Be a Physiotherapist in Jamaica

Volunteer assisting patient

This voluntary medical project helps treat patients in a hospital in Mandeville, Jamaica.

Specialist healthcare workers such as physiotherapists are in demand and overworked in Jamaica. The island’s high rate of traffic accidents and orthopaedic conditions make this doubly important.

Here you will find answers to the following questions:

How can volunteer physiotherapists help in Jamaica?

What will I gain from this project?

What will Projects Abroad PRO provide?

What skills or qualifications do I need?

How do I apply to join this project?

How can volunteer physiotherapists help in Jamaica?

As a volunteer physiotherapist, you can use your knowledge and training to help local staff. You can work on tasks such as:

• Providing treatment for patients requiring physiotherapy, including:
  • Lower back pain.
  • Post surgical fractures.
  • Neurological problems.
• Producing a treatment plan when caring for children to teach the parents how to carry out exercises.
• Holding workshops for local physiotherapists. An example might be introducing new techniques for treating neurological conditions.
• Designing a development plan for the local staff.
• Taking part in medical outreach programmes with local towns and villages (optional).
• Organising and run training clinics for Projects Abroad volunteers working with other centres (optional).

You will be working in the Physiotherapy department of the Mandeville Regional Hospital (MRH). It offers a variety of specialist treatments and is Mandeville’s main hospital. You will be expected to work at least 5 hours a day from Monday to Friday.

Specific treatments include hot and cold compresses, electro therapy, strengthening exercises, crutches walking, muscle building and gait training. Alternative hospitals and medical clinics are available if you have a specific area of interest that is not offered at MRH.

This project runs all year round. You decide how much time you can spare and we will help you get the most out of it.

What will I gain from this project?

Volunteer assisting patient

You will gain experience from working with colleagues who are used to a lack of facilities and funding. This will challenge you and test your skills and ability to work under pressure. You will also be able to share ideas and come up with creative solutions to the problems you face.

You will spend a lot of time with local staff and patients. This will teach you about their culture and way of life. They will all want to hear about your life back home and your family and friends. We call this ‘cultural exchange’ and we think it helps our volunteers gain a new perspective on life.

What will Projects Abroad PRO provide?

We have over 20 years’ experience of running volunteer projects. We provide you with the following support to make sure your time in Jamaica is successful and enjoyable:

• Safe accommodation with a Jamaican family close to your project.
• Friendly and dedicated local staff available to help 24 hours a day.
• A member of staff to meet you at the airport when you arrive.
• Comprehensive medical and travel insurance.
• Social events with other volunteers such as reggae dance classes and patois lessons.

What skills or qualifications do I need?

You require a Bachelors Degree in Physiotherapy, a relevant licence to practice in your country of residence and 2 years’ experience. Volunteers also need to obtain a temporary license from the Jamaican Medical Association in order to treat patients independently. This process normally takes around 2 months.

You can apply for the license before you leave. The Desk Officer in Jamaica will give you full support, including the required forms and how to complete them.

Please contact us if you think your knowledge may be useful on this project but do not have the required qualifications.