MedForce: Medics Overseas

Location

This programme is located in Samraong, a town situated in the Northern Cambodian countryside. Samraong is the capital of Oddar Meanchey province, which is Cambodia’s newest province. The province, which is a mountainous area, is situated in the north of the country and borders Thailand. In Samraong, you will find all the basic amenities you need, such as shops, banks, internet cafes, and restaurants.

 

 

 

Project Information

As a volunteer, you will be working at the clinic in Samarong assisting the staff there, and also visiting schools in the remote surrounding areas to give medical support and do basic check-ups. These are very poor areas, where medical assistance is scarce. You will be accompanied by a qualified paramedic, and sometimes by local nurses. You may be involved in the following activities:

 

• Assisting local staff with basic medical assistance (treating wounds, doing check-ups and tests, etc)
• Checking children at schools on small injuries and dental issues that need to be taken care of.
• Helping with basic construction and/or refurbishments of health centres

A Typical Day

You will generally work between 8 am and 4 pm, with an hour lunch break. Please note, however, that your schedule may vary slightly from day to day.

 

Accommodation

You will stay in a volunteer house in Samraong. The house sleeps up to 30 people, and has western style toilets and bucket showers. You will share a single gender dorm room with three to eight other volunteers. The house has several communal areas, including a balcony and a garden where you can eat, relax, and socialize. The house is within walking distance of a local shop and make shift bar provided by the friendly locals.

Meals

All your meals are provided for you during your stay. The meals will be traditional Cambodian fare, with plenty of rice dishes.

Getting there

You will fly into Siem Reap Airport, where you will be met by a volunteer co-ordinator. Your volunteer accommodation is about 120 kilometers away, which, depending on the state of the roads, is about a four-hour drive.

Alternatively, you can fly into Phnom Penh Airport, but you will be charged an extra 50 euros.

Support

Throughout your stay, you will be assisted by our volunteer co-ordinator. On the projects, you will also be assisted by qualified doctors and nurses.

Optional Introduction Week

We offer you a week-long introduction programme to help you settle in and introduce you to Cambodia’s rich customs and culture. During this week, you will get a chance to learn the local language, visits some beautiful temples, meet local people, and eat the local cuisine. In addition, you will be introduced to the project you will be working on. This introduction week is entirely optional. To book it, just book an extra week onto your programme, and let us know that you would like to participate in it.

Highlights

• Help improve the level of health care in remote Cambodian areas
• Learn about the Cambodian health system
• Gain valuable hands-on medical experience
• Immerse yourself in the rich and interesting Cambodian culture
• Explore the beautiful area surrounding Samraong

Requirements

This project is suitable for the following categories:

	Category 1: Volunteer with little or no experience
	Category 2: Medical students on electives

Please note that as a medical student, you may be able to get involved in a greater variety of tasks than as a volunteer.

You have to be 18 years or older to participate in this programme.

Price

A two-week placement on this programme costs £590.

An Introduction Week plus a two-week placement on this programme costs £840.

You can extend your placement for an additional price of £230 a week.

Included

Included in the price are:
• Accommodation
• Three meals a day
• Airport transfers
• Transport to and from your projects on a daily basis
• Constant guidance and assistance by a volunteer co-ordinator
• A briefing day before departure (includes a barbeque)
• Your personal web page which provides you with all necessary pre-departure information
• A Medforce t-shirt

Not Included

Not included in the price are:
• Flights
• Insurance
• Spending money

Maps

This project is conducted in remote villages, which are situated to the north of the country, near the Thai border.