Health and Medical programs

 

The Health and Medical program aims to improve the health of the community through education, health services and public health improvements. According to their interests, volunteers can be involved with a number of different projects, depending on their interests and the needs of the community at the time. 

We support the local health post by providing medical staff, a nurse and a doctor. Volunteers and interns help out in the clinic, see patients who attend the clinic, help the staff at the health post and provide ongoing training for the staff. The health post is open every day, but the doctor works there only 3 days a week.

 

The Community Health Education is the most sustainable way in which VIN can improve health, and education is at the heart of all the community health projects. We run various sessions, for women's groups, children's groups, youth groups and at schools. These are developed by volunteers according to the current needs within the community. Volunteers then run these sessions, with the help of translators where needed.

Many of the health problems within this community stem from a lack of basic hygiene facilities, and practices such as open defecation. Hence, we have supported toilet construction within the community, and recent research has shown significant benefits achieved through this project. Many homes still lack toilets, and volunteers are involved in the construction, maintenance and education related to encourage behavioral changes.

 

These projects are evaluated through health research which guides the direction of the community health program. Volunteers are involved in designing and conducting health surveys and research, with the help of our partner staff.

 

Working as a community health volunteer provides a unique opportunity to understand and learn about working in the health sector in a developing country.