Ecuador Volunteering-Health-Medical Clinic

Description

Centro de la Niña Trabajadora (CENIT) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that is dedicated to providing opportunities for Ecuadorian youth. This organization was started as an attempt to address a number of social issues that were escalating due to events that took place through the 1980's. In the late 1970's to the late 1980's many countries throughout the world entered into a recession due, in part, to a drastic increase in Oil prices. As a result, these countries began to need assistance. Ecuador began to borrow more and more money, however, they were finding it difficult to repay the loans due to high interest rates and little economic surplus.
The debt crisis (as known by many people in Ecuador) occurred throughout many countries in Latin America and as a result many countries like Ecuador were so far into debt that they could not pay the loans back. During this period many people lost their jobs, the social infrastructure in Ecuador began to crumble and there was no money to put into improving educational or medical facilities. As a result, working children became a common sight on the streets of Quito and all over most Latin American cities.
Since this phenomenon began, many programs and centres have been formed to assist in supporting males to find employment and aid. In 1989, frustrated by the lack of attention paid to the specific problems confronted by working girls, a group of concerned Ecuadorian citizens founded Centro de la Niña Trabajadora (CENIT).
The founding members of CENIT wanted to create a program that was focused on creating opportunities for young girls who were unable to attend school, who did not have access to safe drinking water and who were not able to access health and medical care. By developing and implementing educational and vocational programs, CENIT is helping working girls and their families overcome barriers and receive essential necessities. They have created many opportunities for young women, such as, a basic education, job training and access to recreational games.


Why does this organization need volunteers?

While reproductive health is one of the most important issues for CENIT's families, there is tremendous stigma surrounding gynaecological health care in Ecuador. Many women feel that if they are seen entering a reproductive health care clinic, their family members or husbands will accuse them of using contraceptives to hide extramarital activities.
For this reason, CENIT's weekly health care clinic is a general family health care service. Well over half of the clinic's patients are women, and in the first six months of the clinic's functioning, more than 200 hundred patients were seen free of charge.
In the clinic, volunteers are needed to talk about health, common illnesses, nutrition, and hygiene with many of the mothers and their children. The clinic is a place where families without any money can seek medical attention, and where they can bring their children and extended families as well. This clinic is crucially important to the families of Quito and volunteer assistance would be greatly appreciated.

What tasks will you be required to fulfil?

Volunteers assisting at this placement may be asked to help with a variety of tasks including greeting patients upon arrival and taking basic notes for the doctor. You may also be asked to keep accurate and confidential patient records or enter information about new patients including height, weight, blood pressure and temperature measurements into the record system.
Volunteers may also have the opportunity to coordinate and participate in awareness campaigns such as health awareness, how to prevent common illnesses, proper nutrition or proper hygiene practices.

Requirements:
Volunteers do not need to have any previous medical experience to help at this clinic, although it would be an asset!

Requirements

Language

English

Upon arrival in country our staff will pick you up at the airport and return you to our Orientation Center for a safety briefing and general country orientation. For this program you are required to complete one - 4 weeks of language training and orientation which is included in the cost of the program. At the end of that week you will transfer to your placement to begin volunteering. Our staff are available to assist you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week should you require help of any kind.