Public Health Internship in Ghana

Conduct health checks and raise awareness about disease in disadvantaged communities

Destination

Ghana

Age

16+ y/o

Minimum Stay

1 week

Start Date

Anytime

Accommodation

Homestay

What’s Included

24/7 Support

Round-the-clock support on the ground and 24/7 back up from our global teams.

Accommodation & Amenities

Clean, safe, and welcoming accommodation. A home away from home with comfortable amenities.

Activities, Training & Equipment

All programme activities and equipment, including training and workshops from experienced professionals.

Certification

Certified record of service hours, workshops, and activities for your CV.

Request Info

Starting at £1,670 for 1 weeks

Flexible 0% Interest payments

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Trip Overview

Learn directly from experts in different settings

Get insight into public health challenges in Ghana. Learn directly from experts and witness healthcare delivery in clinical and community placements.

Support vital health education initiatives

Visit communities and schools to raise awareness and promote positive public health messages about hygiene and other practical prevention techniques.

Live and work in buzzing Accra

Enjoy living with a host family in Accra. Divide your days between clinical shadowing in the city and medical outreach in nearby rural villages.

Explore colourful West Africa

Access world-class cuisine in the city, uncover history along the Cape Coast, and enjoy nature in one of many National Parks.

Meet like-minded people

Make new friends from around the world who share your interests and passion for different cultures, new experiences, and better access to healthcare.

What you need to know

Overview

This internship is open to everyone who is interested in getting involved with community health. You’ll be part of our long-term, sustainable healthcare goals.

Our Public Health internships are ideal for those considering a career in the healthcare field. It’s also great for medical students interested in getting more practical experience. You can use the experience to add hands-on work experience to your CV, and give yourself an edge on applications and during interviews.

For those of you without medical experience, you can still join this project. This is because you will have a dedicated supervisor for the duration of your internship and receive a thorough induction upon arrival. You’ll also work under supervision on outreaches.

This internship is available year-round, and you can join from one week onwards. Our start and end dates are flexible, so you can choose what suits you best.

A Day in the Life

On this internship, you will usually work from Monday to Friday, with weekends off to travel and relax. Your working hours will typically be from 8 am – 2 pm. However, the finishing time may depend on the activities of the day.

In the morning, you will go on medical outreaches to surrounding villages, which take place in schools, care centres, community centres, and churches. Here you will get involved in everything from general medical screenings to wound cleaning and treatment of ringworm.

Education and awareness of medical issues are also an important part of this project. You can expect to present educational talks about first aid or demonstrate hygiene best practices at a local school.

We recommend using your time in the afternoons to prepare presentations and education materials. You will also work on collecting information about the outreach to help to keep track of progress, monitor the status of communities, and follow-up on patients.

At the end of the day, spend some time getting to know your host family over a delicious dinner. Share your experiences with fellow interns, making new friends at a local bar or restaurant. Travel to the capital if you’re in the mood for a more cosmopolitan setting, or explore the natural wonders that Ghana has to offer.

Aims & Impact

There are two aims of this project: to provide basic yet vital healthcare services to those in disadvantaged communities and to help you develop your skills.

You’ll learn from local medical professionals and find out how to treat various medical ailments in a more rural setting. It’s also the perfect time to gain invaluable public health work experience while you’re interning in Ghana.

What’s more, you will help to improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups of people. Many of those who are poor or live in rural areas cannot afford to obtain medical services. Interns provide much-needed screenings, minor treatment and referrals under the supervision of local medical staff.

There are a number of healthcare issues in Ghana. Malaria remains a leading cause of death, and non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension are on the rise. We are focusing on preventing these diseases by raising awareness of the causes and the importance of treatment.

We have identified a number of key healthcare issues to focus on in Ghana. Apart from providing medical care to those who would otherwise not have access to it, we also plan to:

Reduce the number of cases of malaria
Raise awareness about non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease

Join us in Ghana for a well-rounded medical experience where you’ll work to provide vital care to vulnerable people.

