At a glance
- Shadow doctors in a clinical setting and learn how to diagnose and treat many different diseases and conditions.
- During outreaches, you’ll treat minor wounds, and measure blood sugar and blood pressure levels.
- You’ll also help raise awareness of disease and how to prevent it by making presentations on common health issues.
- Clinical Shadowing Hours: 25 to 50
- Volunteer Service Hours: 15 to 30
- Download a sample itinerary for this project.
Is a Medicine internship in Ghana for teenagers right for me?
This internship is perfect if you’re a young student considering a future career in medicine. You’ll get medical work experience by shadowing doctors on their rounds, and participating in outreaches. This will give your resume an extra edge, and give you interesting points to talk about in applications and interviews.
Not only will this internship give you the opportunity to see if medicine is a good fit for you, but you’ll also be able to help those living in underprivileged communities. This will demonstrate your commitment to medicine.
You don’t need previous experience to join. We’ll teach you everything you need to know once you arrive. Your Projects Abroad supervisors will also be by your side every step of the way, and they’ll supervise your work.
This fixed-date trip runs for two, three, or four weeks over the summer. You’ll work and travel with other teenagers who are interested in the medical field. Together, you’ll learn, have fun, and explore the culture and country, along with Projects Abroad staff.
What will I do on a Medicine Placement for high school students in Ghana?
As a teenage medical intern in Ghana, you’ll split your time between shadowing doctors and doing outreach work out in the community. Here are a few of the tasks you’ll be involved in:
1
Assist professional medical staff as they provide free health checks during community outreaches
2
Observe the work of qualified doctors as they treat patients in a local hospital or clinic
3
Learn more about Ghanaian culture while exploring the country and interacting with the locals
4
Spend time with other high school students who have similar interests and aspirations as you
Your work will be split into three areas:
Observe the work of qualified doctors as they treat patients in a local hospital or clinic
One day a week, you’ll do observation work in a hospital setting. You’ll shadow doctors and nurses as they go about their day-to-day activities. You’ll watch them consult and treat patients, and complete follow-up consultations with previous patients. This will give you a better idea of what it will be like as a practicing doctor.
We encourage you to ask questions and take notes, so you can learn as much as possible from observing.
Assist professional medical staff as they provide free health checks during community outreaches
Most of your time will be spent working at medical outreaches in communities, schools, and leprosy camps. You’ll be involved in more hands-on work during these outreaches. These include:
- Dressing wounds
- Carrying out health checks, like measuring blood sugar and blood pressure levels
- Giving malaria tests
- Making presentations on common health issues.
Explore Ghana with other high school students who have similar interests to you
You’ll spend everyday working and traveling alongside other teenagers from around the world. An interest in medicine is something you’ll all have in common.
When you’re not working, your supervisors will ensure there are plenty of social and cultural activities to keep you busy, along with weekend trips. You’ll soak up the sun at the beach, observe the wildlife at national parks, and learn about the country’s history at national museums. You’ll sample authentic Ghanaian food and haggle with traders at their local markets.
Where in Ghana will I be working?
Akuapem Hills
Located in the Eastern Region of Ghana, Akuapem Hills is characterised by vibrant green vegetation and rich red earth. As one of the quieter regions, children calling 'Obroni’ (foreigner) as they try to catch your attention will be unmistakable. The villages are welcoming and know how to entertain! When volunteering in Ghana, join in on the street festivities or try dried fish and yams at a food stall on the main street. The bustling city of Accra is within easy reach for a day trip.
What are the goals and impact of this Medicine internship in Ghana for teenagers?
The main goal of this project is to give you the opportunity to learn and gain practical medical work experience.
You’ll learn by observing doctors and nurses on their rounds. You’ll see firsthand what their day-to-day work involves, which may help you decide if a medical career is the right fit for you.
You’ll get practical experience working on outreaches. In Ghana, basic healthcare services are often unavailable for people in rural, under-resourced areas. They either can’t afford treatment or live too far away from hospitals and clinics. We go into these communities to provide free, basic medical care.
We’ll teach you basic medical skills, like measuring blood pressure and blood sugar levels. You’ll use these skills to help patients. This is a great way to give back, and demonstrate your commitment to medicine at the same time.
Gain medical work experience in Ghana and help bring healthcare to communities in need, while building your medical knowledge.
Management plans
We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.
Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.
Measuring our impact
Every year, thousands of High School Special volunteers and interns actively make a difference around the world. During their time abroad, they contribute towards achieving long-term goals and make a long-lasting positive impact on the communities where they work.
We produce an annual High School Specials Impact Report, which documents some of these achievements. Find out more about the impact of these projects, and read the latest report.
Food and accommodation
You'll stay with a host family in Accra, Akuapem Hills, or Cape Coast. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Ghana and have a truly unique experience.
On our High School Specials, we will always try to have you share a room with at least one volunteer or intern of the same gender and approximate age. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.
Your program fee includes three meals a day.
Find out more about our accommodation.
Safety and staff support
Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have all the extra support you need as a young person travelling abroad. Our Projects Abroad staff are there for you 24 hours a day during the week and over weekends to provide constant support and guidance. Our staff also make sure you feel comfortable and safe at your placement and accommodation. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.
Find out more about safety and backup.
Meet the team in Ghana
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