Project background
Equator Medical Services is a medium hospital which started its operations in May 2005. It is a fully-fledged hospital with a capacity of 50 beds and is located along Kisumu – Busia Road in Luanda Township, Luanda Sub-County, Vihiga County.
Our Services:
Out-patient
In-patient
Outreach Clinics
The Hospital’s Out Patients Department runs 24 hours and caters for Regular out-patients’ cases, Emergency cases seen through the casualty, as well as specialized cases seen through our Consultant Clinics.
The In-patient: the wards are divided into; Male, Female and Paediatric wards with maternity.
The Outreach Clinics are usually carried out on monthly bases mostly giving education services on counseling, screening of cancer, HIV/Aids and diabetic patients.
Pharmacy: We have a fully stocked Pharmacy that is operational 24 hours a day serving both out/inpatients.
Laboratory: Our laboratory is modern, equipped and operational for 24 hours.
Counseling & VCT: The Counseling Department serves our in-house patients as well as their relatives and our own Staff members ensuring health of all concerned with our patient’s management is addressed and hence providing a holistic approach for the purposes of managing the Outpatient/Inpatients Departments at Equator Hospital.
Our Mission: To provide quality patient care with unrelenting attention to clinical excellence, patient safety and standard health care to those we serve.
Our Vision: To be one of the best health facilities in the region and consistently strives to provide quality clinical and excellence curative services.
Our Values
Dignity: We value the dignity of human life, which is sacred and deserving of respect and fairness throughout its stages of existence.
Compassionate Care: We value compassionate care, treating those we serve and one another with professionalism concern and kindness exceeding expectations.
Community: We value meeting the vital responsibilities in the community we serve and take a leadership role in enhancing the quality of life and health, striving to reduce the incidence of illness through clinical services, education and prevention.
Quality: We value quality and strive for excellence in all we do working together collaboratively as the power of combined efforts excess what each of us can accomplish alone.
Stewardship: We value trust worthy stewardship and adherence to the highest ethical standards that justify public trust and protect what is of value to the system, its human Resources, Material and Financial Assets.
INFORMATION ON HIV/AIDS SCOURGE
· According to the National Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) 2001 report, 65% of the people of Kenya live below the poverty line. The approximate statistics for poverty levels are as follows: 53% rural poor, 52% are overall national food poor, who are unable to afford a daily 2250 calories, 51% are rural food poor while 38% are urban food poor.
· In Emuhaya District, over 65% live below poverty line and are food poor. The problem of poverty is further compounded by rampant HIV/AIDS, poor health facilities and infrastructure, declining education and literacy levels, breakdown in social and cultural structures, insecurity, declining land productivity, poor administrative management among others.
· Malaria, acute respiratory tract infections, diarrhoea, skin diseases, intestinal worms, ear and eye infections and AIDS are the common diseases found among the people of Emuhaya District. In addition, cases of malnutrition have also been reported. Mechanisms of coping up with the management and control of the diseases and other health related problems are lacking. A well-organized health system, will, therefore, need to be in place for the needs of the people
· The HIV/AIDS scourge has affected the people of this new district just like it has for the rest of Kenya. Currently available figures indicate that 5.1% of the population of Emuhaya district is infected with HIV. This translates to 10, 074 as the number of people living with AIDS (PLWAS).
· Based on these figures, a number of service delivery points have been established in various health facilities in the district.
· It is worth noting that by June 2008, the total number of people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) stood as 2, 446 (24.3 % of those eligible). There is therefore a need to scale up ART activities to cover large numbers as is elsewhere in Kenya.
Project activities
The facility offers health services to the local community members that include the following:
Laboratory work
Observation of patients
Injection/filter
Pharmacy work
Registration
Reproductive health
Child Delivery
Awareness creation on health issues.
Volunteer tasks
The volunteers will be assigned duties in the health facility by professional staff accredited by the Ministry of Health.
KVDA requests for medical professional to join this project and will appreciate to receive your CV.
This project is suitable to volunteers with medicine background and if you are a health practitioner, kindly share the certificate of practice and if you are a student, you will be required to have a letter of recommendation from your University in order to be allowed to work in the health center as a volunteer.
