Clinical Assistant Cape Town South Africa

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www.meditripvolunteers.com


Work with resilient and hardworking clinical staff providing healthcare to the local community.

So what exactly is medical volunteering?

It takes truly committed people to this abroad! With medical volunteering, you will be volunteering to work with patients or in a healthcare specific area on a voluntary basis. Unlike other types of volunteering, medical volunteering is a difficult, challenging and profound area. Medical volunteers will witness and experience things other volunteers never will or what they never would have at home.

This can be a huge challenge as often times volunteers experience situations that can leave them feeling sad, shocked or confused. But for the most part volunteers are often left amazed at the resilience of their patients and at the skill and dedication of their new colleagues. It truly is a hugely moving experience and one most Medi Trippers never forget.

The Problem

Hospitals in South Africa are unlike those back home. Many government facilities are under resources without adequate medication or enough staff to deal with all the patients. There will be times when you are shocked by the conditions you see people have to endure to recieve what we might view as sub par care or basic care.

Remember, with limited funding and very few resources the country endures a high mortality rate and frequent outbreaks of disease and one of the highest prevalence rates of HIV and AIDS. You will see a lot of suffering and you must have the ability to maintain your professionalism and remain strong minded and compassionate.

The Solution

Depending on your area of interest and your skills, you will be matched with an appropriate clinical area/hospital. The learning opportunities are bountiful as long as you stay focused and flexible in your approached.

Your role

You will be assigned a local clinic to work in where you will assist in the general care of unwell patients. Your role as a volunteer will require you to assist in monitoring, observing and tending to the patients healthcare needs.

Medical volunteering is the most challenging and therefore requires people who are highly motivated, passionate and focused. This is also the most rewarding area given that you are contributing life saving skills where they are desperately needed.

Tasks and duties would be as follows:

• Assist the medical staff assigned to you with their day-to-day schedule
• As it is a government clinic it usually is at its busiest from 07:00am until 13:00pm. After this time it generally quiets down however you may decide if you would like to stay on and assist.
• Assist clients with activities such as getting them from one service point to another
• Weighing clients, holding babies/adults to be weighed
• General assistance of medical staff where required and where experience and expertise follow
• Could also concentrate on other areas within the clinic if not comfortable with the above tasks
• Focus on special awareness and information programmes
• You should also use your initiative at your project