Volunteer Doctors needed in Senegal

Medicine in Senegal

This voluntary medical project helps treat patients in underprivileged areas of St Louis, Senegal.

We work with the District Sanitaire hospital and other smaller clinics. These clinics treat street children, otherwise known as Talibés. All of these institutions have very basic facilities and need help from qualified doctors.

Here you will find answers to the following questions:

How can volunteer doctors help in Senegal?

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 doctors help in Senegal?

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

• Working with hospital staff to treat patients, including:
  • Diagnosing medical conditions and planning/providing appropriate treatment.
  • Organising preventative medical programmes for individual patients.
  • Providing advice on medical care and immunisation etc.
• Helping a qualified a nurse and a health care assistant to treat Talibé children. This will include cleaning wounds, treating infections and general health checks.
• Assisting with medical outreach programmes.
• Observing and assessing the work of a health care assistant.
• Helping to run training clinics for Projects Abroad volunteers and staff (optional).

Your main project will be at the District Sanitaire hospital, the second largest hospital in St Louis. You can also combine this with working at the Talibé clinic if you wish. These clinics are based in our centers for the street children. They consist of one room which is dedicated to giving the children the healthcare they desperately need.

Your shift pattern can be agreed with your supervisor and our local staff. Most volunteers choose to work Monday to Friday so they have their weekends free.

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?

Medicine in Senegal

You will be working in a challenging environment with very basic facilities. This will test you and improve your ability to think up creative solutions to problems. You will be able to learn from qualified colleagues and pass on knowledge to trainees.

You will spend a lot of time with local staff and patients learning about West African culture. Working at the Talibé centre will give you a direct link to a different culture and way of life. Local people 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 19 years’ experience of running volunteer projects. We provide you with the following support to make sure your time in Senegal is successful and enjoyable:

• Safe accommodation with a Senegalese family.
• 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 a weekly quiz night.

What skills or qualifications do I need?

You need to be fully qualified as a doctor and have a relevant licence to practice in your country of residence. You will also need to speak French to an intermediate level.

Volunteers working with Talibé children should be prepared for a period of adaption. Working in a different country, with a different health system requires patience and understanding. Local staff want to learn new skills but they too take time to adapt so you need to be understanding.

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