Medical and Health Support Assistants

Our Medical Program focuses on supporting different local clinics. The health problems they face in these health centres, often afffected by the lack of infrastructure, are sometimes caused by the scarcity of resources or basic health information.

The programme that any participatns follows depends upon their own specialism, field of study, abilities and the programmes currently being undertaken in that area of health by the local clinics. Generally this programme offers the opportunity for a period of field-practice of your specialism, working with and for the benefit of the local community.

With the help of volunteers, the clinics will be able to reach a larger population and have greater contact with the community through family visits, outreach work and public campaigns. Volunteers will be involved in helping to promote and maintain the effective, warm and efficient services provided by the Health Center.

Volunteers can also design and run workshops around public health issues and how these intersect with their own abilities, specialism and studies.

For those who are medically certificated decotrs/nurses, etc, we can develop a tailor made programme and range of tasks, depending on the skills and experience of each volunteer and the needs of clinics, health clinics and local communities.

Volunteers will work with all members of the communities served by the lcoal clinics, which are predominantly lcoal informal settlements, with populations living below the poverty line. Volunteers are accepted year round on a rolling basis.

Hours of work at the clinic:

Jan - March: Mon-Wed 8am-1pm and Fri 8am-1pm

April-Dec: Mon-Fri 8 or 9am - 1pm

The clinic is approximately 20 mins to half an hour away from the centre of Huanchaco by bus.

Afternoons are free time for you, or if you wish you can get involved in one of our other projects or use your time in desgining and implementing a set of workshops, in line with your specialist knowledge.

Huanchaco is a beautiful coastal town where the waves are perfect all year long, for all types of surfers. Huanchaco is surrounded by some mountains where it is possible to go hiking (tours are arranged by local guides, at reasonable prices). Furthermore, there's a beautiful white mountain range, the cordillera blanca, situated in Huaraz, fairly close to Huanchaco (9h bus ride), which offers a good many hiking and climbing possibilities in the most fascinating landscape.
If you prefer cultural activities, we are a few minutes away from the Chan Chan and Huaca del sol y de la luna, which are among the most well-preserved temple ruins of the old Incan empire that can be found in Peru.
The town of Huanchaco has a gym, and you can find some fields to play basketball and football close to the beach.