Emergency Department Assistant

Students: You will be given set objectives with specific learning outcomes designed to build your knowledge on key skills of emergency surgery and trauma medicine and a certificate on completion.

Allied areas can include the following:

• Trauma; severe, serious and minor injuries

• Theatres: Minors & Majors

• Obstetrics: C-sections 

• Outpatients and Accident and emergencies: patients coming in from the community with various injuries

You will be attached to a busy hospital that caters to the wider community and work within specific departments that receive patients presenting with acute or trauma issues. You will learn how the team manages their patients with many challenges including being understaffed, having a lack of specialized equipment and resources. 

You will be orientated, supported and fully supervised and work with hardworking, passionate and caring teams.

 Learn first hand the importance of global health and why it has become a high priority agenda to create worldwide collaboration to improve levels of poverty and poor health. This may be your very first step in becoming the change

Important VISA & Permit Information

You will be required to pay a for a VISA & Permit for voluntary work assignment. Please enquire for details.

Where do my fees go?

Most of your fees are spent locally. Fees ensure you have above standard accommodation, that you have a personal coordinator picking you up at the airport, orientating you and you have a coordinator day to day and your program is planned and facilitated specifically for you, to match your skills and get you to provide the very best to those that need you. 

Do any fees go directly to the projects?

​Yes they do. Although we don't necessarily think that making financial contributions solve the complex issues faced by deprived areas, we do make a charitable donation on your behalf to your project placement. This is not mandatory. We do this as we know how challenging it can be for our partners to host, supervise and very often teach volunteers. We want our partners to know they are valued and respected for their time as best we can. 

What should I wear to placement?

Scrubs are a great option as they will be kind to you in the warm weather, easily identify you as a clinical volunteer and can be discarded if damaged or contaminated. Uniform that covers your legs and comfortable shoes that protect and cover your feet.

Should I bring any gloves, personal protective equipment or medical equipment?

Remember you're going into poorly resourced area, they will not have access to the same equipment you would at home. We usually encourage volunteers to bring a box of gloves for personal use and to share with colleagues, hand sanitizer and stethoscopes. Second hand medical books/information you may want to leave behind is also a simple but great resource to share with your colleagues and refer to together on placement. 

What insurance should I get?

​You should ensure you're adequately covered by comprehensive travel insurance for the duration of your stay. You should also ensure you have indemnity insurance (UK: RCN membership for nurses/student nurses and BMA/MDU membership for doctors/medical students). For our EU, US and others please check with your employers/university/college or national employment body on indemnity.

​What vaccinations should I get?

​Please visit the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for excellent up-to-date travel vaccination information.

Where can I get cheap flights?

​There are dozens of great websites online for cheap flights. It is advisable to get your flights as early as possible to be able to logistically plan your trip. 

Is Africa safe for me to travel alone? Do I need to be with other volunteers?

​Regardless of whether you're volunteering on a clinical mission, you're still a tourist. Forward planning is key to protecting yourself from risk as you would anywhere in the world. As a group or a solo traveller from abroad, you will attract attention but, you will also have a great support system in your volunteer coordinators, fellow travellers/volunteers and ​supervisors. It's important to try and be conscientious of your new surroundings and respect and follow local customs as much as possible and insure yourself from any possible risks. 

Africa is a large continent with every country varying greatly in local culture, customs, rules and regulations. Research your destination as much as possible and ask as many questions as possible. We would never place you at risk or in harm's way, however it is important you take ownership of your journey and behave responsibly. 

Please note:

Arusha Bus station