Ghana Volunteering-Health-Nsutamam Polyclinic

Description

This is a government funded clinic that works to service a large area in the Ashanti Region including Nsuta and 31 surrounding villages. They have maternity, two male wards and two female wards, a laboratory, and a dispensary. Apart from these, they also have a large area where patients sit to wait on when they come to the clinic until they are call to come for treatment. It mainly serves as a day clinic, but 24 hour emergency care is also provided to the community. The maternity and preventive medicine ward serves to register and weigh babies, give family planning services, and provide community outreach and education.
The laboratory uses diagnostic tests for conditions such as malaria, worms, urinary tract infections, diabetes, and other infections. The majority of the patients present with malaria and gastrointestinal illnesses.

Why does this organization need volunteers?

This facility is in desperate need of more staff who could assist in care giving. The waiting rooms are very full with only a few nurses, and a doctor who visits once or twice weekly. There are currently two medical assistants who diagnose health problems and prescribe medications. Workflow is a major issue and volunteers are needed to help improve efficiency. Medical Students, Nursing Students, Pre-med Students, Nurses, Doctors or anybody interested in assisting with administration would be very beneficial to this clinic.

What tasks will you be required to fulfil?

The clinic has three different wards; Male, Female, and Maternity. Volunteers are needed to assist patients in each of these areas. Specific duties may include helping with patient transfers, caring for patients with compresses ,comfort care, and assisting the nurses and doctors with their duties. Volunteers can have major impact in the waiting area caring for patients and helping with patient flow. You will be able to assist with vital signs, documenting weights, and accompanying patients to different parts of the clinic depending on your level of experience.
The clinic has a laboratory, which uses diagnostic tests for conditions such as Malaria, Worms, Urinary Tract Infections, Diabetes, and other infections. The majority of the patients present will have Malaria and Gastrointestinal illnesses. Volunteers can work alongside the laboratory technician to learn the diagnostic tests and to assist with the procedures.
The dispensary is run by a pharmacy technician and student nurses. The clinic carries a variety of medications, mostly analgesics (tylenol, ibuprofen, aspirin) and antibiotics. There is also a place to store vaccines. Medications are counted with a spoon and dispensed to patients in small plastic bags with handwritten directions. Volunteers are able to help organize medications, assist in the dispensing process, and may help staff with the educational aspect of taking a medication.
Nsuta services a large area in the Ashanti Region. There are many small surrounding villages that do not have access to medical care. Each week, nurses from the Nsuta clinic will travel to these surrounding villages to assist with prenatal care, weighing children, administering vaccines, and first aid. Volunteers will have the opportunity to travel with the nurses and assist with these processes. Volunteers are especially needed to help manage work flow and the large number of patients seeking care on these days.
Other duties may include administrative work (computer training, health record documentation, patient reception and registration), awareness projects, and other self-led initiatives. In the past, volunteers have been successful working on breast feeding awareness campaigns, malaria prevention efforts, and prenatal care.

Requirements:
This placement is seeking volunteers that are hard working and able to function in a busy environment. Volunteers must also be friendly, patient, and self-motivated.

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.