These clinics provide vital health services such as check ups, vaccinations, dental, first aid office, laboratory, babies’ delivery area, emergency area, etc.
Whether you are eager to gain professional experience, learn about public health issues, or simply looking to be challenged in a multicultural environment, an international medical volunteer program can be a definitive experience.
Public health clinics are located in different neighborhoods of the city. These clinics provide vital health services such as check ups, vaccinations, dental, first aid office, laboratory, babies’ delivery area, emergency area, etc. Volunteer work may include taking vitals, attending rounds, charting patients, giving injections, providing general health checks, cleaning wounds, removing sutures, assisting in deliveries, doing home visits, participating in vaccination campaigns and so on.
Volunteers seeking a hands on "clinical" experience are required to be healthcare professionals or currently enrolled medical/nursing/dental students - and provide us their credentials or current enrollment status information. As a medical/nurse/dental volunteer you should expect to shadow, as well as have some hands on work. Expect to be part of a team. These programs are as much about learning about universal health care, as it is to offer hands on assistance to the local medical staff who you will be working with. Strong Spanish is required for all healthcare placements or take local Spanish lessons
Start Dates
Project dates: Year round. Choose any date to arrive.
Costs / Benefits
Inclusions
Program starts and ends in Ayacucho
Airport meet and greet in Ayacucho. Afternoon city tour and orientation
Monday to Friday volunteering. 20 hours per week, mostly in the morning
Weekends free to sightseeing
Typical shift work hours are 8 am-12 pm
Support: Local ABV Director support 24/7 during placement
Departure: ABV Staff Escorted Airport Transfer
Not included:
Flights to Peru. Visas and/or entry-exit fees. Vaccinations. Local Transportation. Travel & Health Insurance. Laundry and Internet. Tours to Cusco, to the Nazca Lines and to the Apurimac Valley (Coca Valley or Upper Amazon forest), etc.
Requirements
During the Program, you should be:
PROACTIVE Jump in and maintain a positive attitude.
PATIENT Life in your host country moves slower than one might be used to. Relax and enjoy the slow pace. Remember, not everything is as organized and predictable as life in the US or UK.
FLEXIBLE Plans change, roads get flooded, and electricity goes out. Realize that not everything goes as planned, but good intention is always there.
CONSIDERATE Respect those around you and be a reliable worker at the program site. Tell your host family if you will be late. Advise the Project Coordinator if you are sick and can not work.
RESPECTFUL Remember that the local people you are working with, side by side, do so with little or no salary. They do this work because they believe in it. There are times when you may not agree with or understand the organizations decisions or direction. Although your suggestions are always welcome, your faith, respect and consideration for their long term work and commitment is appreciated.
FRIENDLY In order to truly help someone you must get to know them. Do not be afraid to make friends with the local people. Smile, wave and see how fast you are welcomed into the community.
TOLERANT The food, the culture, the smells and the sounds will be unfamiliar to you at first. We recommend that you dive in and experience life head-on. You will be surprised at how quickly you will adapt.