Organise your 2 week group medical trip to Ghana today! Group leaders travel free and your 15 days in Ghana will be fully structured, inclusive and led by our experienced team. Your first week will have you arrive in Accra before travelling to Lake Bosomtwe for your first few days on the Community Outreach healthcare project. After providing primary healthcare alongisde the support of trained healthcare professionals to the local villages of Bosomtwe, we will head north to Mole for a couple days adventure including safari, waterfalls and monkeys.
Your second week will see you back in central Ghana as Kumasi becomes your base. Your placement for this week will be at Manhyia Hospital which is one of Kumasi's biggest government hospitals. There is a range of departments for students to gain exposure and insight in as well as learning from the doctors and nurses. We will finish your group medical trip in Ghana with more adventure travel and some R&R in Cape Coast and Busua beach. Cultural activities will be provided throughout including drumming, dancing & an art class. Everything is included in your 2 weeks Ghana group medical trip from the airport transfers and meals to accommodation, medical donations, entrance fees and cultural activities.
GHANA GROUP MEDICAL TRIP HIGHLIGHTS WITH PMGY
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A FULLY STRUCTURED, MOST AFFORDABLE, SAFE & ALL INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCE
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A PERFECT BLEND OF VOLUNTEER, TRAVEL, ADVENTURE & CULTURAL IMMERSION
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TRIP ITINERARY, ACTIVITIES & DURATION EASILY TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS & WANTS
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GAIN EXPOSURE INTO THE HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN HOSPITAL & OUTREACH SETTINGS
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PMGY WILL ENSURE A TRUE AUTHENTIC AFRICAN EXPERIENCE FOR YOUR GROUP IN GHANA
HOW IT WORKS FOR MEDICAL TRIPS
Plan My Gap Year has the expertise, experience and networks to make your Ghana expedition accessible, safe and stress-free. We pride ourselves on safety management and we have risk assessment documentation for all our overseas trips including to Ghana that outline how we ensure participants are kept safe while overseas.
Organising an overseas trip for your group involves lots of preparation. From flights and insurance to pre-trip training and that’s even before you’ve looked at organising the itinerary! So that’s where PMGY come in. We really do specialise in the group's overseas expedition area providing exclusive group trips whilst accommodating large groups of students, on full board options. We guarantee to provide trusted and vetted medical project settings that provide great insight, exposure and learning opportunities for students. In addition, we will sandwich in some fantastic travel opportunities around Ghana for students to enjoy on their rest days. We can organise:
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FLIGHTS (PMGY ARE ATOL PROTECTED), TRAVEL INSURANCE & FULL VISA GUIDANCE
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ALL-INCLUSIVE TAILORED VOLUNTEER AND/OR TRAVEL-BASED ITINERARIES
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FULL PRE-DEPARTURE PREPARATION AND 24/7 INTERNATIONAL & IN-COUNTRY SUPPORT
As a social initiative, we are able to guarantee affordable prices without sacrificing the quality of our programs. We frequently have groups joining our programs as they are looking for a more affordable alternative to their existing provider. We can tailor a trip around your requirements and work with you to create your personalised group medical trip itinerary. So why not follow the PMGY ten-step journey below to making your bespoke group medical trip to Ghana a reality!
TEN STEP JOURNEY & OUR SUPPORT ROLE
Step 1: Arrange a Call - Should this trip be the one for you, get in touch by email or call and one of our group expedition specialists can discuss and tailor your Ghana medical trip. Alternatively, let us know the best way to reach out to you and we will do so at a time convenient to you.
Step 2: Meet & Greet - After initial contact has been made and ideas progressed, our group expedition specialist will travel to meet you and any of your colleagues in person. As a result, a face can then be put to the name, the Ghana trip planning can be evolved and any initial questions can be answered.
Step 3: Information Session - Once the itinerary, duration and dates are in place for your trip to Ghana, our group trip specialist will come and host an information session with all interested travellers and parties. We will convey all necessary content and information about the trip and hold a Q&A session after the presentation to ensure all attendees are as informed as possible before signing up.
Step 4: Confirm Trip Numbers - Once the internal deadline for registrations has passed and the trip numbers are known, PMGY will arrange the invoice procedures for the overall group deposit payment to confirm the trip go ahead. For every 10 students, 1 group leader spot will be provided for free! We can also arrange and provide flights and insurance options for all travellers should this be applicable.
Step 5: PMGY Pre-departure Support - Throughout the build-up to your Ghana group medical trip, we will be on hand to support you whatever way possible. Whether it be through creating your bespoke trip handbook, completing risk assessments, communicating safety management procedures or providing project preparation webinars, we will have all bases covered.
