Interning as a medical student or health professional, you can learn from medical professionals and assist in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. An intern will have the opportunity to interact with qualified medical professionals and gain relevant experience in their chosen field. Interns will also meet other local and international students along with the health professionals, which will allow an arena for cultural exchange, and the opportunity for knowledge and ideas to be shared and expanded.
You can also become involved in our various community projects including HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis campaigns, basic health education to the public, free medical consultancies to the villages, and many other projects. We also conduct a number of research projects into certain prevailing diseases within the rural communities and finding lasting solutions. You can further assist in important medical research.
Other health advice programs are organized in local schools (Junior and Senior High), including basic health education, First Aid, HIV/AIDS campaigns, and treatment and prevention of Malaria and Tuberculosis; to help educate the vulnerable youth and children.
Before confirming your internship, we would like to receive your CV/Resume and then communicate details about your purpose of internship and what you hope to achieve by the end of your placement. This will help us to carefully select a position that will maximize your experience and directly support your studies and future career.
At the end of the placement, interns are awarded a certificate and a reference letter from Cheerful Hearts Foundation and the host institution; some include a testimonial from the Ghana Health Service. We can also complete relevant documentation to achieve your academic credit at your University.
There are positions available for interns that would like to learn more about areas such as: HIV/AIDS, general healthcare assistant, nursing, midwifery or obstetrics (pre-natal and post-natal care), mental health, autism, lab technicians, pharmacists, optometry, dentists, physiotherapists, pediatrics, skin disease control, health consultancy, and medical health research. We will gladly accommodate any medical students or professionals with any specialized skills that you may like to contribute.
A few of our health internship positions are listed and further explained below:
HIV/AIDS
You can intern as an HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator where you can be directly involved in the treating of patients and educating the public on HIV/AIDS. You will be assigned to a local hospital and also assist in leading HIV/AIDS campaigns in the community.
General Healthcare Assistant
Advance your studies as a medical student or interested professional, by working in general healthcare service as a medical assistant to doctors and other health professionals in a hospital. Practice activities such as health check-ups, diagnosis of patients, administering injections, minor surgical operations and various other duties. This is an opportunity to gain knowledge in different areas in the health sector and to effectively apply classroom knowledge to practical real-life situations and gain a deeper understanding in global health.
Nursing
Interning as a nurse in Ghana is another opportunity to gain valuable experience in public health. This position gives interns the chance to assist in different health delivery services including working with individual patients, recording patient data, physical exams, diagnosis, routine vaccinations, baby care, minor surgical operations, community health education, mental counseling services, assisting medical doctors in consultancy services, and many other issues which pertain to public health.
Midwifery or Obstetrics (Pre-natal and Post-natal Care)
You can develop your internship as a mid-wife or an obstetric. In this position, you will be assigned to one of the local hospitals where you will assist other professionals in providing pre-natal and post-natal health services. You will have the opportunity to assist and observe all health related issues associated with pregnancy and childbearing.
Mental Health
If you plan on interning in a position involved with mental illness, your placement will be in one of our few mental hospitals in Accra. You will be working under a clinical psychiatrist or psychologist where you can observe and assist in diagnosis, care and treatment of patients. Common mental illnesses recorded and handled by the local hospitals include: Schizophrenia, Substance Abuse, Depression, Hypomania, Acute Organic Brain Syndrome, Manic Depressive Psychosis, Alcohol Dependency Syndrome, Epilepsy, Dementia and many others.
Autism
Autism is a development disability that impacts social interaction, communication skills and repetitive restrictive behaviors. You can develop your internship with the only major autism centre in Ghana, the Autism Awareness Care and Training Centre (AACT).
For information on specialized positions such as lab technicians, pharmacists, optometry, dentistry, physiotherapy, pediatrics, skin disease control, health consultancy and medical health research, please contact us for further details of your placement.
Typical Day for an Intern
Wake up around 7.00 am, bath, breakfast. Start work at 8.00am in assigned hospital or health institution. Work as your schedule provides. Lunch at around 12 noon at the workplace or a nearby restaurant. Return to work until 3.00pm. Some days you may be travelling in the local region to take part in health education campaigns or exercises. The number of working hours ranges from 4-6 hours per day; though the schedule is flexible to suit the intern. After working hours, the intern plans how he/she uses the remainder of the day. The intern can help with other community projects, including first aid training, planning health programs with CHF, or sports, games with the school children, or just relax and enjoy some free time. At about 6.00pm supper is served, warm friendship from colleagues at work and town folk to keep you company and show you around and immerse into Ghanaian culture. Ghanaians are renowned for their friendliness and hospitality. The intern may also wish to spend their free time with other international interns and volunteers in the area.
Weekends are for your free time. CHF members will be more than happy to show you around the local area or visit places such as the beach, the capital city, Cape Coast Castle, Hans Cottage, Kakum National Park, Nzulenzu .etc. You may also wish to travel independently or with other interns and volunteers to different parts of Ghana or other neighboring countries.
Visit the right menu of this page to find out more important information about internships. Also visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
