If you are looking for a truly meaningful volunteer program as well as an unforgettable adventure in rural Africa, Ghana is the right place for you to volunteer.

You will have the opportunity to contribute to the learning and knowledge of young people, as well as look after the health and welfare of communities, while exploring all that this country has to offer. Don't miss out on this enriching experience in Ghana.

As a healthcare volunteer you experience the daily processes in hospitals and clinics in Ghana. You help local medical staff provide essential treatment to patients. The clinics where we have placements are in charge of community outreach programs, where teams of medical staff can go into the poorest communities to visit patients and their families. During your stay, you will have the opportunity to observe and assist the medical staff at any of the clinics in these areas.

Much of your role will be supportive, working alongside the professional medical staff in Ghana. You are likely to spend much of your time observing the local staff in their daily work, learning how they manage and interact with patients. At other times, you will be invited to offer a more hands-on role in the medical care provided, provided you are able to play that role.

In the area of physical therapy we can see how the volunteer contributes in an important area of community and sports development. The volunteer provides the hands-on assistance and care that is generally not available to many injured locals as well as dedicated athletes. This will be great experience for a future career as a professional physical therapist or, alternatively, will give you a better understanding of the obstacles that many physical therapists and medical professionals have to overcome in developing countries.

The community clinic is understaffed and underfunded. Many of the patients' conditions reflect the problems in Ghana: many strokes due to hypertension, motor vehicle accidents, and a high proportion of crush injuries to the hand and tendons from cutting and grinding machinery. A hand injury in Ghana usually means no compensation and no income, and only those who can afford the £2 per session fee receive treatment. There is also a lot of facial paralysis from otitis media, which is treated with electrical stimulation. The clinic has equipment, including a hydrotherapy pool, but has a long way to go before the clinic can cope with the needs of the local community.

You must be motivated and prepared for some long and frustrating days. However, as a qualified physical therapist, you can really make a positive impact in an often overlooked area of health care.