We provide health volunteering opportunities in partnership with the Ghana Health Service (Awutu Senya District), hospitals and health institutions within the community, placing volunteers in areas where their assistance will be needed.
Hospitals, Community Clinics and Family Planning Centers in Ghana have insufficient human resources. Doctor to patient ratio is 1: 20,000. Material resources in most of these institutions are also basic. Hospitals and other health institutions benefit greatly from the work of teams of volunteer Doctors and Nurses.
We engage in various community projects including HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis campaigns, basic health education to the public, diagnosis and treatment of patients, 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. Volunteering as a health professional or medical student, you can also share your expertise and help train local staff.
Other health programs are organized in 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.
The health professional training in Ghana is inadequate and there are few specialists such as gynecologists, surgeons, pediatricians .etc. We accept volunteers that specialize in other areas such as 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 also gladly accommodate any medical students or professionals with any specialized skills that you may like to contribute. .
At the end of the placement, volunteers are awarded a certificate and a reference letter from Cheerful Hearts Foundation and the host institution, including a testimonial from the Ghana Health Service.
Typical Day of a Volunteer
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 volunteer. After working hours, the volunteer plans how he/she uses the remainder of the day. The volunteer 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 volunteer may also wish to spend their free time with other international 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 volunteers to different parts of Ghana or other neighboring countries.
Visit the right menu of this page to find out more important information about volunteering. Also visit our Frequently Asked Questions.
