MEDICAL & dental VOLUNTEERS

Medical and dental volunteers have the opportunity of making immediate contributions to the health and welfare of the people of the Amazon, and are welcomed by Project Amazonas. Please contact us well ahead of the start of volunteer activities as coordination with, and the authorization of Peruvian health authorities is generally required.

Requirements

Medical and dental volunteers over the age of 18 years should send a current Curriculum Vitae (CV), preferably in Spanish (or in Spanish and another language), and also two references with mail and email contact information. For students, senior medical/dental students will be given preference over students with lesser qualifications. All medical/dental volunteers will require approval from the Peruvian Ministry of Health prior to the initiation of any volunteer work. Intermediate (or better) Spanish language skills are essential for volunteers in the fields of medicine and dentistry. There are no restrictions on nationality except for those which may be imposed by Peruvian immigration authorities.

2008-2009 ANTICIPATED medical expeditions

Dates are not confirmed and are subject to verification and approval by the Peruvian Ministry of Health. Volunteers interested in participating should have a relatively flexible schedule and plan to be in Peru for a few days on either end of a given trip. Dates may change on short notice - please contact us for the latest scheduling if you are interested in an expedition. We hope to add additional dates as funding becomes available.

• 14-28 February 2008 - Orosa, Apayacu, Matahuayo, Arambassa & Amazon Rivers (teaching/service expedition - this trip is closed out)

• 28 March-5 April 2008- Rio Tigre and Nahuapa Caño

• 5-16 May 2008 - Maniti River

• 9-15 November 2008 - Mazan River

• 23-29 November 2008 - Itaya River

• 12-26 February 2009 - Orosa, Apayacu, Matahuayo, Arambassa & Amazon Rivers (teaching/service expedition)

our relationship with the Peruvian medical establishment

We do not run independent medical programs, but work with the Ministry of Health in Peru and with the established system of hospitals, clinics and health outposts in the Peruvian Amazon. We do operate medical service trips to remote areas several times annually; these trips are planned in coordination with the Ministry of Health, and are conducted with the authorization of the same. The greatest need for volunteer assistance is in the more remote clinics and health posts, which are often understaffed and always under-funded. Longer-term volunteers can make the greatest contributions serving in these clinics/posts, and there may be good opportunities for short-term volunteers to do the same. For senior medical/dental students, it may be possible to arrange rotations in larger hospitals in Iquitos given sufficient advance notice, although it should be noted that the host institution (i.e., the hospital) may assess a fee for rotations, and there may be additional administrative costs..

activities of medical volunteers

Volunteers interested in pediatric, internal and general medicine will have ample opportunities for interacting with patients and medical personnel in those fields. Opportunities for more specialized fields (surgery, neurobiology, etc.) will restricted largely to the Iquitos area. In most remote clinics and health posts, the full range of patients and medical conditions are seen, but some patients will be sent to larger centers (i.e., Iquitos) for treatment due to the lack of specialized equipment and lab facilities. Most clinics will have power only a few hours daily, and facilities and equipment will be limited, but such clinics are the only medical facilities available for the populations of most riverine communities.

activities of dental volunteers

There is a large demand for dental attention in all riverine communities, and dental caries and poor dental care are chronic problems. In most cases, dental attention means extraction of teeth. Except in Iquitos and a few other larger centers, there is no capability for restorative work and during medical service expeditions it is often impossible to attend to all of those who request extractions in any event. There is a real need for dental care education in all of the schools in riverine communities, and volunteers with an interest in both service and education can make a large impact.

FUNDING & COSTS OF medical service trips

Expeditions are funded by private donations and participant contributions. Teaching/service expeditions are organized by specific medical schools who send their staff and students. These trips accept volunteers on a space available basis, but volunteers need to contribute at the same rate as other participants - such trips cost $1500-$1800/participant for a two week expedition (including accommodations and meals in Iquitos at the start and end of the trip).

For "regular" medical service trips staffed mainly by Peruvian medical/dental personnel, volunteer costs are considerably reduced (see below). Volunteer contributions allow us to cover the cost of participation of Peruvian medical personnel and students, as well as to purchase medicines for use during the clinics. Any donations for support of medical service trips are tax-deductible (for US residents), and a portion of participant fees may also be tax-deductible. Participant costs are:

• Transportation to/from Iquitos, Peru (this will be by air for most volunteers)
• Lodging for one or more nights in Iquitos (a wide range of places are available for all budgets)
• Food and other expenses in Iquitos
• $40/day (or partial day) during medical expeditions aboard one of the Project Amazonas riverboats (on a space available basis). This covers room and board (3 good meals daily, all boat services and accommodations) and provides additional funds for the purchase of medicines for use during the expedition. Half of the daily cost (used for the purchase of medicines, boat fuels, etc.) is tax-deductible. Please note that the $40/day rate is only applicable to expeditions where private donations/funding sources have already covered the majority of boat operation, fuel, and crew expenses.

INQUIRIES

To send an inquiry or request further information, contact Devon Graham, Scientific Director of Project Amazonas.