Medical Volunteer Program in Ghana - Accra Region
Ready to jump into your scrubs and be a Medical volunteer in Ghana? International Volunteer HQ’s Medical project enables volunteers to gain experience in clinics and outreach efforts in rural towns where people often struggle to access basic healthcare. Medical volunteers can help fill the gap left by a shortage of qualified professionals in these areas, relieving pressure on health initiatives and giving local people the chance to have their health needs attended to.
Highlights:
- Programs start on the 1st and 15th of every month
- Affordable fees from $344 for 1 week
- Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
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Help in rural areas and mobile outreach wound care clinics
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Discover Ghana off the beaten track
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Stay with other volunteers in a rural village
Key information
This program is ideal for:
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
The healthcare system in Ghana is considered fairly adequate relative to other African countries, however there is still considerable need for volunteer assistance. Once you get outside the major cities, the standard of healthcare drops considerably and there is a shortage of trained medical professionals.
As a Medical volunteer you can help in small clinics in under-resourced, rural areas for two days a week; and with a mobile wound care outreach service for the remaining three days. You should expect to be working with limited resources, and understand that the healthcare environment you’re volunteering in will be different to what you’re used to.
Volunteer duties will depend on your experience and how much time you’re spending on your program. Longer term and qualified volunteers are more likely to have hands-on tasks, though this should not be expected. Initially at least, your tasks are likely to be mostly observational or administrative. Outreach clinics are more hands-on than clinic-based volunteering.
You will need to provide a copy of your qualifications, or a letter and transcript from your school to the local team in Ghana on arrival.
Why do Medical volunteering in Ghana with IVHQ?
Why do Medical volunteering in Ghana with IVHQ? While volunteering on the Medical project in Ghana you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:
- Helping rural communities access vital healthcare
- Observing clinical practice in action
- Developing your communication skills
- Gaining medical experience
- Participating in a cross-cultural exchange of ideas
- Immersing yourself fully in the Ghanian way of life
- Exploring Ghana’s rich history and culture
Volunteer requirements
To join the Medical project in Ghana, volunteers need to be medical or nursing students with at least two years’ training; or qualified healthcare professionals. Volunteers in other medically-related professions who have completed at least two years of training may also be eligible to take part.
Volunteers need to be 18 years or over to participate in this program. If you are under the age of 18, IVHQ offers alternative volunteer opportunities for teens. Visit our High School Volunteer Abroad page to learn more. All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.
Are you eligible to volunteer?
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Ghana photo gallery
Academic course credit
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course credit”The guidance and support I received was very helpful in making me feel secure and comfortable with my decision to volunteer. The local team was also very supportive and I always felt safe my entire stay which was important to me. Being able to help people in remote places with little or no access to healthcare was an amazing experience.”
Michelle, American, 57
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Location
When you volunteer in Ghana with IVHQ, you’ll get the opportunity to experience the country’s vibrant, diverse culture and get to know the people who are said to be some of the friendliest locals in Western Africa. While Ghana is a rapidly developing country which has seen an economic upturn in the last decade, there are still many places where people face the challenges poverty brings. This is especially true outside of the major cities in the rural areas where volunteers are most needed.
Rural volunteer placements are typically in low-income areas which often lack the funding, labor and resources they need to develop their communities. By choosing to volunteer in Ghana you can make a real difference by assisting with local initiatives that seek to improve the quality of life for the people who live there.
Arrival and orientation
The program orientation begins on the 1st and 15th of every month, or just on the 15th of every month for those taking part in the Healthcare Outreach & Education project. Volunteers need to arrive in Accra on the day before orientation.
After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Kotoka International Airport (ACC) in Accra. Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation in Accra. Please note that you will stay in Accra city for one night, unless it is the weekend, in which case you will stay in the city until Monday morning. Once you have completed your orientation, you will move to a rural community in the greater Accra region where you will be placed for the remainder of your stay. Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling in Ghana prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up at a prearranged location in Accra on the day before your program orientation.
