Your role as a volunteer
If you wish to do your Elective in Ghana, you will have a choice of working in a large hospital in a city or in a more rural setting. You will shadow one of our supervisors who all speak English and are very experienced at working with western medical and healthcare students. They will test out your medical knowledge and give you the benefit of their training and experience.
You must be a medical student to do an Elective placement. The hospitals where we work are experienced in working with students on their Medical Electives. You will find them to be an excellent base for learning and improving your medical skills. You are likely to come into contact with conditions that you wouldn't normally see in Europe and North America such as malaria and typhoid, which are seem on nearly a daily basis. This experience will be challenging, but will also provide you a wealth of rewarding experiences.
Our Medical Elective programs in Ghana are based in Kumasi and Gomoa Fetteh. You will be based in a busy city hospital, working with patients who have a wide range of illnesses.
When you first arrive at the hospital you will discuss your work schedule with the OGVO coordinator and the placement supervisor who will be a member of the hospital staff. Most interns choose to spend time in a variety of different departments within the hospital such as accident and emergency, pediatrics, maternity, pharmacy, physical therapy and surgery. However, if you are specializing in a particular area of medicine, we will work with our partners to develop a program that will support your studies.
Students on Medical Electives also take part in regular medical outreach work, which involves treating children with minor wounds or illnesses from small villages or paying a visit to an orphanage. Those on a Medical Elective wanting to specialize in the outreach work can join a full time Public Health project. Anyone interested in working with HIV and Aids patients could join our HIV/Aids control program based in a hospital in Onwe (about 1 hour drive from Kumasi) which also includes community outreach work.
Medical Student Electives in Ghana are available for shorter periods than 4 weeks. While you will be able to gain valuable medical experience on a short-term trip, we recommend staying for a longer period to allow yourself more time to get to know the local medical system, see more of a variety of conditions and procedures, and develop stronger relationships with local medical staff.
Can I use this program as part of a college or university placement?
It is certainly possible to use one of OGVO’s programs as part of your university or college placement. Project staff can sign off any paperwork required by your course tutors. OGVO regularly receives medical, childcare, psychology and nursing placement students at our projects across Ghana and we have ties with some of the leading universities.
If you’re a course tutor and would like further information about how one of OGVO’s programs could meet the placement requirements for your degree course then please contact us directly.
Location
Ghana is hot. It is always hot. What’s more, it's always humid. Humidity usually lingers between 95 and 100 percent. The rainy season lasts from mid-June to mid-November - sometimes. The rain provides a little respite from the intense heat, but temperatures will still be in the mid-80s Fahrenheit. The south of the country experiences the heaviest rainfall during September.
Typical day
Typical day
- 7.30 AM – 8:00 AM: Breakfast with the host family
- 8.00 AM – 9:00AM: Volunteer leaves home and travels to the project
- 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM: The volunteer joins with the local staff. You will be given a duty roster and a plan for your work. There is usually a tea break and a lunch break. Work and hours is dependent on the project and location that the volunteer is participating in.
- 2.00 PM – 5.00 PM Work at the project usually ends. The volunteer at this point has free time to explore Kumasi, catch up with friends and/or do any necessary shopping.
- 7.30 PM: Dinner with the host family.
Details on Arrival
This program is available all year round, so volunteers or interns can arrive any day of the week or any month of the year with advance notice!
Free-time activities
During weekends Volunteers/Interns have the opportunity to visit all
that Ghana has to offer. Weekend trips available include visits to Mole
National Park in the Northern Region of Ghana. This National Park offers
a great Safari-like experience and is one of the biggest Elephant
Sanctuaries in Africa with the chance to spot Lions, Leopards &
Antelopes in their natural habitat.
Volunteers can also take a trip to
Cape Coast in the Central Region of Ghana to relax in the beautiful
beaches and see the famous Cape Coast castle, the Kakum Canopy walkway
and Elmina castle, where slave trade begun.
NOTE: We do not provide tours, however you can add a tour before or
after your volunteer program for an additional cost. We can perform
quality tours and can offer discounts to volunteers.
Program Requirements
Included Services
Before your journey
On-site services
- airport meeting and transfer to project site
- comprehensive pre-departure information
- introduction to host family and program orientation
- accommodation and meals (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
- supervision and visa support letter
- Application review and processing
- support and guidance as well as 24 / 7 hour emergency back-up from staff
- all information before and during your time with us in Ghana
- regular culture activities (personal spending not included)
The price does not include visa, flight, vaccinations/immunizations, personal insurance (required), personal spending and in-country travel.
You should arrive into Kotoka International Airport in Accra (ACC). You will be met at the airport by one of our local staff or an appointed driver who will be holding a named sign. They will take you to your accommodation where you will spend the rest of your day at leisure.
Volunteers on this program will be accommodated with a local host family, and will gain the opportunity to become immersed in the local culture and custom, improving their knowledge of the people, culture and language. Ghanaian families are renowned for their kindness and hospitality and they love to learn about different cultures. Living with a local family truly is the best way to throw oneself into the local culture and to meet people who will often become lifelong friends!
All families have been fully vetted by our team and have extensive experience hosting international volunteers. Bedrooms are private but generally shared with volunteers of the same gender. Volunteers will be provided access to a shared bathroom. Generally, your host brother, sister or mother assist you with your laundry but it is not an obligation, learn to wash your clothing’s with your hands in several buckets, enjoy the sun drying your clothes and odor the African fragrance in your clothes.
It is important to remember that the living conditions in Ghana are different from home. Most families have running water, but hot water is still uncommon in some areas. Although the accommodation is basic, this is part of the challenge and experience of volunteering in a developing country. With a little patience, and a flexible attitude, you will quickly get used to your new surroundings.
Three meals a day are provided by the home-stay families and consist mainly of traditional Ghanaian meals with some flexibility for home comforts when available.
Breakfast is usually ready by around 7am; however you can eat later if you prefer to get up late. Lunch is usually packed by your host family in a lunch box so that you can eat at your project if you wish. Dinner is usually served around 6pm.
If you have special eating needs, you can indicate that while applying. Even though special eating needs are not something we can guarantee, we will do our best to meet your needs.
Program Fees
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