Medical placements

Product Details

Our medical placements are all in and around the town of Nakuru in South West Kenya - some three hours drive from the capital city of Nairobi.

Primarily, you will be working at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital (PGH) a few kilometres from the centre of Nakuru town towards the higher town areas. You will be working with basic medical facilities and infrastructure in a setting different from facilities in the UK.

Changing Worlds can offer you a choice of placements although we are determined by the needs of the various establishments at any given time. We ask all volunteers to be flexible - after all this is Africa!

What will I do ?
You will work alongside your local colleagues, and unless you are skilled in the medical field you will have general duties like:

• assisting in feeding infants (maternity or children’s wards)
• assisting in cleaning and changing children alongside local staff
• cheering up the patients
• assisting in paperwork via admission if possible. Generally being useful in and around the wards as directed by the officers in charge.

Where will I live ?
You will live with a local family near the hospital where you are working. You can either walk to work or you might invest in a cheap bicycle to give you greater flexibility to get out and about. Accommodation is basic but safe. You can expect to share a room with at least one other Changing Worlds volunteer. There will be access to toilet and shower. All food and drinking water is provided. Your host family will supply breakfast and an evening meal. The hospital will provide lunch when you are at work.

What support do i get ?
Changing Worlds will brief you in the UK before you depart. We introduce you to the sensitive issues of culture, safety and health.You will be met on arrival to Nairobi. We organise a few days relaxing in the city. Karanja the Changing Worlds representative will introduce himself and tell you more about what lies ahead. Karanja will have organised your transport to the placement. Karanja will keep in regular contact with you and your hosts throughout your placement period to see that all is well. If you have a work related problem then your first contact will be the head teacher of the school.

What do I need ?
You will require a six-month tourist visa for Kenya (cost £60). Changing Worlds will brief you on how to obtain the visa. You will need to acquire adequate travel insurance for your entire time overseas.

Am I eligible ?
Yes, as long as you have a keen interest in working in medicine and are prepared to work long hours.

What do I do in my free time ?
You can expect to work during the week (about a two thirds timetable) so the weekends will be your chance to explore the local markets, shops and nightlife.
There is so much to explore in Kenya you will simply be spoilt for choice - Nakuru national park is less than one hour away. The park is home to millions of pink flamingos, giraffes and rhinos and this is on your doorstep!