Madagascar Healthcare

Madagascar's dramatic forest landscape is home to a fascinating diversity of life, with baobab and aloe trees, lemurs, chameleons and a whole host of other species that are found nowhere else on earth! Its fantastically beautiful coastline boasts coral reefs rich in marine species, perfect for diving and snorkelling, and silky sanded beaches ideal for soaking up the bountiful sunshine. Madagascar's culture is vibrant and diverse; you will find bustling markets full of multi-coloured produce and hospitable locals shouting their wares.

By taking part in this programme you will be helping to improve the lives of the local community by providing healthcare education. Working in a variety of locations, this exciting programme will challenge you and open your eyes to the reality of raising awareness in a developing country, as well as giving you the chance to discover this land of glorious visual spectacles.

 

  

  

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

• Raise awareness in the local community
• Meet and engage with local people
• Discover intriguing and beautiful Madagascar
• Live in the volunteer house located in central Hellville
• Make lifelong friends with other volunteers

PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

• Previous experience or an interest in health and sanitation education, physiotherapy or paediatric medicine would be advantageous but is not a requirement.
• At least a basic ability in French is advantageous but is not a requirement.
• All placements are dependent upon the submission of an up-to-date CV and proof of medical qualifications and / or medical work experience.
• Criminal background check (DBS)

FAST FACTS

Location	Madagascar
Activities	Raise awareness of health, nutrition and fitness through community outreach services Provide assistance with the health education and training of local communities
Transport	Airport pickup weekly on a Monday. Alternative start dates possible, additional £20 applies for pickup, please speak to an adviser Internal ground transfers weekly on a Monday
Accommodation	Shared communal accommodation in the volunteer house in Hellville

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go	Pre-departure support Travel & medical advice & documentation Equipment advice Discounted medical kit Free Frontier t-shirt UK residential briefing weekend including food, accommodation and TEFL training (extra cost applies)
In-country	Food Accommodation Airport pickup weekly on a Monday. Alternative start date possible, additional US$34 applies for pickup, please speak to an adviser Internal ground transfers weekly on a Monday Local orientation and training In-country emergency support 24-hour international HQ back-up

 

QUALIFICATIONS

A variety of qualifications are available on many of our projects. For example, BTEC certificates and diplomas on our Group conservation projects and TEFL certificates and BTECs on most of our teaching projects. You may also be able to gain a CoPE to support your university application. For more information on these qualifications, please see the qualifications section of our website or ask your volunteer advisor.

WHAT DOES THE PROJECT DO?

Madagascar’s socio-economic demographic is changing fast and it is clear that the healthcare industry needs to change with it and have a clear plan to address the negative effects of urbanisation and modernisation.  At the same time the cost of healthcare and medical treatment is becoming increasingly expensive and is often unaffordable by the wider community where dietary problems are widespread and the most vulnerable suffer as a consequence.

It is the young and the old who lack access to appropriate medical attention and support programmes.  Even the few patients who can afford to go to hospital find the overcrowded system only addresses the symptoms of the disease through reactive drug treatment and is unable to provide comprehensive care and advice to tackle the cause of illness within the community.

The work of this project looks to lead by example with a range of positive healthcare initiatives and outreach projects to bring about this change, including promoting hygienic practices and encouraging active and healthy lifestyles.

WHAT WILL I BE DOING?

Volunteers' activities will depend on their qualifications and experience as well as on the availablility of local staff working at the project sites at time of placement. With all placements we will endeavour to accommodate your own previous work experience, interests and skills while taking into account the changing needs and priorities of the local community. 

You may find yourself working, assisting or observing in various areas at our project sites. This could include raising health and nutrition awareness through talks and presentations or teaching practical skills, such as handwashing and basic first aid. While working at the Centre Stella Maria your work will be focused on the education and rehabilitation of young children aged between 2 and 15 who are recovering from corrective surgery for serious physical handicaps. Volunteers are asked to remain flexible and use their initiative in order to get the most out of this placement. 

Healthcare placement working hours can vary immensely. The key to your success will depend on how much you are willing to contribute and how hard you are able to work. With an open mind and flexible attitude you will enjoy an experience to remember, make friends for life, and gain valuable work experience on important health related programmes.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE?

Volunteers arriving weekly on a Monday will be welcomed by a Frontier representative at Nosy Be airport. From here it's a short taxi or minibus ride from the airport to the centre of the vibrant town of Hellville and your accommodation at the volunteer house.

Independent travellers arriving on dates other than weekly on a Monday can arrange a separate airport collection  at an extra cost of US$34 by contacting the project staff.

WHERE WILL I BE STAYING?

During the project you'll live in a wonderfully located Volunteer House in the centre of Hell-Ville. You will enjoy a unique and memorable living experience. The house is approximately a ten minute walk from the local primary school where we base the majority of our work and has all of the principal amenities one would expect from such a setup – equipped kitchen, flushing toilet and running water shower! House life is however very simple, unsophisticated and fun and will give you as much as you are prepared to put into it. The ‘community’ feel of the house is excellent and you will be made to feel right at home.

WHAT WILL I BE EATING?

You will be provided with 3 simple and nutritious meals a day which will consists largely of locally sourced fresh fruit and vegetables, rice, beans and noodles, most of which is purchased from the nearby market and thereby helps to support the local economy. Luxuries such as chocolate, peanut butter and Nutella are available in the town, so can be accessed if you wish to treat yourself every once in a while!

