Healthcare and Medical Placements Abroad
Volunteer in healthcare placements across Guatemala, to make an invaluable difference to local communities. Opportunities range from providing direct patient care to setting up educational healthcare workshops.
Healthcare in Guatemala
Guatemala is an incredibly beautiful and diverse country, but one that faces deep poverty. It has the 4th highest rate of malnutrition in the world and one of the highest infant mortality rates. Major causes of death include treatable conditions, such as diarrohea, pneumonia and malnutrition. Yet the health system has been eroded by a lack of government funding, leaving public hospitals and clinics without essential supplies. This has particularly affected Maya indigenous families living in rural areas, where often private healthcare is beyond their means.
Volunteer Background
We have partnered with the Guatemalan charity, Asociación Fatima which offers volunteering opportunites to provide direct patient care for local communities. The charity accepts volunteers from a wide range of medical backgrounds including nutritionists, doctors, nurses, dentists and project managers.
We will work to understand your background and match you with tailored opportunities, ranging from 2 weeks to 6 months. Online pre-departure Spanish lessons are included.
Types of Projects
In Guatemala many independent organisations, like Asociación Fatima, are set up to provide direct patient care and operate much like regular hospitals with medical procedures, disease screening and dispensing of medical supplies.
There are also projects that focus solely on health campaigns, such as educating communities on getting the most nutritional value from available food. The charity’s aim is to transform the lives of local communities and the work they do is invaluable.
Project price: £450 including Spanish lessons
