spending money; In country travel; Payment for transport to / from placement; Laundry service; Soft drinks and alcohol; Extra activities not on itinerary.

Preferred Duration
Volunteers should try to come for as long as possible preferably for 8 or 12 weeks. This ensures better management of the project and also helps you get the most from the social activities and group travel opportunities on offer.

Typical Hours
Monday-Friday; 4-6 hours a day; Occasional work at weekends but usually free for personal time and travel. Please be aware that some public holidays may cause disruption to times / days during your volunteer project.

Pre-requisites
Participants must have recognised medical experience, either with a qualification in medicine or currently studying at university. Due to the nature of Ghana’s healthcare system a level of patience and understanding will also be required.

Ideal For
Gap Year and Career Break Medical Volunteering in Ghana; Medical Electives and Internships in Ghana; Medical and Healthcare Work Experience; Volunteer Holidays to Africa.

Suitable for ages 18 to 80

Most participants are between 20 and 25, so please be aware of this. We do welcome older people because of the value and experience they bring to the community.