Part of your role in the volunteer house will be to help with the cooking. Creating spectacular meals over our marvellous gas stoves will become second nature: so get your cookbooks out now and start thinking up recipes!

ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

A range of adventure and cultural activities, such as visits to remote villages, snorkelling, mountain treks and wildlife tours are available. You can arrange these in country, which helps contribute to the local economy.

Scuba diving courses may be available subject to availability of space and time constraints.

dive courses run monthly commencing on the first monday of the month

• Single Day snorkelling off the boats US$17
• Single Day Dive US$51
• Double Dive US$85
• 4-dive package US$170
• 10-dive package US$340
• Diving weekend package US$51 per person per night plus dive course cost (subject to staff availability)

courses*

• Discover Scuba Diving US$110
• Open Water Dive Course US$595
• Advanced Open Water US$561
• Emergency First Responder US$221
• Rescue Diver US$595
• Dive Master US$1,275

*Medical certificate is mandatory for participation in dive courses
 

Modern conveniences

Hellville

• Attractions e.g. Lemurland, Donia Festival
• Banks / ATMs; Bank of Africa, BFV-Société Générale, BNI-CL
• Bars / cafes
• Boats to the mainland & Boat Hire
• Hostels and hotels
• Internet cafe
• Medical clinic
• Nightclub
• Pharmacy
• Post office
• Street food
• Supermarket
• Taxis to the rest of the island
• Telecom office
• Traditional markets
• Western style restaurants
• Western Union

COSTS

DEPARTURE DATES

Every Monday

Ideally flights to Madagascar and connections to Nosy Be (Fascene) should be arranged for this arrival date.

DURATION

1 week and longer

This project is available throughout the Christmas period and throughout school holidays

WHAT'S INCLUDED

Before you go

• Pre-departure support
• Travel & medical advice & documentation
• Equipment advice
• Discounted medical kit
• Free Frontier t-shirt
• UK residential briefing weekend including food and accommodation (extra cost applies)

In-country

• Food
• Accommodation
• Airport pick-up weekly on a Monday. Alternative start dates possible. Additional US$34 applies for pickup, please speak to an adviser
• Internal ground transfers weekly on a Monday
• Local orientation & training
• In-country emergency support
• 24-hour international HQ back-up

WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED

Flights

Flights are not included in our trip costs. However, we have partnered with an experienced and professional team of travel experts to help our volunteers find the best flight deals for their trips with us. This travel specialist operates in the tailor-made, long haul multi-stop travel market, arranging complex airfares and transfers for independent travellers. They provide expertise, security and a vast product range along with a Travel Butler service which is a single point of contact and support whilst you are overseas.

We recommend that you obtain a quote using the following contact details rather than book online, as our partner will offer you the most competitive fares. To receive your quote or to seek any advice for your flights, please contact our dedicated team of travel experts on 0800 082 9994 (or +44 800 082 9994 outside the UK) or email frontier@flightcentre.co.uk .

Visas

For fast, efficient and up-to-date visa advice please contact our recommended visa consultancy partner:

• For UK residents  -  Click Here
• For US residents  - Click Here

Depending on your destination country and your country of origin, you might require a visa. Please see the appropriate country consular website for details or contact our affiliate visa consultancy service. Please note that your visa will usually start on the date that you enter the destination country regardless of when it was issued. Please check with the relevant embassy or high commission. If you are purchasing your visa or paying entry/exit fees in-country you will probably need to pay in US Dollars. If you have any questions please consult the relevant embassy or high commission. Please check the visa information regularly, as changes often happen without warning.

Insurance

You'll need to buy appropriate travel insurance covering your participation on the project. You won't be able to go without the right travel insurance so double check to avoid disappointment. Please make sure that you're covered for the whole duration of your trip – from the day you leave the UK to the day you return. It's also best to get your travel insurance at the same time as paying the deposit for your project. Depending on your policy, this will cover you for any unexpected cancellations.

Your insurance should include the following:

• Medical cover, including medical emergencies and medical evacuations (up to USD$3,000,000 / GBP£2,000,000);
• Personal liability (up to USD$1,500,000 / GBP£1,000,000);
• Cancellation and curtailment of your trip (up to the value of your project contribution).

If you are going to be scuba diving you should get coverage for scuba diving up to 30m, including hyperbaric therapy treatment (unlimited). You should consider obtaining insurance to cover you for any additional activities which you plan to do during, before, or after your Frontier project. We recommend that you obtain cover for your baggage and personal effects.

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LEGAL STATEMENT
Frontier Partner Projects and Frontier group projects are run in partnership with in-country NGOs, small community based organisations, local research institutes, academic organisations and conservation agencies. Project descriptions and information are supplied directly by our partners or field staff and are accurate at time of publishing.

We aim to keep information up to date and accurate, however, the nature of our projects and in particular the fact that they are constantly evolving and developing in response to changing needs means that project activities, travel schedules, tour itineraries and daily timetables can change overnight and without notice.

To apply for this placement, click on "Apply Now" below. Fill in the short application form and one of our advisers will then call you back to answer any questions and make sure this is the perfect placement for you. Applying doesn't cost a penny and you won't pay anything until you're completely happy and you're ready to reserve your place.