Kumasi, Ghana - Virtual
Date: Flexible
Partner: Health Volunteers Overseas
Cost: There is no cost to be a volunteer, however HVO membership is encouraged.
About Health Volunteers Overseas: Health Volunteers Overseas (HVO) is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the availability and quality of health care through the education, training, and professional development of the health workforce in resource-scarce countries. Working collaboratively with our partners abroad, HVO volunteers engage in activities such as delivering didactic and clinical trainings, offering case consultations, providing curricular input for teaching institutions, or revising administrative and clinical procedures for health care facilities. While in-person volunteer assignments are on hiatus due to COVID-19, HVO is offering remote volunteer opportunities. In 2021, HVO volunteers provided over 4,000 hours of e-learning and online support to health professionals at over 45 different institutions. Once travel is possible again, both in-person and remote volunteer opportunities will be available.
About the Mission: Volunteers are needed to provide live lectures via Zoom on topics related to hand therapy, musculoskeletal conditions, pediatrics, and research.
Volunteers must be certified hand therapists with either a physical therapy or occupational therapy license, along with a minimum of three to five years of experience. Volunteers need to have a strong comfort level in trauma cases, nerve injury, burns, wound care and splinting skills, and complex multi-trauma injuries. Teaching or preceptor experience is preferred. Retired professionals may apply. Recruitment is ongoing.
At Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, the physical therapists’ years of experience range from new graduates to 10 years. Most have bachelor’s degrees from the University of Ghana School of Allied Health in Accra. A few PTs have a master’s degree earned outside of Ghana. There is limited, if any, collaboration with other PTs in the country. Physical therapy is the only rehabilitation service provided at KATH; there is no psychiatry, OT, or speech therapy.