It takes truly committed people to this abroad! With medical volunteering, you will be volunteering to work with patients or in a healthcare specific area on a voluntary basis. Unlike other types of volunteering, medical volunteering is a difficult, challenging and profound area. Medical volunteers will witness and experience things other volunteers never will or what they never would have at home. 

 

This can be a huge challenge as often times volunteers experience situations that can leave them feeling sad, shocked or confused. But for the most part volunteers are often left amazed at the resilience of their patients and at the skill and dedication of their new colleagues. It truly is a hugely moving experience and one most Medi Trippers never forget.

 

The Problem

Many government facilities are under resources without adequate medication or enough staff to deal with all the patients. There will be times when you are shocked by the conditions you see people have to endure to receive what we might view as sub par care or basic care. 

​

With limited funding and very few resources the nations endure high mortality rates and frequent outbreaks of disease and high prevalence rates of HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and increasing incidence of non communicable disease.

 

The Solution

Depending on your area of interest and your skills, you will be matched with an appropriate clinical area/hospital. The learning opportunities are bountiful as long as you stay focused and flexible in your approached.

 

Your role

You will be assigned a local clinic to work in where you will assist in the general care of unwell patients. Your role as a volunteer will require you to assist in monitoring, observing and tending to the patients healthcare needs. 

Medical volunteering is the most challenging and therefore requires people who are highly motivated, passionate and focused. This is also the most rewarding area given that you are contributing life saving skills where they are desperately needed.

Tasks and duties would be as follows:

 

• Assist the medical staff assigned to you with their day-to-day schedule

• Ward Rounds

• Help with assessments or clinics

• Run training or teaching sessions

• General assistance of medical staff where required and where experience and expertise allow

• Focus on special awareness and information programmes

• Conduct research

​

Where will you stay?​

You will stay in a volunteer house. where we provide safe, clean and comfortable accommodation, comfortable bedding, breakfast and dinner (dinner's Monday to Friday) and housekeeping. This will be a quiet and friendly neighbourhood 15 minutes from the main hustle and bustle of town. You will have wifi, hot showers, 24 hour gated security, a domestic/cook (who will happily do your laundry for a small fee) and a coordinator who will ensure you settle in quickly and comfortably into your new town. This is a shared home where you will be staying with other volunteers from across the world, so you will never be on your own in your new environment. The house is impeccably clean, well kept, modern and spacious.

​

Important VISA & Permit Information

You will be required to pay a for a VISA for voluntary work assignment. Please enquire for details.

Clinical Practice Fee

This is a payment all medical volunteers in Tanzania must make towards your host hospital (Ministry of Health, Tanzania). 

 

Where do my fees go?

Most of your fees are spent locally. Fees ensure you have above standard accommodation, that you have a personal coordinator picking you up at the airport, orientating you and you have a coordinator day to day and your program is planned and facilitated specifically for you, to match your skills and get you to provide the very best to those that need you. 

 

Is Africa safe for me to travel alone? Do I need to be with other volunteers?

​Regardless of whether you're volunteering on a clinical mission, you're still a tourist. Forward planning is key to protecting yourself from risk as you would anywhere in the world. As a group or a solo traveller from abroad, you will attract attention but, you will also have a great support system in your volunteer coordinators, fellow travellers/volunteers and ​supervisors. It's important to try and be conscientious of your new surroundings and respect and follow local customs as much as possible and insure yourself from any possible risks. 

​

Africa is a large continent with every country varying greatly in local culture, customs, rules and regulations. Research your destination as much as possible and ask as many questions as possible. We would never place you at risk or in harm's way, however it is important you take ownership of your journey and behave responsibly. 

​

​