Activities

You can look forward to taking part in a range of interesting activities on this internship. Some of the tasks you will get involved in include:

A Projects Abroad volunteers participates in a medical outreach in Ghana during her Public Health internship.

Provide basic healthcare services on community outreach

Assist local staff at child welfare clinics

Raise awareness around key healthcare issues

Your public health work in Ghana will be split up into the following main areas:

Provide medical treatment on community outreaches

Our outreaches provide vital medical treatment to people in rural communities who would otherwise not have access to healthcare. Working alongside local staff, you’ll treat wounds and ringworm to prevent infections. You will also test suspected cases of malaria or hepatitis B and refer patients on for further treatment when necessary.

Non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes are on the rise in Ghana due to lifestyle and diet changes. It is important to screen for these illnesses by taking measurements and testing vital signs such as blood pressure levels in order to detect undiagnosed cases. The supervising nurse or doctor will then provide referrals if the patients need further intervention.

Assist local staff at child welfare clinics

At child welfare clinics, you’ll weigh and measure infants as part of their health screenings. Here you will work alongside the local public health department staff. You will also provide advice to parents in terms of maternal and child nutrition to promote the healthy development of children in rural areas.

Raise awareness around key healthcare issues

Educating the local community about key healthcare issues is an important part of your internship. Promoting awareness is the best way to ensure the prevention of avoidable diseases. You will give presentations at local schools or community centres.

These talks will focus on the importance of healthier lifestyle choices such as exercise and an improved diet as a means of preventing non-communicable diseases. You’ll also demonstrate good hygiene practices to prevent the spread of infectious diseases such as cholera. Malaria is also a big problem in Ghana, so people need to be aware of prevention methods and the importance of early treatment.

Part of this involves attending workshops and training sessions. That’s where you’ll learn about healthcare in Ghana, including how the country is working to combat tropical diseases.

Map & Location

Formerly called The Gold Coast, Ghana became an independent nation in 1957, and the first African country colonised by Europeans to achieve independence under majority rule. Still famed for gold and cocoa production, it’s a treasure trove of cultural and natural experiences.

Explore lush rainforests, cascading waterfalls, and golden beaches or get stuck in to the lively music and dance scene. With a rich mix of languages and traditions, its people are known for their warmth and hospitality.

Accra

Accra, the capital of Ghana, is a lively city on the Atlantic coast with a population of over two million. This sprawling metropolis blends modern skyscrapers with historic landmarks, artisan markets, and beautiful beaches. It has a tropical savannah climate with hot temperatures all year.

Accra is culturally rich, with traditional drumming and dance performances alongside an energetic nightlife and thriving arts scene. More than half of the population is under 24, so it’s never short of excitement!

Food & Accommodation

Immediately feel at home with a supportive and welcoming local host family. We’ve vetted each family to guarantee you get everything you need for a wonderful stay. This includes a comfortable bed, three daily meals, fresh drinking water, and daily transport to and from your placement, arranged by our team.

Your host family’s home will be clean, safe, and secure, and they will welcome you as one of their own from the moment you arrive. Absorb the local culture, enjoy their incredible home-cooked food, and build a lifelong connection during the course of your stay.

You’ll stay with other Projects Abroad participants on your travels. If you share a room, we will match you with someone of the same gender and age. Whether you go it alone or with friends, you’ll have the time of your life.

Free Time and Leisure

Volunteering in Ghana is an ideal way to explore this colourful West African country. There’s a huge variety of different activities to do while you’re there, giving you plenty of exciting ways to spend your free time.

Music is a central part of Ghanaian culture. In the bigger towns, especially Accra, you will hear some great live bands and have some memorable nights out. Evenings spent at buzzing restaurants will also give you a taste of some of the delicious local cuisine.

For a look into Ghana’s history, you can tour the slave forts of Cape Coast and visit museums. Nature lovers will relish trekking through the rainforests of Kakum National Park or Mole National Park.

We run a wide range of projects in Ghana so there’s sure to be other volunteers there during your trip. This means you can explore the country solo or connect with other volunteers and travel as a group.

Your Arrival Made Easy

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Ghana Arrival Procedures page.