GHANA

Working in the health sector in the developing world is a real challenge. Participating on this project you will observe experts in your field and learn how they work in Ghana, you will have the opportunity to shadow the doctors/Nurses in various departments in the Medical Centre. If you want to specialise in Dentistry, we can arrange it for you. The experience you gain will be invaluable to you in the future and totally different to what you're used to in your home country. 

For social, cultural, but mainly economic reasons, people don’t seek medical attention until their condition is incredibly advanced or they are serious pain. Coupled with poor health and sanitary provisions, medics in these countries are faced with conditions that we don’t see in the West.

PLACEMENT OVERVIEW

Location: Accra Start dates: Available all year round, you choose your start date Duration: From 4 weeks to 1year, subject to visa requirements Requirements: You should be either planning to study medicine or a medical-related subject,  currently studying medicine or related subject, or working in a medical field Compensation: Unpaid Price: £1,495 for 4 weeks, ranging to £2,295 for 12 weeks. Full Price List and other Currencies      What's included: ►Arranging the internship, ►Full pre-departure support and assistance, ►Payment protection insurance ►Accommodation ►Food ►Meeting you at the nearest Airport ►Transfer to your accommodation ►Transport to and from your project ►In-country team support and backup ►24-hr emergency support ►Certificate of Completion. What's not included: Flights, travel insurance, cost of visa, return transfer to the airport.

The Holy Trinity Medical Centre where you'll intern is rather like an extended doctor’s surgery that offers specialist clinics.  This Centre was established in 1988 and has undergone various reconstructing processes to become a one-step affordable humane service centre by constantly improving its service delivery.   This Medical Centre has a good team of regular Doctors, including many specialists.  The Centre facilities/departments include: A well-equipped Dental clinic A Radiology and X-ray unit An Optometrist Opticians clinic, which conducts can also conduct eye tests and provide prescription lenses and frames. Laboratory Pharmacy Paediatrics Physiotherapy General Surgery Obstetrics and Gynaecology General Medicine, such as vaccination, tests and more…. They also have visiting specialists that run weekly clinics, these clinics include: ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Skin specialist Dietician Paedatrician DENTISTRY: Like many developing countries Ghana has a problem with good dental hygiene among people living in poverty. This leads to bad teeth and other medical problems that result from tooth infections. The Holy Trinity has a Dental Clinic where you can work alongside the dentist and nurses and assist the dental team. The Dental Department is equipped with 2 modern Dental Chairs, Dental X-ray Units, etc. It caters for all dental needs of their patients. Back to Top

WORK CONTENT
The Holy Trinity Centre, like many medical facilities, is very busy and consultants many patients per day, on average between 9,800 to 14,000 patients per month.

"My first impression was surprise at how nice the hospital seemed, I had been expecting something far more run-down. By the sound of it, this is quite largely because it is a private clinic. The hospital itself is more of a large doctors-surgery, just with a few specialists, a lab and an X-ray machine."

You will get to experience the many different departments that the Centre has to offer, where you will be observing the doctors, nurses and other staff members. The role you will be allocated will depend to an extent on your qualifications, experience and your own capabilities, which is understandable given that you will be dealing with patient health and safety.

You will be involved in the day-to-day running of the centre, observing the doctors and nurses where you can help out in simple but practical ways, vastly increasing your own knowledge and understanding of medical practice.

"After spending some time with various specialists we have spent the final two weeks of the placements with GPs again. Everyone has been willing to have us observe and have been keen to explain to us. The ENT specialist also invited us to Korle Bu (the Government Teaching Hospital) where we observed consultations and sat with medical students as they practised their clinical skills both in consultation rooms and the wards."

If you planning on specialising in a particular field of medicine, we can try to arrange to place you in your relevant department, to ensure that you receive maximum experience in your chosen field. For example:

This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience in your field in a different culture where practices may differ considerably from what you're used to in your home country.

REQUIREMENTS
According to the medical centres, you "must have a passion, enthusiasm and dedication for medicine and caring for people". In other words, they don't wish to play host to 'curious observers' - instead, they want you to gain maximum benefit from your time with them.  You should be either, be planning to study medicine or a medical-related subject,  currently studying medicine or related subject, or working in a medical field.

WHAT YOU'LL GAIN FROM DOING THIS PROJECT:

• An exciting, never-to-be-forgotten adventure into Africa and Ghanaian culture.

• You'll learn a lot from experts in your field about how they work in a culture that is very different to what you're used to.

• New skills, more confidence, a greater understanding of a different culture, invaluable personal and professional development.

• An entry on your CV or résumé that will put you head and shoulders above most others in the job market

• And best of all ... an unforgettable experience!

"This placement has been rewarding work experience fro me and it has made me determined to get a qualification so that next time I can truly work, rather than observe. For anybody wanting a career in medicine this is an excellent opportunity and I would recommend it." Kate Malia, gap-year student, Ghana Medical Project

 
Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com

Enhance your trip with exciting activities you can add to your programme:

Got any questions? Please email us:
info@travellersworldwide.com

ACCOMMODATION AND TRAVEL

Your accommodation will vary, depending on your work location. You will either be staying in a family run hostel or with a host family. The hostel is a comfortable family run hostel accommodation, with 11 rooms, the owners are very friendly and they are Ghanaian so you can still experience the culture. Alternatively you may be staying with a host family. This means that you get to eat, sleep, work, socialise and generally live like a Ghanaian. Local family stays enable you to fully experience the local culture from the inside.

Many of our volunteers remain friends with their host families long after they leave Ghana and in some cases they return to the country later especially to visit their family. Sometimes members of their Ghanaian family have even gone to visit them in their home country.

"My family - Lizzie and Prince are lovely. The children are very sweet, and I feel extremely lucky to have been placed with them. The house is of a Western standard in most ways, and Lizzie's cooking is excellent. I feel a part of their family already."

Food will be local cuisine - again this is to enable you to fully experience living as local Ghanaians do.

When we arrange your placement, we will liaise extensively with you regarding both the placement and your accommodation.  As always, our Local Manager will look after you well and will always be on hand to help and offer advice.

TRAVEL:
To read about Travel arrangements and what happens when you arrive in your new country, please click here.

Support & Backup: To read about the excellent Support & Backup we provide before you leave and during your programme, please click here.
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Caroline on the left, Susannah on the right
standing on the front verandah of their accommodation with Caroline’s host, Lizzie

 Photo Gallery

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West Sussex, BN12 4AP, England
Tel: +44 (0)1903 502595    Fax: +44 (0)1903 708179
Email:info@travellersworldwide.com