HEALTH

What do health Volunteers do?

Peace Corps Volunteers work in health projects providing maternal and child health services, nutrition and hygiene messages, organizational support at community clinics, and education about prevention of infections and vaccine-preventable diseases. Volunteers also help expand access to clean water and improve sanitation by advising communities how to build and maintain wells and latrines. By focusing on prevention, human capacity building, and education, Peace Corps Volunteers help improve basic healthcare at the grassroots level, where their impact can be the most significant and where health needs are most pressing. In helping communities take more responsibility for their own healthcare, Volunteers work to ensure the sustainability of their projects.

In addition to working on basic health issues, Volunteers address the impact of HIV/AIDS. Volunteers in HIV/AIDS education and prevention train youth as peer educators, collaborate with community leaders to develop appropriate education strategies, provide support to children orphaned by HIV/AIDS, and develop programs that provide support to families and communities affected by the disease. Volunteers do not provide direct medical care.

How can you get ready?

If you're interested in volunteering now in the health field, contact local hospitals or EMTs services and see how they could use your help. Or you can start or join an anti-drug, safe sex, or healthy eating campaign at your school. Another way to get involved is to contact national health organizations like the Red Cross.

The majority of Peace Corps Volunteers serving in health programs have a bachelor's degree (which can be in any area) and experience in health-related activities or a degree in health education, nutrition, dietetics, or another health-related discipline. Some applicants have a master's degree in public health, and some are registered nurses, physician's assistants, counselors, or teachers.

To learn more about the Peace Corps in the health sector, see here.