Medical Support and Health Awareness in Zimbabwe
Project Summary
Volunteer on a project focused on medical support and health awareness in Zimbabwe and support local staff in clinics and the community. You will gain basic healthcare experience through interaction with local nurses and staff and see the challenges they overcome each day. They are under pressure due to economic difficulties which have impacted on services, staffing levels and supplies. Community healthcare education in particular is needed to support the thousands of people living in poverty most of whom only have access to poorly funded services local clinics.
The clinic cares for over 47,000 people each year and offers a range of services from consultations for young children, maternity, immunisation programmes, nutrition awareness, pharmacy and dealing with infections such as TB and HIV. With only 2 maternity beds, 2000 appointments for HIV/TB outpatients, the clinic is sorely in need of support. Some of this does come from donors but much more is needed so join us in in Zimbabwe and help to support the communities and local staff with medical support and health awareness in Antelope Park.
Why Choose this Project?
The facilities are poor, the clinic underfunded and it is severely understaffed meaning that the pressures on the local team and community are very high. Volunteers are needed to provide basic hands-on support (non-treatment) to the local staff in an effort to relieve some of the pressures of everyday clinical life. In addition, volunteers can help prepare and deliver healthcare sessions in the community, an area that helps to reduce the strain on the clinics as it deals with cause rather than treatment. This placement would make an excellent addition to your CV/resume as you build your team working, and communication skills as well as first hand knowledge of clinical and community healthcare solutions and challenges in another context.
Role of the Volunteer
Volunteers on this project offering Medical Support and Health Awareness in Antelope Park will get involved in a number of different activities including weighing babies, reading body temperatures, taking blood pressure, pill counting, filing, archiving and general cleaning and maintenance to make patients feel welcome and at ease. You may have the opportunity to observe pregnant mothers being assessed and observe opportunist infection clinics. During your placement you may also have the opportunity to participate in home visits and also night clinics. Aside from your clinical duties you will also get involved with health education campaigns and national immunisation drives which are essential aspects of community healthcare in an area where HIV prevalence is so high. All volunteers are asked to be flexible and fit in with the needs of the local team which varies throughout the year. The more you put in the more you will achieve!
Skills Required
No qualifications are required to volunteer to join us in providing Medical Support and Health Awareness in Antelope Park, however a general love and enthusiasm for children and healthcare is a must. This is a great project for those interested in basic healthcare and it will give you a real insight into life in an African clinic and community. You will be asked to send your CV/resume before being accepted onto this project. All participants will be working alongside registered local professionals and will need to be prepared to follow their instructions.
Qualified medical professionals will be asked to take an education role to build the capacity of the local team and prepare materials that can be used time and time again rather than in a clinical role. Qualified professionals who wish to treat are not able to join this placement.
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