Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and dive into the heart of rural healthcare? In Palawan’s remote communities, access to healthcare isn’t just limited - it’s often non-existent. Your presence can be the difference between untreated illnesses and lack of health education, to early medical interventions and informed, educated communities, contributing to long term wellbeing. International Volunteer HQ’s Healthcare Project in Palawan offers a unique opportunity for volunteers to make a meaningful impact by supporting rural health clinics and participating in village outreach initiatives.
What to expect and how you'll make an impact
If you are a qualified medical practitioner, an individual seeking a career in medicine, or someone interested in assisting with healthcare education, this program is for you. You can contribute to the development of healthcare in the Palawan area by either volunteering in the field or teaching basic first-aid and methods to maintain personal hygiene to the local community.
The local community of Aborlan, situated in the center of Palawan, aims to eradicate public health problems through healthcare programs. However, there are limited numbers of medical and healthcare workers - and that’s where your help and assistance are much needed.
A large number of people, particularly in Aborlan’s rural districts remote from the major cities’ hospitals, live below the poverty line. Because they lack the money to pay for their medical requirements, people of these communities typically travel to the nearby healthcare units, clinics, or centers for free medical care.
Volunteers with medical experience will help out local staff at these healthcare facilities. They serve as the main source for free healthcare for the community.
Volunteers who are still in training will have the opportunity to observe local professionals and learn about the treatment of prevalent diseases in the Philippines. Duties may include:
- Assisting with routine medical tasks
- Measuring and weighing patients
- Taking blood pressure
- Routine check-ups
- Provide advice about nutrition, general health, and sanitation
- Helping with an outreach medical camp for babies and the elderly in rural villages
Qualified and experienced professionals will be able to provide more hands-on care or can request to volunteer in their area of expertise (although this cannot be guaranteed). Duties may include:
- Treating minor injuries
- Cleaning and bandaging wounds
- Taking patients’ blood pressure and temperature
- Completing paperwork
- Dispensing medicine
The project also involves educating the local community in basic first-aid and personal hygiene, such as washing hands, brushing teeth, and general cleanliness. This contributes to the prevention of many preventable health issues and diseases.
Volunteers without a medical background will educate school children and the local community in basic first-aid and personal hygiene such as washing hands, brushing teeth, and general cleanliness. This contributes to the prevention of many preventable health issues and diseases. There will also be opportunities to help with feeding the vulnerable population of the community and doing outreach campaigns in the villages.
Volunteers with a medical background should bring scrubs or a white overcoat, a stethoscope, a face mask and Medical Gloves. Comfortable working shoes are also recommended.