Occupational Therapists: Volunteer with CMMB in Zambia

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Are you an Occupational Therapist wanting to make a huge difference to women, children and communities in Peru? Join our team in Zambia! OTs are invited to join our community healthcare programs to improve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable.

Volunteer Position: Occupational Therapist

Term: 6-12 months

Locations: Mwandi, Zambia

Program Description

CMMB - Healthier Lives Worldwide is an international, faith-based NGO providing long-term, co-operative, medical and development aid to communities affected by poverty and unequal access to healthcare. For over a century, we have worked to strengthen and support communities through healthcare programs and initiatives, the distribution of medicines and medical supplies, and the placement of volunteers.

CMMB’s Volunteer Program addresses the critical need for professionals in areas that lack sufficient resources for quality preventive and curative health services, especially for women and children. Our Volunteer Program has placed thousands of practitioners around the world to help develop and implement community health interventions, work at local hospitals and health facilities, conduct clinical training for host country counterparts, and deliver essential medicines and supplies. The ultimate goal of CMMB's Volunteer Program is to support our country teams and local healthcare workers by sending volunteers that are dedicated to strengthening local health systems and supporting a pattern of sustainable development.

CMMB in Zambia:

CMMB Zambia has engaged and integrated communities in project planning and implementation in all 10 of Zambia’s provinces to strengthen health-seeking behaviors within families and communities and to improve access to and utilization of health services. CMMB has implemented programs aimed at improving the lives of vulnerable and underserved populations, collaborating with partners to provide life-saving medicines and medical equipment, health services, and health promotion initiatives to better the lives of vulnerable Zambians. Most recently, programs have focused on maternal and child health (including nutrition); community-based HIV prevention, including prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT); child protection, by strengthening systems and families; and voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC).

CMMB’s global strategy strives to improve health outcomes for women and children through its Children and Mothers Partnerships (CHAMPS) program. Each local program site is based at a local health facility and embodies CMMB’s commitment to work in that catchment area over 15 years. In Zambia, CHAMPS got its start in 2014 with a base at Mwandi Mission Hospital, in partnership with the Mwandi District Medical Office. There, activities work to: reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality; improve nutritional outcomes; prevent HIV and provide adherence support to adults and children living with HIV; refer women with chronic illness for care and treatment; improve water and sanitation; increase livelihoods, reducing poverty and increasing families’ capacity to nurture their children and send them to school; and prevent and promote early detection and treatment of common childhood killers: diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria.

Placement Site: Mwandi, Zambia

Mwandi is a small, traditional and rural town, located on the edge of the Kalahari Desert. The Lozi people are the main inhabitants of the Western Province. There is water and power available at the hospital and the volunteer accommodations. Language can be more of an issue here, given the rural environment, but there are interpreters on the ground to help facilitate communication between the local people and the volunteers.

Learn More:
http://mwandimission.org/
http://mwandi-mission.awardspace.com/Hospital.html
https://cmmb.org/country-office/zambia/

Duties & Responsibilities

• Consult and coordinate with health care team members to assess, plan, implement and evaluate patient care plans.
• Perform skill assessment and treatment.
• Incorporate clinical findings and scientific evidence in the development, coordination and implementation of an individualized plan of care to achieve desired outcomes.
• Customized intervention to improve the person’s ability to perform daily activities and reach their goals. Considering home, work and school environments.
• Give guidance to family members and caregivers based on intervention and patient care plan.
• Formulate teaching plans based on identified learning needs and evaluate effectiveness of learning; family is included in teaching as appropriate.
• Maintain performance improvement activities within the department.
• Directs and supervises Occupational Therapy Assistants and Occupational Therapy Students as needed.

Qualifications & Skill Requirements:

• Spanish fluency.
• Current license in good standing.
• Board Certification as an Occupational Therapist.
• Graduated from relevant Accredited Degree Program.
• Ability to collect and analyze pertinent data and/or clinical findings.
• Ability to provide patient educational information appropriate to the developmental level, learning needs, readiness, cultural values, and beliefs of patients and families.
• Ability to recognize and interpret symptoms.
• Communicates appropriately and clearly to physicians, staff and administrative team.
• Capacity to administer treatment to patients while dealing with them in a sympathetic and tactful manner.
• Ability and willingness to provide guidance to staff members.
• Knowledge of professional and ethical standards of health care delivery and practice.
• Familiarity and interest in global health issues, especially maternal and child health issues.
• Willingness to endure resource-limited working conditions and evening/weekend hours.

Benefits & Conditions: Each international volunteer who serves 6 months or longer in the field receives a round-trip ticket to their placement site, housing, a monthly stipend, insurance coverage, storytelling and fundraising training, and the opportunity to contribute to vital community development initiatives for under-served populations while building a longstanding legacy for the community. Volunteers are required to share stories from the field and cover part of the cost of their placement through fundraising ($5,000).

Interested? Apply Today!

Contact & Application:

Apply online at: https://cmmb.org/get-involved/volunteer/

Email: volunteer@cmmb.org