Rural Health Care
TANZANIA
Social work
Culture
Social work
Refugees
+1
Permanent
About the project
Rural Health Care
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
In many countries mostly those called developing countries people live in poor conditions, especially in rural settlements. Millions of people experience deprivation of the most basic rights to water, shelter and food. The medical infrastructure in Tanzania is relatively good however in some places people need to walk long distances to receive medical aid especially remote and isolated places.
Uzi Island, due to its geographical locations, is facing some challenges and is desperately short of drugs, medical equipment and even health care professionals. This project is implemented in partnership with a local hospital in Uzi Island Health center to give much-needed help and support to the understaffed nurses, doctors and other health workers in their daily challenges.
Rural Health care is a project looking and expecting to work with volunteers who are:-
a) Pre-medic placements: Candidates 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 the Health center. During this time you can participate as well in running health awareness programs in schools, women’s groups and Youth sports groups. These awareness groups may provide local communities with sanitation knowledge and first aid training.
b) Medical students: Candidates who in the process of becoming a medical professional then this is the placement that will best suit them. Volunteers on this category will have the opportunity to carry out basic health checks in health clinics, observe doctors in the Health Centre. For most of this assignment you will shadow Tanzanian Counterpart, who will have good spoken English and Kiswahili.
c) Medical professionals: Candidates who are qualified medical professional have the opportunity to work in the Government Health Centre, Hospital and in the Rural Health camp. These may include Doctors, Nurses’ etc.
d) Please note: working as a medical professional/ student in Zanzibar 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. You will be provided with local counterpart helping as an interpreter where necessary.
💼 What the programme involves
Volunteer tasks under the medical and healthcare program in may vary and depend on the level of experience, qualifications, medical training etc. If you have experience in the medical or health profession you might do tasks and activities which include the following:
a) Wound dressing under direct supervision of nursing staff.
b) Blood pressure, pulse and temperature measurements (if competent).
c) Assist patients with activities such as getting them from one service point to another.
d) Weighing patients, holding babies/adults to be weighed.
e) General assistance to the medical staff wherever required, and wherever experience and expertise allow.
f) Pre Medical students assist the local doctors and staff in doing basic tasks such as checking weight and temperature of the patients, cleaning wounds and also doing administrative tasks in the placement.
g) Care programs Community health awareness programmers to inform communities against HIV/AIDS, Malaria and other common diseases and support the hospital in their Home Based Programs with HIV infected community members and elderly people.
h) Participating in workshops related to health issues
i) Participating in Home Based care
j) Note: Your task and duty summary sheet may change upon arrival at your project based on the Volunteers’ level of experience, qualifications, medical training etc.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Accommodation: Volunteers will be accommodated in the communal living house close to the project. Basic accommodation facilities will be provided, in some cases volunteers should expect to share rooms with their host family members or other volunteers from the same or other projects. (No mix of different sex in the rooms). Volunteers’ relatives and friends can visit or staying over upon special approval.
Food: Trying a variety of foods from other cultures is part of the programs’ philosophy for an authentic experience in Tanzania, and may be both fun and challenging. Food on our projects generally reflects the local cuisine. Some foods that are part of a regular diet at your home country may not be available during the program.
Vegetarians will be accommodated. However volunteers with more specific dietary requirements may need to supplement the included meals at their own expense. Volunteers with food allergies (e.g., nuts) must inform the organisation about the existence and severity of the allergy. Three meals per day are provided to the Volunteers at the workplace or and at the accommodation. Meals and accommodation cost on transit to and from the project, during leisure or tourism activities or outside designated project area are volunteer’s responsibility. No reimbursements will be made for volunteers who miss their included meals.
📍 About the location
Uzi is a small island in the south of Zanzibar’s main island Unguja. Little has changed in Uzi during the last centuries. Most of the island's 5000 people are fishermen and farmers. The island is located in the Menai Bay Conservation area which forms an important ecosystem of mangrove forests, sea grass beds, islands with fresh water forest, coral reefs and a large diversity of plants, land and water animals, including dolphins, African Sea Eagles, and protected marine turtles.
The Island is located about 34km south of Zanzibar Stone town. Few public buses are making routes on daily basis. During high tide, Uzi can only be reached by boat. It is common that during the project the tides situation will change, we will have to make good time planning when required to go out or inside the Island.
Possibilities for free time activities:-
Exploring Zanzibar historical, natural and cultural sites. These include museums, local markets, stone town, etc.
Enjoy wildlife and marine life. Jozani forest National Park, Blue safaris swimming, tour to small islands, variety of water sports, spice tour among many other options.
If you are arriving earlier or staying longer there are more safari options to the World’s great National Parks, Cultural and eco-tourism that Tanzania offers.
⚠️ Requirements
Conditions to participate in this project is as follows:-
a) Must be a medical student, nursing student, nurse, doctor or other specialist to be accepted onto this project
b) You must be willing to learn and help where needed in the clinic as part of a team.
c) Good communication skills are required.
d) Resilience, flexibility and an understanding that this is a challenging placement are needed
e) Be Energetic and Enthusiastic, Responsible, Compassionate, Sense of Humour, Team Player and Committed to the assignments provided
f) You will be asked to provide copies of your medical certificates to secure your place on this project.
ℹ️ Additional information
Highly appreciated are volunteers with medical backgrounds such as nurses, optometrists, pediatricians, ophthalmologists, gynecologists, dermatologists or dentists.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
UV.B-1809
22/06/2018 → 15/09/2018
Volunteers registered
0 / 6
♂ 0/3
♀ 0/3
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–99 years old
Solidarity donation
300.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
Unguja South Region, Tanzania
TANZANIA
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Tanzanian Shilling (TZS / Sh)
Exchange rate
1 TZS = 0.000339 EUR
Rate as of 31/05/2026
Timezone
East Africa Time
Local time: 21:27 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🗣️ Languages spoken
English
Swahili