Orientation is hosted by our local team in Accra and begins on the morning of your chosen start date. This covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program Ghana – an introduction to Ghana, culture and customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities, and an introduction to project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
After orientation you will be taken to your placement in a rural Ghanian community.
Volunteer schedule example
First Day
On the first day of volunteering, volunteers will be escorted to their placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff they will be working with. A typical daily schedule would be as follows:
| 7:30 AM | Breakfast at the volunteer house. |
| 8:00 AM | Travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project. There is usually a tea break and a lunch break. |
| 2:00 - 5:00 PM | Work at the project usually ends and you are free to relax and use the remainder of the day as you wish. |
| 6:30 PM | Dinner at the volunteer accommodation. |
Please note this schedule can vary depending on your project and placement.
Weekends
During the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually just relax or take the opportunity to discover the brilliant colors, music, food, fashion, history and nature that combine to make Ghana a true feast for the senses. Head to the capital city of Accra to see markets, museums and live music, or take a trip to Cape Coast and Elmina where you’ll find the Elmina Slave Castle - the first trading post built South of the Sahara - and pretty, palm-lined beaches where you can relax in the sun. You can also spend long weekends visiting other Western African countries like the neighbouring nations of Côte d’Ivoire and Togo.
Looking for more ideas of things to do in Ghana? Check out our Ghana Travel & Tours page!
Accommodation and WiFi
You’ll stay in a volunteer house with other volunteers. There are separate rooms for male and female volunteers with shared common room and toilet facilities. Living is basic but the majority of volunteer houses have electricity, while only few have running water. Power cuts are common in Ghana and most rural houses do not have running water during times of drought. Pillows and sheets are provided, however it is recommended that you bring your own towels and mosquito nets - or buy them in Ghana.
There is WiFi access available at local cafes and restaurants in a nearby village, which is a 15 to 20 minute walk from the volunteer accommodation. You can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone to keep connected.
Meals
Volunteers in Ghana are served three meals per day. Breakfast generally consists of tea and coffee, and a hot breakfast. A typical lunch and dinner can include meat and vegetables with rice or noodles. If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know ahead of time so that we can make arrangements for you.
Pricing
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $344 Equivalent to $49/day |
| 2 weeks | $533 Equivalent to $38/day |
| 3 weeks | $702 Equivalent to $33/day |
| 4 weeks | $871 Equivalent to $31/day |
| 5 weeks | $1,040 Equivalent to $30/day |
| 6 weeks | $1,239 Equivalent to $30/day |
| 8 weeks | $1,627 Equivalent to $29/day |
| 10 weeks | $2,015 Equivalent to $29/day |
| 12 weeks | $2,413 Equivalent to $29/day |
| 16 weeks | $3,229 Equivalent to $29/day |
| 20 weeks | $4,045 Equivalent to $29/day |
| 24 weeks | $4,861 Equivalent to $29/day |
- Accommodation
- Meals
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Airport pick-up
- Personalized preparation tools, guides and check lists
- Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
- Certificate of International Volunteer Service
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
- All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately $329) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
- A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
- Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
- Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Ghana generally find US$50 to be sufficient for weekly expenses, including water, toilet paper, transport and miscellaneous spending.
Check what's required to visit Ghana
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Safety and support
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
- All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
- All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
- All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
- All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Essential country information
| Capital | Accra |
| Population | 30.42 million |
| Languages | English |
| Currency | Ghanian Cedi (GHS) |
| Time zone | UTC+00:00 |
Weather and climate
Weather and climate: Ghana has a tropical climate and the average temperature falls between 21°C to 28°C (70°F to 82°F). In the north, there is a rainy season from April to June and September to November. The rainy season in the south lasts from April to mid-November. The weather is typically humid however, over the dry season, desert winds in the north can create cooler evenings and a drier atmosphere.
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