Overview of the Project

This particular healthcare project is located within the town of Wakitaka at the region's health center. The primary goal of this health center is to provide community health on various levels – ranging from outpatient services and blood tests to community outreach, family planning and antenatal services. In collaboration with the health clinic's already-emplaced staff members, volunteers can help in administering vaccinations and routine health-related tests (blood pressure, blood tests) as well as offering consultative assistance. Volunteers with a medical background or community health are strongly preferred for this project. Other healthcare-related services to the community include Preventing Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) due to the high presence of HIV/AIDS in Uganda .

Volunteer Roles

Volunteers' duties may include assisting the staff in the following:

•  Outpatient Department Services (OPD)
•  Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin or “mean cell hemoglobin” (MCH) – blood tests checking for anemia-based conditions
•  Consultation
•  Dispensing medications
•  Injections/Immunizations
•  Health Education
•  Community Outreach
•  Antenatal Services
•  Deliveries
•  Family Planning

(NOTE: Above are sample activities and vary from day-to-day, depending up on the schedule of the project. The local project's staff members may request assistance in various activities deemed necessary or beneficial to the clinic or those in need.)

Generally, the head of the clinic develops a work plan for volunteers upon arrival. The daily work plan depends up on the individuals' skills, interests, and knowledge.

Skills/Qualifications Needed

Volunteers with a strong medical or pre-med background are highly preferred for this project as many of the duties involved call for some knowledge in the medical field.

Volunteers should have a strong passion for helping others and have compassion for others as well as a willingness to dedicate their time and energy to those who do not have easy-access to medical facilities.

Room/Food/Supervision

Global Crossroad manages living accommodation and meals for volunteer. In most cases, these accommodations are set up in local, Ugandan host families who provide three (3) meals a day.

Location Description

Kampala is the capital and largest city (population of approximately 1.2 million) of Uganda and is just 10 km from Lake Victoria . The city of Kampala offers a plethora of attractions such as Ssezibwa Falls , the Ugandan National Theater, the very active Balikuddembe Market and Nakasero Market as well as numerous historical sites providing glimpses into Uganda 's past. Said to have been built on seven different hills, each hill plays some significance in Uganda 's history.

Jinja is the second largest commercial center in Uganda and is located in southeast Uganda – approximately 87 km from the capital city of Kampala . Located on the shores of Lake Victoria and close to the source of the White Nile River , Jinja offers the many effects of a small town such as a post office, a town hall, a hospital, a golf course and numerous internet cafes. Echoes of Jinja's Indian influence are reflected in the city's architecture. Some of Jinja's attractive features include whitewater-rafting, a brewery, Bujagali Falls (a kayakers' heaven) as well as an animal sanctuary, and memorials for both Mahatma Gandhi and Buddha in addition to an active Hindu temple.

Iganga is the chief town of the Iganga District and boasts several internet cafes, guest houses and an active market in the town's center. Situated almost at the Equator, Iganga is approximately 25 km from Lake Victoria and the source of the White Nile . Iganga has a population of approximately 35,000 with 85% of its people living off of the land's natural resources. The markets offer over 200 stalls while the town itself offers over 600 shops. The Mwaana Hotel is a popular destination – offering both an internet café and a restaurant.

Program Fees:

http://www.globalcrossroad.com/ugandaprogramfee.php