How To Volunteer At A Hospital In South Africa

Volunteers joining the Medical and Healthcare Program in South Africa work in healthcare clinics and centers located in Cape Town as well as suburban community areas. Day hospitals and health care centers provide medical care to the local community members.

These are facilities for the poorer people or people who in general can’t afford private medical care. The services provided are of a minor nature and they cater to out-patients. No major operations are performed here. Various awareness and support programs are also offered at the clinics. Some of these include HIV / AIDS awareness, special childcare, and healthy living (nutrition) as day-to-day medical care.

Counseling services are also offered at these centers. The medical staff includes nurses, doctors, social workers, and counselors, etc. This is an amazing opportunity for medical students practitioners looking for international work experience. 

Volunteers can also concentrate on other areas within the clinic; such as special awareness and information programs. Counseling sessions and programs are also offered and medical volunteers can observe and get some exposure in this area. This is a very challenging environment but would offer an opportunity to assist in various areas within the clinic.

It is important that medical volunteers first get acquainted with the environment and assist wherever help is required. Also, keep in mind that some of these centers are understaffed and might seem chaotic at times. Busy times will vary and you should be willing to adapt in these instances. Volunteers are also expected and encouraged to use their initiative at the project.

Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities

Volunteer tasks under the medical and healthcare program in South Africa may vary and depend on the level of experience, qualifications, medical training, etc. If you have experience in the medical or health professional you might do tasks and activities which include the following:

Wound dressing under the 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.

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 the weight and temperature of the patients, cleaning wounds, and also doing administrative tasks in the placement.

Volunteer Work Schedule

A typical volunteer schedule in Cape Town depends on the accommodation provided to the volunteers. Volunteering Solutions provide accommodation in Cape Town with a local host family or an at a volunteer house; depending upon the availability of rooms. Volunteers, too, are given a choice to choose from the two kinds of accommodations. While the volunteer house is located in the city area, the host family resides on the outskirts of mainland Cape Town. The schedule for the volunteers remains as follows;

Sunday – Arrival at Cape Town (all volunteers stay in volunteer house for the first day)

Monday – Orientation + transfer to the respective accommodations. An orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behaviour, food, and other suggestion over things to do in South Africa, Cape Town.

Tuesday to Fri – Volunteer work

Breakfast – 06:30 am to 07:30 am (provided at the accommodation)

Leave for the project – 07:30 am

Working hours at the placement – 08:00 am to 03:00 pm

Lunch – 12:30 pm to 02:00 onwards (volunteers staying in the volunteer house need to manage lunch on their own)

Dinner – 06:00 pm onwards (at host family accommodation)

Volunteers living at volunteer house accommodation eat out a nearby restaurant or cook it with other volunteers at the accommodation.
The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards
Weekends – Free to explore the city, and do activities