On any given day, you will work
shifts alongside your supervisors. These shifts typically take the following
form:
- Morning: 8am - 2pm
- Afternoon: 2pm - 8pm
- Night: 8pm - 8am
Each shift starts with rounds as you
follow the consulting doctor and learn about each patient's case and course of
treatment. Use this opportunity to ask plenty of questions. After rounds,
you’ll assist nurses with patient care. You can watch them administer
medication and treatment, and help to update patient files. Nurses always
appreciate help in general patient care as well such as feeding, bathing, and
bed changing.
Please note that hospitals in Ghana
are often busiest in the mornings. Don’t be late for the morning shift if you'd
like to witness the bulk of the day's work!
Afternoons are a great opportunity
to get to know the staff and patients better.
Volunteers in the Medical Healthcare program in Ghana work along with doctors,
nurses and local staff in hospitals and community clinics in Kumasi, Ghana.
Volunteer tasks are determined depending on the volunteer’s qualifications,
experience and knowledge.
Qualified doctors and nurses can carry full day to day treatment of various
diseases.
Medical professionals and students can assist the doctors and nurses in their
work and observe their work to gain knowledge and experience.
Volunteers work in the areas of maternal health, mental
health, surgery, laboratories, counseling and testing. Wound dressing under
direct supervision of nursing staff.
Blood pressure, pulse and temperature measurements (if competent)
Assist patients with activities such as getting them from one service point to
another.
Weighing patients, holding babies/adults to be weighed.etc
General assistance to the medical staff wherever required, and wherever
experience and expertise allow.
Pre Medical students assist the local doctors and staff in doing basic tasks
such as checking weight and temperature of the patients, cleaning wounds and
also doing administrative tasks in the placement. Help with physical therapy and rehabilitation, Provide basic care
Observe the work of nurses or doctors
Carry out daily administrative tasks, Take patient details,
Distribute medicines, Perform basic first aid, Help
with medical procedures, Provide assistance in the in-day emergency room, Partner
with local doctors, nurses and therapists.
2.8
