Physiotherapists

Economically, Ghana is one of the most successful countries in Africa. Since 2000 it has experienced a sustained period of economic growth, and in recent years has seen one of fastest rates of poverty reduction in Africa. In spite of this progress, 40 per cent of the population still live below the poverty line of US$1 a day, with children and the disabled being among the most disadvantaged groups.

VSO is working in Ghana to enable people with disabilities to fulfil their potential in sustainable ways. New Horizon Special School provides academic and vocational education to children and adults with a range of physical and learning difficulties. As a resident physiotherapist, you’ll support children with cerebral palsy to participate in school activities.

What does the role involve?

• Managing a caseload of children with cerebral palsy at New Horizon Special School
• Developing and facilitating physiotherapy training sessions and workshops for school staff
• Supporting initiatives to raise awareness of the issues facing children with cerebral palsy amongst staff and the community
• Developing, delivering and documenting best practice in physiotherapy
• Liaising with appropriate donors for funds and materials to support the programmes offered at the New Horizon Special School

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll need to be a qualified physiotherapist with five years’ post-qualification experience, and considerable experience of working with disabled children. Some experience of supervising or training would be useful, as would familiarity with Bobath or neurodevelopmental therapy approaches. Strong organisational skills, the ability to be a good team player and build effective working relationships are essential. Flexibility, patience and a good sense of humour are important traits in all VSO volunteers as things often either take much longer than what you are used to back home or everything happens at a moment’s notice.

And the rest...

Ghana is located on West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, a few degrees north of the Equator, bordering Ivory Coast to the west, Burkina Faso to the north and Togo to the east. Ghana has a tropical climate that varies from the warm and dry coastal belt in the southeast to a hot and dry northern savannah. You’ll be based in Accra, the political, economic and industrial hub of Ghana. The area is costal Savannah, with large areas of grassland and Sahel desert terrain, dotted with the unusual looking boab trees. 

There are estimated to be as many as 150,000 disabled people in Namibia and the majority have little or no access to healthcare, education and employment opportunities. VSO is working with a range of national and regional organisations to improve the standard of living for people with disabilities and eradicate stigma and misconceptions.

The Ministry of Health and Social Services has a main objective of improving the health status of the Namibian population through the provision of preventive, curative and rehabilitative health services. As a regional physiotherapist with the MOHSS you’ll support their community-based rehabilitation programme (CBR) by sharing your skills with local staff.

What does the role involve?

• Developing and facilitating training sessions and workshops in physiotherapy for CBR staff
• Supporting the development of a local disability action plan
• Providing technical support and in-service training for medical rehabilitation workers
• Supporting initiatives to raise levels of awareness on disability amongst staff and the community

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll need to be a qualified physiotherapist with a minimum of five years’ post-qualification experience, preferably with experience in community based rehabilitation management. Some training experience and planning skills would also be useful. You’ll also need to be a good team worker. Flexibility, patience and a good sense of humour are important traits in all VSO volunteers as things often either take much longer than what you are used to back home or everything happens at a moment’s notice.

And the rest...

Namibia is one of the largest and least known countries in Southern Africa, with vast landscapes, the spectacular red dunes of the Namib Desert and game-rich national parks.

You’ll be based in Otjiwarongo in north-western Namibia, 250 kilometres from the capital Windhoek. You’ll live in a one-bedroom flat with water and electricity and there are a large number of supermarkets and other shops in town. Waterberg Plateau National Park is just over 80 kilometres away. Due to its abundance of water, the National Park attracts rare and threatened species such as rhinos, sable and roan antelopes and there are plenty of hiking trails if you fancy a break from the city on the weekends.

You’ll help meet the huge need for physiotherapy expertise in Papua New Guinea, a country with only a handful of qualified physios for its population of five million. You’ll improve the well being of people with disability in Milne Bay Province, a remote area of the Pacific, by widening access to much-needed physiotherapy care and developing rehabilitation services. Strengthening a newly established hospital physiotherapy department, you’ll increase the support available to vulnerable people, and help build a future of security and inclusion for community members with disabilities.

What does the role involve?

• Training and mentoring department staff, and building their professional capability to treat a wider range of patients and conditions
• Working with colleagues and the director of Medical Services to develop a strategy for a long-term, sustainable physiotherapy service at the hospital
• Developing ways to create awareness of the hospital’s physiotherapy service
• Promoting understanding of the benefits of physiotherapy for patients - among medical and nursing staff, urban and rural clinics, and the general public
• Helping develop a community rehabilitation strategy for the physiotherapy department
• Providing input into the development of physiotherapy as a profession in Papua New Guinea

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll be a registered physiotherapist with at least 5 years’ post-qualification experience. This experience will include working in a hospital setting, community based rehabilitation, and working with disabled children. Ideally you’ll have some teaching or mentoring experience, and experience of working in a developing country is desirable but not essential.

You’ll need the initiative to work with the challenges posed by few resources, and the flexibility to adapt your professional skills to a new cultural and working environment. Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to troubleshoot are crucial, as you’ll be looking to build on the successes of a previous volunteer. You’ll have the self-assurance to lead the department forward, balanced with the ability to build rapport and work in a team with colleagues.

And the rest...

Alotau is a quiet, friendly coastal town in Eastern Papua New Guinea, the provincial capital of over 400 Pacific islands. Milne Bay has over 2000 km of white beaches, countless coral reefs, tiny atolls and volcanic islands, untouched by tourism. People in Alotau are in general friendly and happy to meet new faces; within Alotau many citizens work for the Papua New Guinean government and in local businesses. Alotau has several well-stocked supermarkets selling imported fruits and vegetables, and pineapple and coconut are available in ample qualities when in season. You’ll live in a two-bedroom furnished house with a small garden opposite the hospital, with an inside toilet and electricity.