Step 6: Pre-departure Session - Around 2 months before your group trip begins in Ghana, we will conduct a final pre-departure session with all travellers and relevant persons. This will ensure that everything is in place before your group head overseas and the content covered will align with this accordingly. We will also distribute PMGY T-shirts to all travellers at the session!
Step 7: Before You Go - In the days before your arrival into Ghana, we will be in close and regular contact with you to make sure everything is in place for your trip. This will include a range of emails and phone calls ensuring your arrival procedures are all in place, dietary requirements & medical conditions are catered for and that our ground team in Ghana are well prepared for your group's arrival.
Step 8: Enjoy the Trip! - When on the trip, our ground team will become your day to day port of call. We will touch base with them daily to make sure your trip is running smoothly. If required, we will be available 24/7 from afar. We will check in with you across the trip to see how everything is going. We know you will be in safe hands with our trusted, experienced and vetted ground teams!
Step 9: Return Home - By the time our team have dropped you safely back at Accra Airport, the travel blues may already be starting to kick in! We hope all travellers have had an unforgettable trip! Each trip participant will receive a certificate of completion. Furthermore, we will check in one final time with you in the days after your trip for feedback on your Ghana experience.
Step 10: Future Planning - After a few weeks away from Ghana and once the travel blues have well and truly settled in, it's now time to be planning your next group medical trip with PMGY to create more magical memories! Whether it be back to Ghana or to a new destination, PMGY will be on hand every step of the way again to facilitate your new adventure. Back to Step one we go!
MEDICAL CASE STUDY - OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, USA
Who - Ohio State University (OSU) from the United States of America. 14 medical students and 2 staff members from OSU travelled to Ghana on a group trip expedition with PMGY.
What - A 15 day medical-based learning volunteer expedition. PMGY arranged hospital placement settings as well as community outreach programs for students to engage in. In addition, adventure travel to Mole National Park and Cape Coast & Busua Beach were arranged as well as cultural evening activities. As a result, Ohio State University received a fully tailored and structured itinerary from PMGY for their Ghana experience that was action-packed, insightful and impact-driven.
Where - OSU moved around quite a bit during their 2 weeks in Ghana with PMGY. They arrived into Accra with flights all arranged via PMGY. The next segment of the trip was the community outreach placement in central Ghana located by Lake Bosomtwe. Afterwards, the group moved onto our main PMGY Ghana location of Kumasi for the hospital setting. Outside of the project locations, OSU students also travelled to Mole in the North of Ghana and Cape Coast & Busua Beach in the South of Ghana.
When - OSU joined PMGY on an overseas group expedition for 2 weeks in May 2019. The group enjoyed the experience so much they have made plans to return with PMGY in the same period for 2020 with a new group of students.
Why - OSU chose PMGY for their Ghana overseas trip as they provided a fantastic inclusive bespoke trip itinerary. Furthermore, because the fees were so affordable, it made the trip accessible to a range of students. The range of community-based settings for volunteering as well as the adventure travel made the trip very desirable and an opportunity many of OSU students did not want to miss. The cultural activities also arranged by PMGY added a further unique experience to the trip. Overall, OSU felt very assured and confident in arranging their Ghana trip with PMGY from the moment the first initial contact was made. These feelings only became stronger as time went on and during the trip taking place.
How - An OSU academic leader reached out to PMGY online enquiring about overseas group trips specific for medical students in late 2018. Communications developed positively with a range of phone calls and emails as our PMGY group trip specialist worked with the academic lead to create a bespoke, structured itinerary that would allow students to get the most from their experience as a whole. PMGY provided a structured pre-departure service throughout to make the process as hassle-free as possible for OSU. Examples include hosting information and pre-departure sessions for students and parents, trip support packs put together, arranging flights and insurance and extensive communications provided in a timely fashion throughout the trip build up. OSU was well prepared for their trip to Ghana and the PMGY ground team in Ghana were well briefed and prepared for OSU's bespoke itinerary. As a result, this transitioned into a smooth and unforgettable experience for OSU trip participants.
Feedback - "From the moment we started researching overseas trips, it became clear that PMGY was the standout option. Their low fees and consequently how affordable they make overseas experiences for groups was something I was yet to come across with other overseas group trip providers. From the moment I started to discuss ideas of a group trip with Philip from the PMGY team, I felt at ease and assured. The trip itinerary they put together for our students was everything we wanted and more. It allowed for an experience like no other and the students learnt so much and gave so much back not only from the volunteering but also from the cultural and travel opportunities. Seth and the rest of the Ghana team were amazing in providing the in-country experience. They could do no wrong and went the extra mile to ensure our students had the best experiences on so many occasions. Our 2 weeks flew by, the accommodation was more comfortable than expected and the Ghanaian food was so much tastier than expected. We had some unbelievable experiences spotting elephants in Mole and learning history at Cape Coast Castle. None of this would have been possible without the support and organisation of the PMGY team. All at OSU look forward to returning to Ghana in 2020!"
