Volunteer Opportunity With VSO as Pediatrician

VSO is the world’s leading international development charity that works through volunteers to create a fair world for everyone. At VSO we pride ourselves on doing development differently. We fight poverty not by sending aid, but by working through volunteers and partners to create long-lasting change in some of the world’s poorest regions. In 2018/19, VSO supported over one million of the poorest and most excluded people in 23 countries across Africa and Asia.

Why volunteer?

Volunteering with VSO is your opportunity to improve lives and gain unforgettable experiences. You will immerse yourself in a new culture, face fresh challenges and build new friendships whilst doing something truly fulfilling.

The objective of this role is to improve the quality of health services through capacity building of the health workers and clinical senior in management staff of essential newborn and maternal care. You will also support the development of manuals and protocols for Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) advising, where needed, on the NICU refurbishment and set-up process.

Essential:
•Qualified medical professional (MD) specialised in paediatrics and preferable further specialisation in neonatology
•Medical degree (MBBS or equivalent)
•A minimum of 3-5 years of proven specialist experience and training in paediatrics within a hospital setting of which at least 2 years in neonatal care and department management
•In the UK you need to have completed ST5 prior to departure for most roles, however doctors at ST3 and ST4 level might be accepted for some placements
•For roles in Ethiopia please note we require fully qualified paediatricians

Desirable:
•Work experience as paediatrician in Africa
•Prior experience in clinical teaching and mentoring in the area of paediatric care
•Experience of department management
•Excellent team management and leadership skills
•Resource management: optimisation of specialist medical

Countries where VSO is currently running Health programmes needing Pediatricians are Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sierra Leone.

How we support our volunteers

VSO provides a support package which includes a basic living allowance, accommodation, medical cover and travel expenses. You’ll get extensive training before leaving and support from local staff when you’re overseas. When you return, we’ll help you resettle.

Some background about VSO

In the last 60 years, we have worked in over 90 countries and supported over 50 million people. We’ve gone from being a UK charity to a truly global development organisation.
Our proven approach works with volunteers of different skillsets, from overseas consultants to youth. These volunteers work alongside community organisations, local and national governments, and global partners.
Right now, VSO is bringing justice to rape survivors in Pakistan, building resilient disaster prevention and relief in Mozambique, ending stigma against children with disabilities in Ethiopia and tackling the youth skills gap in Uganda and Bangladesh.
Today over 50% of our people are recruited from within the country in which they work, and we continue to grow the share of community and national volunteers involved in our programmes. We also send increasing numbers of volunteers from one developing country to another. However, our vision has remained the same: create a fair world for everyone.