Midwifery Internship

About the Program

This internship is perfect for anyone interested in gaining work experience in midwifery. It will add value to your CV, and give you interesting points to talk about during interviews and in essays and applications. You can also use your midwifery work experience in Ghana to decide whether a career as a midwife is the best option for you.

You don’t need previous experience to join. You’ll have an observational role, and the midwives you shadow will answer your questions so you can learn.

Please note that if you don’t have experience, you’ll work at a clinics or small hospitals. The midwives here have more time to help you and answer your questions. For those who are already studying midwifery, you’ll be based at a large hospital in Kumasi.

All interns will be allowed in the maternity ward. However, hospital regulations only allow students in their third year of studies to be allowed into the delivery wards.

You can join our Midwifery internship for a minimum of two weeks, but we encourage you to stay as long as possible. This internship runs all year round so you can join whenever it suits your schedule.

While in Ghana, you’ll be learning from and assisting midwives at a hospital or clinic. You’ll be involved in the following activities:

Your work will focus on the following areas:

Observe the work of qualified midwives

You’ll learn through shadowing the midwives as they go about their day-to-day tasks. Follow them around during hospital rounds, watch them as they treat patients, and ask questions if there is anything you are unsure of. Your qualifications and experience determine how much responsibility you’ll be given.

Provide assistance to the midwives

Although your main focus will be to observe and shadow the midwives, you may be given the opportunity to take on more hands-on responsibilities. This will depend largely on the initiative you show and your level of experience. Under supervision, you may be allowed to carry out basic consultations and health checks on patients in the maternity ward.

Learn more about midwifery in a developing country

As you work in the maternity ward, you’ll learn more than just how to deliver babies. You’ll learn how to treat patients from the start of their pregnancy right until the end. You may even come across some conditions that you would not normally see back home. Pregnant women sometimes come into the hospital experiencing malaria symptoms or the early onset of diabetes. As you observe the midwives, you’ll also learn how to comfort and treat these patients.

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.

Your work day will usually start around 8am and finish at 2pm, Monday to Friday. The hospital works on shifts, so you can stay later if your supervisor approves it.

You can enjoy a well deserved lunch break around 12. At this time, you can break out your packed lunch or use the time to rest your feet and have a late lunch back at your host family.

You’ll spend the day observing qualified midwives as they consult with patients in the maternity ward. This will give you the chance to see the different conditions pregnant women in Ghana face. Depending on your qualifications, you may even be able to witness a birth in the delivery room.

When you get back to your host family, spend time getting to know them and their culture over a deliciously home cooked Ghanaian meal.

Ghana has many interesting sites to see and explore. In your spare time, you can take a hike through the countryside, get a tan on the beach, or enjoy a more urban feel when visiting the capital city of Kumasi or Accra.

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 provide tours, therefore 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.