Medicine & Physiotherapy - BOLIVIA Project Information for Medicine in Bolivia

Medical Volunteering in Bolivia

If you are interested in a career in medicine, our medical placements offer an invaluable experience. Although you will not be experiencing the Western medical practice that you are used to, the differences are fascinating, and there is a lot to be learnt. Our medical programmes can be tailored for elective students, medical students, and pre-university students. The key requirements in a medical volunteer are initiative, enthusiasm, and a readiness to work in unfamiliar circumstances.

Our medical volunteers are placed either in Centros de Salud - health clinics - or in the Burns Unit of the Cochabamba hospital.

Centros de Salud
Volunteers working in Centros de Salud become heavily involved with the community and work with minor emergencies, accidents and routine visits. Volunteers have the opportunity to work in several different departments; possible options include nursing, assisting with surgery, paediatrics, gynaecology, admissions and pharmacy work. They also help with vaccinations, dental health campaigns, check-ups and youth groups. Those who have a particular interest in physiotherapy are able to spend time working with qualified physiotherapists. Volunteers who are interested in working for a health clinic can commit to as little as one month.

The Burns Unit
The Burns Unit can only take volunteers who are able to commit to working with them for three months or more, and is best suited to people who are already qualified or currently studying medicine or nursing. Here, medical students and professionals have the opportunity to work alongside doctors helping to treat and look after patients. The Burns Unit treats children from 0 to 15 years-old. Around 200 patients pass through their doors each year. With fifteen beds (three in the intensive care unit) and quite basic medical facilities, there is a lot that volunteers can do to help. Your assistance is needed with basic duties such as making beds, bathing and lifting the children onto beds and into wheelchairs. Equally important are the basic medical tasks such as bandaging, taking blood pressure and dressing wounds. The doctor may also need help in the surgery room, passing equipment and monitoring patients.

Working in the burns unit can be shocking and volunteers need to be well prepared. Situations where patients are badly burned, and treatment is painful and uncomfortable can be very hard to witness, especially when you are new on the placement.

Medical placements can be very challenging and hectic, but volunteers prove very helpful and ultimately have a very rewarding experience. Your presence and assistance will be greatly appreciated by both the patients and the staff.