Hold a medical camp(dental/eye/women health etc)

Third Eye Volunteers has a variety of health placements to ensure that your medical expertise reach the neediest people.

Adequate medical care is a serious problem specially in rural and urban areas of Nepal. The rapid movement of people to Kathmandu due to the civil war and to seek better financial opportunities has left much of the city’s public health infrastructure desperately oversubscribed. For many of the poor living in Kathmandu seeing a doctor for themselves and their children is simply not an affordable option. In rural areas health facilities are also in short supply due to poor transportation links and funding.

On top of this, there is also a cultural challenge in providing modern healthcare. Many traditional Nepali people are suspicious or do not know about Western medicine. To improve both these situations organizations like Third Eye Volunters (TEV-Nepal) have established health clinics and health camps to provide basic health checks and awareness in needy communities. (TEV-Nepal) is also affiliated with some government hospitals that are in need of extra financial and personnel support.

How does a volunteer help?

(TEV-Nepal) has three different types of health placements for volunteers in Nepal:

1. Pre-medic placements

These placements are available for those who have a desire to work in the medical profession, but are not yet qualified or studying medicine. As a volunteer on this placement you will be given the opportunity to observe doctors in clinics and run your own health awareness programs in schools, women’s groups, orphanages and other community organizations. These awareness groups may provide local communities with sanitation knowledge and first aid training.

2. Medical student placements

If you are in the process of becoming a medical professional then this is the placement that will best suit you. Volunteers on this program will have the opportunity to carry out basic health checks in health clinics, observe Nepali doctors in hospitals and practice in your elected field. For most of this placement you will shadow Nepali doctors, who will have good spoken English. On this placement you may also get the chance to run/take part in (TEV-Nepal) ‘s own health camp, which moves between needy communities offering basic health care. If you come in a group of 4 or more medical students then you may have the opportunity to run the health camp yourselves.

3. Medical professionals’ placements

If you are a qualified medical professional then you have the opportunity to work in government hospitals, health clinics and the health camp. Depending on the length of your stay you may prefer to work with Nepali doctors or establish your own clinic/health camp practice.

Please note that working as a medical professional/ student in Nepal may be very different to your experiences in your home country. Medicine names and practices may differ here and volunteers have to adapt to these changes. Although (TEV-Nepal) provides the service of an interpreter where necessary, communication can sometimes limit the actions of our volunteers. This said, often volunteers feel that these factors enhance their experience in Nepal, forcing them to learn quickly on the job.

Do I need any specific qualifications or skills for this volunteering placement?

For pre-medic placements you must have a keen interest or be planning to study medicine in some capacity. For medical student placements you must be currently studying/have studied medicine. For our professional placements you must be practicing in the medical profession. On applying for these placements please let us know your level of experience and field of expertise and we will do our best to find you a suitable placement.