As with all of our nursing and medical internship abroadthis project in the Philippines allows students to gain university credits while acquiring field experience and contributing to the UN's goal of universal access to healthcare.

Rural clinics are the main source of free primary medical care in the communities around Tacloban. These are the clinics we're talking about, where a single doctor and a handful of nurses are responsible for looking after a community of a hundred people with a limited number of resources at their disposal.

The clinics greatly need the services of professional medical volunteers and qualified students doing their nursing internship. Potential volunteers include physicians, nurses, health care aides, and medical and nursing students.

Duties will vary depending on individual qualifications and may include:

• Conducting a medical assessment of patients
• Obtaining their medical records
• Administering vaccines
• Assisting in a minor surgery
• Assisting in procurement
• Transmitting medical examinations
• Attending prevention workshops and home visits in outlying areas

Initiative is one of the qualities required by the volunteers in order to integrate well in the project. Apart from the day-to-day activities in the clinics, you may be required to provide support to various other health-related projects, collect data for the Philippine Nutrition Project or conduct health awareness workshops to various community groups.

Why are medical volunteers needed in the Philippines?

Health professionals undoubtedly have a strong desire to help others. They work under stressful conditions, but they persevere because, as they see patients' conditions improve or remain the same, they know they are making a difference.

The health professionals in these rural clinics play a vital role in the lives of their patients. However, due to lack of funds and staff, they are unable to adequately meet the medical needs of the community. You will see for yourself how short-staffed they are and you will know from the very beginning that you are in a position to make a valuable contribution.
By volunteering on this medical internship, students embarking on a career in healthcare will be able to gain experience in their chosen fields. Experienced professionals will have the opportunity to share their knowledge and skills while learning about health conditions in a developing country. Several previous volunteers acknowledged that this nursing and medical internship was an eye-opening experience that not only gave them a new perspective on their profession but also on their own lives.