I.M.H.O. MEDICAL VOLUNTEER TRIP TO ETHIOPIA Join I.M.H.O. this fall for an incredible 2‐week volunteer experience in East Africa and make a difference in the lives of those in need…
WHEN: 17‐30 October 2010 WHERE: Addis Ababa & Bahir Dar, Ethiopia WHY: To serve those in need by providing quality health & medical care WHO: Medical doctors & health professionals (especially those with a background in diabetes care, cardiology, eye care, primary care, & telemedicine) HOW MUCH: $995 all‐inclusive, excluding airfare
www.TheIMHO.org IMHO is pleased to announce that it is coordinating its first medical volunteer trip to Ethiopia this October 2010 and is seeking energetic volunteers who wish to serve the health & medical needs of poor patients in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. This trip is being planned with the full support of the Ethiopian Consulate of Los Angeles and the Amhara Development Association in Amhara, Ethiopia. IMHO seeks 12‐15 volunteers, particularly those who with a background or experience in diabetes medicine, cardiology, eye care/cataracts surgery, and primary care, as well as those with an interest or expertise in health education (ie: lecturing in local medical colleges & hospitals) and/or telemedicine. All volunteers will be expected to contribute a program fee to cover the cost of their own expenses (incl. housing, food, transport, etc.) and all program & supply costs. For more information or to express interest, please email the IMHO Programs Coordinator at coordinator@theimho.org.
IMHO MEDICAL MISSIONS OVERVIEW
IMHO is proud to announce the launch of a new initiative, the Medical Missions program, which will take international volunteers to under‐served communities in the developing world to provide much needed medical care! Inspired by the actions of so many following the tsunami disaster of December 26, 2004 in which over 400 IMHO volunteers went to serve in Sri Lanka, the IMHO team has decided to send similar teams of medical volunteers abroad, starting in Ethiopia in 2010!
VOLUNTEER REQUIREMENTS & PROGRAM FEE
All prospective volunteers must fill out a volunteer application and release waiver, which must be fully completed and sent back along with a non‐refundable application fee of $20. Volunteers will be considered based off their background, skills, interests, experiences, and other criteria that may be appropriate for each particular trip. Selected volunteers will be asked to pay a program fee to IMHO in installments, which will cover all of their expenses from arrival until departure (with the exception of any personal incidentals) and a contribution towards all needed supplies, medicines, equipment, and Team Lead’s travel expenses. Volunteers will also be expected to cover the cost of their airfare and to coordinate with the Team Lead in booking their flights so that airport pick‐up and drop‐off can be arranged specifically for each volunteer depending on arrival & departure date and time. This program employs a self‐financing model, meaning IMHO does NOT profit from any of these activities. The program fee for the Ethiopia volunteer trip in October 2010 is set at $995/person.
SERVICE WORK
Upon arrival in the target community, volunteers will work alongside the local partner organization and under the leadership of the IMHO Team Lead, in serving the needs of the community. Volunteers will serve in local hospitals and clinics, the exact schedule for which will be organized by the local partner organization. Any volunteers who wish to teach (in any subject) at the local medical colleges and hospitals are encouraged to do so. The exact topic of your presentation and overall plan should be discussed in advance with the IMHO Team Lead and communicated directly to the local partner organization. Volunteers are also encouraged to collect supplies in advance, including any medicines, equipment, or other resources that might be helpful to the benefitting communities. We will also be scoping out potential future projects and collaborations with our partner organizations. Volunteer accommodations will vary from site to site, but volunteers should expect simple but satisfactory conditions. The Team Lead will work to ensure that all volunteers have their needs met and are cared for properly throughout their stay, helping to address any logistical issues as they arise. All housing, food, water, transport, and any other volunteer needs will be organized and taken care of by the IMHO Team Lead. The IMHO Team Lead will be in frequent communication with all volunteers prior to trip departure to help each person prepare for their trip and to coordinate travel. For this trip we will be partnering with the Amhara Development Association (ADA), an indigenous non‐governmental and non‐profit grassroots organization established in 1992 by the people of the Amhara region of Ethiopia. ADA’s mission includes the elimination of poverty and backwardness of the Amhara people by promoting health, education and other infrastructure services. You can learn more about ADA on their website: www.telecom.net.et/~ada/. In particular, we will be working in the areas in and around Bahir Dar, which is on the banks of Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile River.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION For additional information about this upcoming volunteer trip to Ethiopia or to request an application, you may contact the IMHO Programs Coordinator, Greg Buie, at coordinator@theimho.org or visit our website at www.TheIMHO.org for more details. Thank you very much for your interest and support!
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