Surgeons

There has been remarkable progress in consolidating peace and rebuilding the country’s infrastructure since the end of Sierra Leone’s civil conflict in 2002. However, there is still a lot to be done, especially with regards to healthcare. There’s a crippling shortage of qualified healthcare staff which has resulted in low standards of care in hospitals.  Because of this people have stopped accessing services leading to increased mortality rates. You’ll be based at Bo Government Hospital playing a crucial role helping strengthen the standard of care provided in the district by training local staff.

What does the role involve?

This is a varied role but some of your responsibilities will include:

• Performing surgical operations on patients coming in for free care

• Designing and delivering training to ensure continuing education for professional nurses and newly trained medical clinicians

• Supporting the local Medical Superintendent to train trainers as part of a sustainable educational system

• Carrying out consultations and treatments for patients presenting to the general outpatient department

• Designing and implementing new patient care protocols and policies and to act as a mentor for the clinical development of the medical team

• Contributing to shaping the role and responsibilities of medical staff in the hospital.

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll be a qualified surgeon with at least three years of formal post graduate medical training in surgery. An interest in medical education and experience in international child health would be helpful. You’ll need the flexibility to adapt your approaches to working with less diagnostics and fewer drugs than you are used to and the passion and good humor to take on challenges and build working relationships.

And the rest...

You’ll be living in the head quarter town of Bo district which is based in the Southern Region of Sierra Leone. Bo district has a tropical humid climate and lush, forested vegetation.
We’ll ask you to commit to 12 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive financial, personal and professional support. We'll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local salary, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more.

Tanzania is in dire need of assistance to improve health service provision to all surgery patients, ensuring that they receive quality clinical treatment.  VSO is focusing on strengthening the health service by providing appropriate training to medical staff in surgical practices.  As a surgeon at Ndolage Hospital, you would be making a vital contribution to raising standards in the health service.

What does the role involve?

• To provide surgical services to patients

• To strengthen the current surgical service

• To provide on-the-job training on surgical management to staff including intern medical doctors and clinical officers

• To provide supportive services in the management of patients requiring surgical interventions

• To work with colleagues in auditing the activities of the surgical department.

Skills, qualifications and experience required

A qualified medical doctor and surgeon with at least 2 years’ work experience in surgery is needed for this role.  Experience of working in Africa and on-the job training would be desirable.  You would need to have flexibility, tolerance and resilience as well as good networking ability so you can build mutual understanding with colleagues.

And the rest...

Ndolage hospital is located in Muleba in Kagera, a remote region in the North West of Tanzania. There are scenic surroundings from the hospital location which is on the top of a picturesque escarpment. Kamachumu, a small towm 5km walk away provides postal services and a weekly market. Accommodation will be simple, a self-contained house. Learning the local language Kiswahili will enhance your experience in the community and VSO will provide training. English is, however, widely spoken by hospital staff.

We’ll ask you to commit 12  months to make a sustainable contribution to building up the surgical services in Tanzania. In return, we’ll give you comprehensive support. We'll provide you with training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation, insurance and more. NHS employees can volunteer with continued membership of the NHS pension scheme. When you return to your home country, we'll help you to resettle, and many of our returned volunteers stay involved with us long after their placement ends.