The medical and nursing work experience projects
in Mexico are based in Guadalajara.
We work with a number of partner hospitals, ranging from large
multi-disciplinary hospitals to small rural clinics. During your
time on this placement you will be able to work with or shadow doctors
in various departments, work alongside paramedics, care for children
with cancer and assist nurses with patient care.
Many of the hospitals we work with are part of the Red Cross or
Green Cross organisations. Unlike in the UK, medical provision in
Mexico is not free. These organisations provide hospital and medical
services to those who are unable to afford it. They are also on
hand to provide assistance in the event of natural disasters such
as the earthquakes and hurricanes that occasionally hit the region.
As these organisations are non-profit organisation they are always
in need of funding and volunteers.
Depending on your previous experience, volunteers often start the
project with an induction. The first week will cover basic first
aid so that you are able to provide a positive input in to the programme
rather than just shadowing doctors on ward rounds. Our partner hospitals
and clinics will look to you to make a positive input to the programme
so this is not a project where you will be just observing. You are
encouraged to play an active role helping the medical practitioners.
You can then choose to spend your time shadowing doctors in various
wards, assisting the nurses in trauma care or accompanying the paramedic
crew on their busy shift which makes the programme well suited to
budding medical students, those interested in becoming nurses and
those keen on a career as a paramedic.
Several of our past volunteers on this programme have elected to
work weekends and evenings rather than during the days as this is
usually when the hospital is at its busiest and when the most help
is needed. Therefore, it helps if you have a flexible attitude to
your working day!
Volunteering in hospitals and clinics in Mexico will mean that
your time on this project will be quite varied. As well as spending
time with the doctors, nurses and paramedics, you will also be asked
to help with other tasks also. This may include fundraising for
the hospital, helping maintain the building (painting children's
wards) and assisting on outreach programmes.
Although all our projects in Mexico include a basic Spanish course,
it is useful if you have at least some basic Spanish before joining
the medical project in Mexico. If you have no Spanish or are not
confident that your Spanish is quite up to scratch we would recommend
combining programmes and joining a teaching or orphanage project
first. Alternatively, we are happy to recommend a good 1 week Spanish
course. Many on our medical projects spend time helping in orphanages
or schools in the afternoons. This is a great way to give something
back to the community that is teaching you so much.
We also have opportunities to spend part of your time delivering
medical care in rural communities caring for the indigenous Huichol.
The Huichol community predate the Spanish conquistadors and are
located in isolated communities high in the Sierra Madre Mountains.
On this project, you will have the opportunity to work alongside
the community doctor as well as learn more about traditional indigenous
medical practises. This placement is very different to life in the
cities or even towns. You will live amongst the Huichol community
in the mountains in very basic living conditions. Part of this additional
programme includes learning Nahuatl, the original language of the
Mayas and Aztecs.
Read
more about our volunteers helping the Huichol community and little
Norma's storyClick
here>>
Read
about Emily's medical project in Mexico Click
here>>
This project is not just for budding medical students, this programme
may also be suitable for those about to study:
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