Public Health Internship In Zambia

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This is a 4-week global health program that takes place in the town of Livingstone, Zambia. The internship is designed to improve access to, and quality of, healthcare. You will do innovative work in a low-income area that includes determining the health of community populations, launching and running initiatives, and addressing context-specific barriers to effective healthcare. 

Read about a previous volunteer’s reflections on her Public Health Internship in Zambia.

Project Highlights

  • Obtain practical experience as part of a 360-degree internship, exploring key issues in Zambia’s public healthcare system and bringing research-driven change
  • Gain an understanding for social research methods in an under-resourced area and learn how to report on understandings of problems surrounding health
  • Explore a variety of community health issues and how they intersect with gender, environmental and behavioural studies
  • Engage with healthcare workers, professionals and NGOs in varied settings to acquire an in-depth view of current health challenges – monitoring the status quo and assessing emerging trends
  • Deliver practical workshops on topics that range from promoting disease prevention to living a healthy life
  • Learn how to collect data, interpret survey methodology, and analyse health indicators, within a supportive and solution-focused program
  • Live in the heart of Livingstone, Zambia; a dynamic town bordering the Natural Wonder of Victoria Falls
rural-healthcare-hiv-aids-awareness-volunteer-south-africa

Quick Facts

Livingstone, Zambia

Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport

Specific Start Dates

4 weeks

Impact: Healthcare

Destination

volutneers out enjoying the african bush

Livingstone is a beautiful, rural town in southern Zambia just a stone’s throw away from the mighty Zambezi river and the border of Zimbabwe. It is a hub for visitors looking to experience one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World – Victoria Falls, locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, ‘the Smoke that Thunders’. Livingstone is the ultimate playground for adventure-seekers, wildlife enthusiasts, and lovers of the great outdoors. Whether you’d like to bungee jump, swim in the ‘Devil’s Pool’, white water raft down the Zambezi, join a river safari or enjoy an African sunset, every experience in Livingstone is unique. The town itself is relaxed and friendly with an intriguing culture and history. Here, you’ll find arts and craft producers, museums, colonial architecture, traditional village life, as well as delicious local food and laidback African lifestyle.

You’ll be staying in the heart of Livingstone at a private volunteer house within the popular and vibrant Victoria Falls Backpackers Zambia. This comfortable backpackers’ is 15 minutes from Victoria Falls and is a 5 minute walk from Livingstone’s town centre which has many stores and a great selection of cafes and restaurants for you to explore at weekends.

You will have access to a swimming pool, lounge, bar, fire pit area and even a climbing wall! These communal areas offer the perfect space to get to know each other and relax at the end of the day. Bedrooms are dormitory style with bunk beds and shared bathroom facilities, as well as daily housekeeping. The staff can share knowledge about the area and are happy to help organize river cruises, canoe safaris, and trips to Chobe National Park. You won’t want to leave your “new home” as the staff will become your new family!

You will receive three fresh and delicious meals a day cooked by local chefs during the week. For breakfast you can expect cereal and toast, along with a cooked option such as eggs, pancakes or French toast. Lunch could be a wrap, pizza or sandwich paired with a fresh crispy salad. For dinner you might have a pasta dish, curry with rice or an authentic stew. Vegetarian options are available and we can cater to most dietary requirements. At weekends you will have access to the kitchen to make your own food, though most volunteers choose to visit local cafes and restaurants. Café Zambezi makes great traditional Zambian food and is a favourite amongst locals, while Maramba River Lodge is a popular spot for sundowners and Fez Bar is a popular place to hang out with locals and do a little dancing in the evenings!

To keep in touch with family and friends back home, Victoria Falls Backpackers has complimentary WiFi for you to use during your stay. You can also purchase a SIM card with data bundles if you wish.

Weather in Livingstone tends to be stable and sunny from August until late October when the “monsoon” rains start to hit. Either side of this time, the weather is very pleasant. The climate is tropical or sub-tropical depending on altitude, with a hot, humid, and rainy season from mid-November to March and a dry season from April to mid-November. October is typically the hottest month of the year.  

Project Impact Areas

Public Healthcare

By measuring success and working on challenges with African Impact, you are helping to share solutions and raise awareness. You will engage in research to provide support to often forgotten and over-looked demographics. Your work with pivotal groups contributes to your legacy while aiding their well-being.

You will work closely with members of the community in workshops that address issues including mental health, general nutrition, physical health, and other topics tailored according to age, gender, and income bracket. Providing opportunities to ask questions, provide resources, and share answers is always the goal.

public-health-internship-program-zambia
public-health-internship-program-zambia

Workshops And Innovation

Effecting interventions at grassroots level can be highly useful in accomplishing change. That is why we work with groups that can go on to support each other. Through a series of workshops (that you will help deliver) on varying topics, you’ll find your internship experience to be dynamic and fulfilling in surprising ways. A structured delivery based on strong research will please any crowd. You will gain valuable skills during these workshops. You may present on HIV, talk to different schools or establishments, or compare the dynamics of rural vs urban medicine.

Clinic Visits And Home-Based Care

This will be a regular part of the program and gives you an opportunity to learn from others on the front line of public healthcare. Often the focus is on reactive care while looking to involve and speak to “at-risk” individuals. You may sit in on talks on teenage pregnancy from a local midwife or discussions on pre- and post-natal care, cholera, malnutrition, living with HIV, or medication protocols.

You will also work in a home-based care system on the outskirts of Livingstone to gain insight into the healthcare system and the difficulties and limitations faced daily.

public-health-internship-program-zambia
public-health-internship-program-zambia

Professional Development

Throughout your stay, you will be supported by our Internship Supervisor, as well our project coordinators who will add context to your specific interests within this field; this will provide a deeper insight into the history of Zambia, as well as the challenges facing Zambia’s healthcare system. Your supervisor will support you with tools to use throughout your experience and beyond, exploring personal goals and opportunities for your future  

Other Activities

Recent Volunteer Reviews

Dates & Rates

When would you like to volunteer?

Give us an idea of your travel plans, you can also say ‘I’m not sure yet.’ We’ll take it from there.

How long would you like to volunteer?

This is the place to select your preferred duration(s). The African Impact team recommend at least 4 weeks for a truly memorable experience!

4 weeks $3050

Personal Information

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Project Fee Includes:

  • Accommodation throughout your entire stay at the lively Victoria Falls Backpackers Zambia, in a private section shared by our volunteers, interns and staff
  • 3 delicious meals a day cooked by chefs from the local community (weekdays only)
  • Airport pick-up and drop-off by the African Impact team
  • Experienced international and local staff members who are there to support you 24/7
  • Full training and mentoring within your chosen field

Project Fee Excludes:

  • Flights
  • Medical or travel insurance
  • Visa-related costs
  • Weekend trips or tours, or any other non-placement activity
  • Laundry
  • Snacks, soft drinks, gifts or souvenirs
  • Mandatory contribution of US$25 that is donated to the African Impact Sustainability Fund

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