FAQ

Tshemba is proud to offer a trusted, professional and deeply meaningful volunteer programme for healthcare professionals. If you have any questions not answered in our FAQ, please join us for our next online information session or contact us today.

What is the benefit of volunteering?

Besides the immense impact and value you would add to the community, volunteering also allows you the opportunity to develop new skills, expose yourself to diagnoses and cases that might be rare in your typical day-to-day, as well as network with healthcare professionals from around the world.

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Are international healthcare professionals able to volunteer at Tshemba?

Yes, both local and international healthcare professionals are welcome, as long as they have current HPCSA certification to practice within South Africa. Tshemba will assist international volunteers with the process of registering with the HPCSA.

Can I volunteer as an allied health professional?

Most allied health professionals are incredibly valuable to our volunteer programme. Tintswalo Hospital has a strong rehab unit (physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech and hearing) which works with in-patients and out-patients and do limited outreach into schools and homes. Other disciplines that are particularly helpful include pharmacy, dietetics, optometry, and psychology. Please contact our volunteer coordinator Dr Rhian Twine for more information.

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What work will I do?

Volunteers can contribute to any of the following areas:

- Clinical work within your competencies.

- Teaching both on a formal level with Continuing Professional Education and on a one-on-one basis or at ward rounds.

- Getting involved with special projects such as quality improvement and protocol development.

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Where will I be posted?

The Tshemba Foundation volunteer programme operates in four distinct settings: Tintswalo Hospital, feeder primary care clinics, school health visits and the Hlokomela Clinic (an NPO primary care service for farm workers and other neglected groups).

Your deployment will be guided by the needs of the community, as well as your interest and skills. We try to balance volunteer preferences with ensuring you can also make the biggest impact.

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How long can a volunteer stay at Tshemba?

The minimum length of stay will vary according to discipline, but "the longer the better" is true whatever your discipline. A longer stay helps you to integrate and to respond better to the many opportunities and challenges you will experience. The longer you stay, the more significant and sustainable will be your contribution, the more new friends you will make and the more you will be rewarded professionally and personally. Ideally, international volunteers should aim to stay for a minimum of 8 weeks, allowing for acclimatisation and integration. South Africans should plan for a minimum of 2 weeks.

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Is the programme safe?

Volunteering with the Tshemba Foundation is very safe. Prior to your arrival to volunteer, we will provide a full briefing on malaria and HIV protocols, as well as any other health-related issues.

What is the process for healthcare professionals to volunteer at Tshemba?

It’s a quick application process. If you are interested in volunteering with Tshemba, please send an email to lisa@tshembafoundation.org. Once your email has been received, you will be invited to attend one of our informative and engaging online sessions so as to answer all your programme-related questions and give you a chance to hear from our team. If you are unable to attend this information session, then we can set up a private zoom meeting at your convenience.

Are there any community outreach programmes I can participate in?

In our area of operation, approximately 40% of the population is under the age of 15 years old. Most of these children lack access to formal healthcare services. To try overcome this, Tshemba runs an outreach programme visiting schools in the area on a monthly basis and offering specially tailored “Doctor Days” where children can get access to a range of healthcare services including doctors, audiologists, opticians, nutritionists, permaculture specialists and physiotherapists.

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Will my experience in urban healthcare settings limit my value as a volunteer?

All our volunteers bring clinical skills and insights that are extremely valuable to Tintswalo Hospital and the surrounding clinics. You bring fresh eyes to everyday problems, and your experience can allow for important teaching opportunities for local staff.

Some of our most often seen pathology is hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and degenerative musculo-skeletal disorders, i.e., disorders in which you will have experience. For those patients who present with HIV or TB as a co-morbidity, the local doctors will be able to discuss these cases with you and share local treatment protocols to help in your decision making.

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How will I find my way around?

When you first arrive, we will provide you with an orientation to get familiar with Tintswalo Hospital. You will need to make use of your own transportation to get to/from the Hospital, although many volunteers coordinate a shared vehicle.

If you are travelling to an outlying clinic for the first time, we will have someone accompany you and show you around.

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Are non-healthcare partners welcome?

Yes! There are an array of activities in the area to enjoy. Please speak to us if you’d like more information about the surrounding area.

What diseases/health risks are important from a personal or an occupational health point of view?

- Malaria: Please note we are a malaria endemic area and we strongly recommend prophylaxis for international volunteers.

- HIV: Tintswalo Hospital offers immediate post-exposure prophylaxis in case of needle stick injury.

- Covid-19: Standard procedures around PPE is recommended, as well as completing your vaccinations before arrival (unless you are abstaining on ethical or religious grounds).

- TB: The risk to you of contracting TB is extremely low unless you are immuno-compromised.

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Are volunteers expected to work “after-hours”?

Volunteers are expected to work from Monday to Friday, 07:45 until 16:00. For those who want to participate in after-hours work, your help will always be appreciated. For those volunteers staying a month or longer, we encourage you to take a long weekend off to appreciate some of the wonderful local tourist opportunities.