Public Health Internship in Rural Communities

Join our Public Health internship in Ghana and get involved in hands-on medical work that benefits the local community. It’s a learning experience that gives you a deeper insight into the healthcare challenges people face in developing countries. 

This internship is open to everyone who is interested in getting involved with community health. Our Public Health internships are ideal for those considering a career in healthcare field. It’s also great for medical students interested in getting more practical experience. You can use the experience to add hands-on work experience to your CV or resume, and give yourself an edge on applications and during interviews.

For those of you without medical experience, you can still join this program. This is because you’ll have a dedicated supervisor for the duration of your internship, and receive a thorough induction upon arrival. You will also work under supervision on outreaches.

Ghana faces a double burden of disease. These include infectious diseases such as malaria, as well as those resulting from lifestyle changes, like diabetes. Furthermore, many people living in rural, disadvantaged areas do not have regular access to medical services.

You’ll help us provide these communities with free health screenings and basic healthcare services. You’ll do this by joining medical outreaches, as well as visit schools to raise awareness around healthcare issues.

You’ll live and work in a more rural area of Ghana, and stay with a local host family. You’ll have an exciting and memorable time as you learn and explore the culture and cuisine.

You can look forward to taking part in a range of interesting activities on this internship.

Some of the tasks you will get involved in include:

-       Provide basic healthcare services on community outreaches

-       Assist local staff at child welfare clinics

-       Raise awareness around key healthcare issues

Your public health work in Ghana will be split up into the following main areas:

Provide medical treatment on community outreaches

Our outreaches provide vital medical treatment to people in rural communities who would otherwise not have access to healthcare. Working alongside local staff, you’ll treat wounds and ringworm to prevent infections. You will also test suspected cases of malaria or Hepatitis B, and refer patients on for further treatment when necessary.

Non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are on the rise in Ghana due to lifestyle and diet changes. It is important to screen for these illnesses by taking measurements and testing vital signs such as blood pressure levels in order to detect undiagnosed cases. The supervising nurse or doctor will then provide referrals if the patients need further intervention.

Assist local staff at child welfare clinics

At child welfare clinics, you’ll weigh and measure infants as part of their health screenings. Here you will work alongside the local public health department staff. You will also provide advice to parents in terms of maternal and child nutrition, to promote the healthy development of children in rural areas.

Raise awareness around key healthcare issues

Educating the local community about key healthcare issues is an important part of your internship. Promoting awareness is the best way to ensure the prevention of avoidable diseases. You will give presentations at local schools or community centers.

These talks will focus on the importance of healthier lifestyle choices such as exercise and an improved diet as a means of preventing non-communicable diseases. You’ll also demonstrate good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as cholera. Malaria is also a big problem in Ghana, so people need to be aware of prevention methods and the importance of early treatment. 

On this internship, you will usually work from Monday to Friday, with weekends off to travel and relax. Your working hours will typically be from 8am - 2pm. However, the finishing time may depend on the activities of the day.

In the morning, you will go on medical outreaches to surrounding villages, which take place in schools, care centers, community centers, and churches. Here you will get involved in everything from general medical screenings, to wound cleaning and treatment of ringworm.

Education and awareness of medical issues is also an important part of this project. You can expect to present educational talks about first aid, or demonstrate hygiene best practices at a local school.

At the end of the day, spend some time getting to know your host family over a delicious dinner. Share your experiences with fellow interns, making new friends at a local bar or restaurant. Travel to the capital if you’re in the mood for a more cosmopolitan setting, or explore the natural wonders that Ghana has to offer.