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Hospital For Children
Summary
Description of Project This hospital is a specialist paediatric hospital in Quito for up to 300 children. They range in age from new born babies to 15 years. The six wards focus on burns, emergencies, intensive care, oncology and surgery, plus a general clinic. There is also a well equipped ‘ludoteca’ or play area. Volunteers would be based here for a part of each day, putting on activities with the children. There are swings, a drama area, paints, ball games and exercise equipment. ‘Laughing therapy’ is important and clowns and entertainers visit the ludoteca to assist with this. Medical treatment is provided free of charge but medication has to be paid for. Unfortunately this means that many children go without proper treatment. The hospital director, and her wonderful staff, are keen to have Outreach International volunteers. They realise that good volunteers can save the hospital money and alleviate their workload.
Groups of children can also be worked with in the ludoteca. This is seen as an important part of their therapy. You may also be asked to carry out ‘nursing’ duties such as changing nappies and sheets. You would also be asked to work with a social worker making an assessment of which children should be entitled to free medicines and free meals. It would be an ideal placement for anyone interested in studying medicine. If you have qualifications in physiotherapy or occupational therapy your role would be different to that of unqualified volunteers. Most volunteers can offer support by keeping records of the patients, weighing, measuring, taking blood pressure and temperatures and assisting with general check ups. The project can be demanding. To get the most out of it you need to be energetic and proactive with the staff and children. "I am now in the hospital and am absolutely loving it! I would recommend if you have any other aspiring doctors looking for some experience in a hospital to send them here. Today I watched and helped one of the doctors drain a massive abscess, yesterday I was able to observe a bit of some surgery, and last week I watched a doctor digging around in an infected wound. It has certainly stretched my ability to not gag, and that is definitely worthwhile for the volunteers as well as helpful if the doctors/nurses require anything." - Molly Gorman. Volunteer
Click here to read an evaluation Like the sound of this project? APPLY NOW |
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The Ecuadorian doctors and nurses are well trained but often very busy. Your exact role would depend upon your level of experience. The children really appreciate the individual input that volunteers can provide. You would therefore be asked to spend 15 or 20 minutes a day with as many individual children as possible, talking, reading stories, painting, teaching them a few words of English, showing them love and care. 
