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GYC3283 - Medical and Community Programme Country: Kenya Cost: £1195.00 Cost Includes: The price includes accommodation, food, kit and pickup from airport but does not include flight, insurance or visas      Duration: 1 months Company Rep Nearby: All the time 08717205439 or

 

	This placement would suit... Adventurous and dedicated people who are interested in learning more about health care in Africa and contributing to the work that we are doing in Kenya through local hospitals, orphanages and slum care centers. Kenya's population is hugely affected by the struggles of HIV/AIDS, poverty and unemployment. It is known to be one of the poorest countries in Africa. There are countless possibilities to impact the lives of those that are affected by these problems, such as in the Nairobi slums, surrounding orphanages, schools, and hospitals. Kenya's health care and provision suffers as much as any other public service sector in the country. Whilst structures are in place for an effective health service, there is an enormous deficit in terms of staff and resources. Which is why the volunteers' help is very much appreciated by the nurses and doctors we work with. As a volunteer, you will spend two days of the week in the Nairobi slums involved in our community support programme. The rest of your time as a volunteer will be split up between Kikuyu Hospital, and orphanages/day care centres in Limuru, the beautiful hilly area just outside Nairobi where we are based. This will give you the chance to make a positive impact on the health service in Nairobi, to gain unique medical experience, and to make a profound difference in the lives of the surrounding community. Kikuyu Hospital This is a large general hospital that offers medical care to the community regardless of whether they can afford their treatment or not. The hospital is therefore buzzing with patients, and doctors attend to around 350 patients a day. As the hospital has so many patients, volunteers are needed to organize patients into relevant queues, and help in creating a system that will free the doctors to attend to the patients' needs instead of trying to maintain order. This hospital is particularly well-known for its specialised eye unit. Volunteers would have the opportunity to observe eye-specialists performing eye surgeries and learn from experienced medical doctors. Furthermore, volunteers would be able to observe health professionals in the maternity and orthopaedic wards and assist them when needed. For example, you may be asked to help with the weighing of babies or with recording results of eye-tests. Kikuyu Hospital also has an outreach programme, in which health professionals and volunteers go into rural areas to give the much needed medical care to communities that do not have accessible health care facilities. There are a host of opportunities to gain medical experience, learning from health professionals, and step in wherever needed to decrease their unbearable work-load. Orphanage Support Project There are over a million orphans in Kenya mainly due to AIDS, of which only 5 % get any kind of support. There is a huge need for assisting orphanages and children's homes. There are several orphanages in Limuru that we are involved with. These children come from backgrounds that have been affected by HIV/AIDS, abuse, poverty or illness. These children are in need of love and attention. Many of them are developmentally delayed and need extra attention in order to promote their development. The children's ages range mainly between 4 and 10 years. The orphanages offer opportunities to become involved in: Helping with the teaching of the children, and general care such as cooking for the children's meals or organising sports and play activities to promote the well being of the children. Building/improving the facilities to make it feel more like home for the children: by painting pictures on the walls etc. Some of the orphanages we partner with are building to expand and improve their facilities. Your pair of hands will be greatly appreciated in this practical work. The kids are very energetic and will gladly challenge you to a game of basketball or soccer. You will have a chance to make a huge impact on these children's lives by spending time with them, and contributing to their learning and development. Project Highlights: Gain medical experience under the supervision of qualified doctors and nurses Assist in various orphanages in Limuru, by helping with improving or enhancing the actual facilities as well as becoming involved in teaching and caring for the children Get a glimpse of life in the slums of Nairobi and have the opportunity to make a difference in a poor and desperate community Get a taste of the Kenyan culture; learn a bit of Swahili! Make friends for life 08717205439 Welcome to African Impact - Africa's top on-the-ground facilitator of volunteer work. Our projects focus on making a measurable impact on the people and wildlife in Africa, while ensuring that our volunteers have a safe, enjoyable, adventurous, unforgettable and life-changing experience. We firmly believe that Africa needs to be 'experienced' and not just 'seen' - hence our motto: Explore, Inspire, Impact. We invite you to be more than a tourist - to be a traveller, a conservationist and a humanitarian.