Volunteer in Nepal, if you are an undergraduate studying biology, chemistry or any of the sciences and are considering a career in medicine this is the ideal program for you. This program is as much about learning about universal health care, as it is to offer hands on assistance to the local medical staff who you will be working with Kathmandu. This type of experience is a great way to strengthen your resume and application to medical/nursing/PA school.
Volunteers are based at a charitable hospital in Kathmandu Nepal. It is assumed that 55% of the Nepalese population does not have access to basic health care and there are only a few facilities for plastic and reconstructive surgery (due to burns) for the whole Nepalese population. Serious burns are a major problem in Nepal. Most people still cook and sleep mostly by open fires. Mothers also tend to leave their young children at home while they work in the fields, which can lead to serious burn injuries. Moreover, the technically insufficient “modern” kerosene stoves can easily explode, causing many serious burns, mainly to children and women.
Volunteers will be able to observe surgeries for congenital deformities (such as cleft, lips), and the limbs: deformities causes by second and third degree burns; skin and soft after- effects caused by a severe injury or any other dysfunctional after –effects of improper or non-existent medical care. The medical hospital focus is treatment of burns, deformities and tumors.
Volunteers will be able to rotate through departments at this hospital. The hospital has general operation, surgical checkup, and dental treatments, physiotherapy, orthopedics, gynecology, health education, laboratory, X-Ray and ambulance facilities as well. The staff include a general surgeon, specialist in hand/plastic surgery, 21 nurses, 3 residential doctors, an assistant surgeon, dental hygienist and a physiotherapist. Opportunities can arise for volunteers to be part of the health outreach and village surgical/medical brigades.































