Healthcare Volunteers Are Needed in Peru

United Planet’s Quest program combines volunteering abroad, language learning, and cultural activities  to provide an incredibly fulfilling experience for volunteers -- and valuable support for communities in need.

Medical, dental and healthcare volunteers of all ages and nationalities are invited to work in areas such as HIV/AIDS awareness and outreach education; dental care; patient care in pediatric hospitals and clinics; and psychological treatment for abused women and children.

Eligibility:

United Planet invites professionals and students in the healthcare field to apply for programs. Please find a list of our healthcare volunteering opportunities listed below. 

State Hospital Quest

Minimum Stay: 4 weeks
Volunteers Needed: Year Round
Requirements: At least 16 years old, Intermediate Spanish

This is a great program for nurses and other healthcare professionals! The state runs several hospitals in Cusco that are considered the best in the area. Patients who are insured can get help here. The hospital has 200 staff members and the capacity to accommodate 150 patients. As a volunteer you can work in the mornings, afternoons or evenings.

Psychiatric Clinic Quest

Minimum Stay: 4 weeks
Volunteers Needed: Year Round
Requirements: At least 16 years old, Intermediate to Advanced Spanish

This is great for anyone interested in volunteering, particularly those with a background in social work! Psychiatrists and related professionals are also needed. This psychiatric clinic works with adults who are mostly male. The clinic has 20 staff members and roughly 35 patients. The patients are typically suffering from autism, schizophrenia, depression and addiction. This clinic really needs all the help it can get. The main activities for volunteers without relevant experience are playing games and offering assistance with activities such as sports (they have their own gymnasium), dancing, arts and crafts and various other creative activities. Volunteers with a professional psychology, medical or social work background can help the patients in their specific fields. An experienced nurse will be guiding you throughout your time at the clinic. Volunteers must be creative and social.

Children's Clinic Quest

Minimum Stay: 2 weeks
Volunteers Needed: Year Round
Requirements: At least 16 years old, Basic to Intermediate Spanish

This healthcare program is great for certified doctors, dentists and pediatricians as well as paramedics, medical or dental students. Paramedics, pre-med/dental, medical/dental students can assist and observe and become part of the clinics team, however, professional skills are not necessary! The clinic was founded by a Catholic order in 1995 and is part of an umbrella organization that has private clinics all over Peru. The children, from age 2 to 15, often come from communities far from Cusco. Many of their parents have sent them away because their physical and mental incapacities are not understood. The clinic consists of roughly 60 staff members and 50 accommodations available for patients. Almost all on-site doctors speak a fair level of English. As a volunteer you can help these children even by basic things such as feeding them, brushing their teeth, playing with them, and taking them outside.

Healthcare Clinic Quest

Minimum Stay: 2 weeks
Volunteers Needed: Year Round
Requirements: At least 16 years old, Intermediate Spanish

You can visit a clinic where staff perform routine consults and handle emergencies. It’s a small clinic that’s meant for the poorer population of Cusco. Staff also frequently visit rural areas to care for populations here. You can help! We need general doctors, dentists, obstetrics, psychologists, lab-workers, nurses, and technical nurses as well as medical students of all kinds!
 

Casa Amanecer Quest
Minimum Stay: 2 weeks
Volunteers Needed: Year Round
Requirements: At least 16 years old, Intermediate to Advanced Spanish

Volunteer will try to improve the lives of the patients that have faced drug and alcohol issues. You will not receive a strict schedule or a description of your work. Rather, they will need to be proactive, independent and creative! You may teach English, play sports, teach “social skills,” or encourage proper diet and health. Participating in group therapy session and helping to build empathy and confidence is a big part of your work.

Community Development Quests
Many of the Community Development Quests in Peru are seeking volunteers with a medical background, specifically: Women's Shelter Quest, Orphange Quest, and Juvenile Detention Center Quest.
Read More