THE MEDICAL PROJECTS
Background - Access to healthcare in Ghana has improved dramatically since the introduction of the National Health Insurance Act in 2003. However, the healthcare system in Ghana still faces a number of challenges, particularly in rural areas. The large majority of patients arrive due to illnesses related to poor sanitation.
Malaria is also a huge issue and remains the cause of many deaths and illnesses. In addition, HIV/AIDS continues to harm the lives of so many Ghanaians. Many of the major causes of death and serious illness are avoidable. The work of the healthcare system in Ghana largely centres on treating immediate cases. However, it also extends to educating the local communities in preventative measures.
The hospitals are poorly resourced and under-staffed by western standards, so you will have a very eye-opening experience. In the same vein, people that live in rural communities are not well educated, poorer and have the worst access to healthcare. You will have the chance to gain exposure to healthcare provisions both in rural and urban settings during your group medical trip in Ghana.
Your main role is to learn and experience the Ghanaian healthcare system, procedures and culture, observing how this may differ to the experience you have at home. Over the course of your placement, you will witness a range of unique cases. This may include cases such as Typhoid, Polio and TB. There will also be the chance to ask questions about tropical diseases such as Malaria, Leishmaniasis and Dengue.
Kumasi - Manhyia Government Hospital - Based in central Kumasi, Manhyia Hospital is home to a range of departments. Participants will have the opportunity to observe within more than one division. Such departments include -
Adolescent Counselling, Community Health Education, Dentistry, Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT), General Surgery, Laboratory, Nursing, Maternity & Midwifery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Paediatrics, Pharmacology, Physical Therapy, Physiotherapy, Prenatal, Psychology, Radiology, Ultrasound
Students will receive a comprehensive introduction to Manhyia Hospital. A local member of the PMGY Ghana team will lead a tour around the whole institution. Thus allowing you to become familiar with the hospital’s layout. Furthermore, this will also give you an opportunity to meet staff members within each department.
You will be placed in a number of different departments and can choose to prioritise their experience accordingly. As a result, you will receive a broad insight into the Ghanaian healthcare system. You will find the staff at the healthcare facilities appreciative of your support and positive towards information sharing.
Whilst the hospital adopts modern forms of treatment, you will experience how cases are treated within an under-resourced and poorly sta ed healthcare system. Most noteworthy, you will gain exposure and insight into the challenges the local staff face. Furthermore, cultural factors and a lack of education/health awareness will give you an insight into the alarmingly high number of preventable cases admitted each day.
Many students also find it fascinating to witness the dynamics of the doctor-patient relationship compared to that of the western world. Working in a hospital as a medical volunteer in Ghana is a great opportunity to get close up clinical exposure and learn about health care systems in developing countries. You will witness a variety of cases, which offers a fantastic contrast to what you might find in your local hospital!
Whilst you will be assigned a member of staff within the department to mentor each student, it is important to understand that the local staff are extremely busy. Therefore, you should be proactive, ask questions and be assertive in requesting additional guidance should you require it. Please note there may still be a communication barrier and the staff will do their best to translate when they can.
There may be opportunities to undertake some basic hands-on involvement. However, the opportunity for this is dependent on a volunteer’s relationship with the doctors/nurses they work alongside. This extends further to gaining permission of the patients and previous experience/qualifications.
Lake Bosomtwe - Community Outreach - The team will arrange a community outreach program in Lake Bosomtwe for volunteers to engage in. This will involve working alongside local medical staff in providing primary healthcare to rural communities in the surrounding areas. This specific outreach project in Ghana only runs under the supervision of local medical staff, but our local team will be on hand to facilitate all the logistics.
As a group, you will join together to provide care and education to the local communities surrounding the Lake Bosomtwe area. These communities will open your eyes to what a local Ghanaian’s lifestyle is like. As a result, they are sure to help you identify the real needs of the people of these villages.
You will have the opportunity to assist Community Health Workers in delivering quality care to those in rural villages around Lake Bosomtwe. Many members of these locations will lack the understanding of appropriate healthcare and facilities to provide adequate care and resources are scarce. Remote villages make up 45% of the country’s population of 28 million people. It will not only be your place to assist the Community Health Workers with programs such as dental hygiene, women’s health care, nutrition & food prep, diabetes screenings but also to adapt to your surroundings and learn about the culture and community of the people. As a result, you will gain a different perspective and insight into the rural healthcare system of Ghana.