Submit Project Report to KVDA
What to carry: This is outlined in the detailed info sheet and includes, sleeping bag and mat, toiletries, torch, flashlight, sandals, mosquito net, national flag from your country, among others
Home stay and the volunteer is entitled to private room but will share other amenities and meals with the host family.
It is convenient for the volunteer to carry sleeping bag, mat and personal effects.
KVDA has a memorandum of understanding with the host project regarding the project costs with appropriate procedures, checks and balances.
KVDA does not provide pocket money on its projects but the volunteers have an obligation to have their own budget based on their planned activities during their stay in the country.
The currency used is Kenya shillings.
Volunteers are discouraged from carrying large sums of cash as this exposes them to criminal elements in society.
Visa and MasterCard are the most convenient as you can draw cash at the ATM machines across the country.
ELECTRONIC TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION (eTA)
駐日ケニア共和国大使館https://www.kenyarep-jp.com › eta
Search for: How do I apply for eTA in Kenya?
How long does eTA Kenya take?
eTA Processing Time:
The processing time for a tourist eTA application can range from a few days to a few weeks. It usually takes between 24 and 72 hours to process a Kenyan eTA online application.
Medical:
· Volunteers are expected to have their own medical insurance and other personal expenses and it is important to carry your own medical and travel insurances.
Financial contribution
The project participation fee is Euro 250 per month paid upfront on arrival to the cover costs stipulated for the entire duration of the project.
Monthly payment of participation fees is not allowed for conventional purposes.
Volunteers accepted on MLTV project for one month will pay Euros 300.
What is included in the participation fee?
Return transfers from the airport
Full board at the project (Accommodation and meals provided at the project)
Orientation, evaluation and monitoring
Volunteer mentorship
KVDA should receive the Volunteer Exchange Form (VEF) from SCI sending organizations through email.
Kindly attach the motivation letter together with the scanned passport copy to enable us to issue the invitation letter for visa application process.
Time being of greatest essence, this should be done with one week after the volunteer has been accepted on the project.
KVDA will give feedback to the applications sent within 3 days
Laundry and water:
· Water is available at the hosting house from springs and it is important to preserve water at all times due to its scarcity and cooperation with the hosts will be highly appreciated
· There are no washing machines in the institution and the volunteer will be guided on how to wash clothes
MENTORING:
Mentor for the volunteer from the hosting organisation: KVDA will designate its staff to play the role of mentoring and this is the vital link between the volunteer and the organization. The Mentor has the responsibility to enable the volunteer to efficiently execute their tasks with diligence.
Function of mentor: advise, educate, be a role model to the volunteers; providing problem solving, collaborative support, positive and non-evaluative feedback and emotional support for volunteers; to provide comfort, exposure, visibility and challenging assignments which directly support the volunteer’s personal and professional development; to provide counselling and friendship to support the volunteer’s self-image and competence and thus to listen, guide, advice, teach and offer professional support to the volunteers
The mentor will be available for the volunteer as a constant supporting person. However, he/she should not be directly involved in the daily work of the volunteer.
Mentor’s Experience with international volunteers: More than 3 years’ experience with international volunteers
Project participants: Maximum 20 volunteers from different nationalities recruited through KVDA partner organizations
What to carry: This is outlined in the detailed info sheet and includes, sleeping bag and mat, toiletries, torch, flashlight, sandals, mosquito net, national flag from your country, among others
DONATION AND GIFTS: These are usually symbolic gestures to enhance the solidarity of volunteers and the hosting community. Kindly contact KVDA for details in case you are willing to support a worthy cause in the community either by offering a donation or long-term intervention on the project.
APPLICATIONS: Should be done at least one month in advance through KVDA partner organization in respective countries. KVDA does not accept direct applications by volunteers
- Find a project that interests you in our Open Projects
- Find your local organisation in your country of residence using our branch locator
- Get in touch with them with details about the project(s) you want to apply to. They will become your sending organisation.
- Any issues? Contact us!
