As a medical professional, how would you like to lose yourself in Africa’s wildest nature while rediscovering a love to help those in need? Well here is your chance.

Tshemba Foundation offers a unique opportunity for doctors to seek well-deserved refuge and refind their passion for the profession.

As part of their voluntourism initiative, the Tshemba Foundation non-profit organisation invites both local and foreign doctors deep into the heart of South Africa’s bushveld, Hoedspruit, for a feel-good and do-good experience.

 

Tshemba offers a unique experience that juxtaposes a luxurious and relaxing holiday atmosphere with the needs of under-resourced rural hospitals and clinics. Volunteers reside in a five-star game lodge while providing essential medical care at Tintswalo Hospital and the surrounding clinics, as well as teaching local healthcare providers.

 

 

In providing this incredible opportunity, the NPO’s mission is to improve access to healthcare in low-income communities in Limpopo and Mpumalanga, while enriching the lives of the qualified medical professionals who join their volunteer programme. Not only do doctors get to enjoy the lush life of five-star living, but they also get a chance to make a real difference in the lives of others, sharing their skills and knowledge with local medical staff while also earning CPD (continuing professional development) points.

 

 

The program is gaining more and more popularity and real results are being seen. One such success story is shared here by John Gear, part-time teacher in the Clinical Associate Teaching Programme at Tintswalo, Tshemba Volunteering Physician, and the Foundation’s Chief Medical Officer and Clinical Coordinator.

This is what John has to say:

One slightly unexpected recent success story came from our final year students from the University of Pretoria who have just spent a year at Tintswalo Hospital at Acornhoek.

When asked in their end-of-year evaluation on their learning experiences, they rated the Tshemba Volunteers as their teaching high-light, singling out one particular volunteer who was here for 5 weeks for his passion, wonderful ward rounds and care for patients, staff and students. But in singling him out they were very keen to emphasise that all who had taught them had been amazing and had given them so much wisdom, maturity and insight into the challenges of being a caring health professional; lessons that they said would last their lifetimes.

This was an unexpected but most welcome endorsement of the teaching element of volunteering. There are many wonderful stories around patient care but unexpected praise from the new generation of rural health care providers was particularly special. Thank you Tshemba; our patients, staff and even our students need you. There is so much worthwhile work to be done.

 

If you’re a healthcare professional within or outside South Africa, check out all the information you need on the Tshemba Foundation website and sign up  for their exciting voluntourism initiative. 

 

 

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