Any questions?

PEACEWORK MEDICAL PROJECTS

 Frequently Asked Questions

1)     What benefit can I hope to receive from volunteering with Peacework Medical Projects?

The primary benefit that all volunteers receive is the recollection of the reasons why they went into medical service in the first place.  It is the positive personal affirmation that “I can make a difference in this person's life”.  Additionally, volunteers benefit from traveling to a foreign country and living among the people we will be serving with the attendant cultural exchanges that occur during that experience.

2)     What expenses will I be expected to personally cover?

Peacework Medical Projects is a grass roots volunteer organization.  Each volunteer pays his/her own way.  The fees are intentionally kept as affordable as possible.  The fee that has been charged for Honduras trips in the past three years has been $1,200 for a one week service.  For the Cambodia or Ghana trips, the cost will be $2600-3000 for a two week service, depending on the cost of airfare as the trip draws closer.  
This fee covers all flight expenses FROM PHOENIX, in-country travel for Peacework group activity (any side travel is your personal responsibility), all room and board while in-country.  If you are traveling from destinations other than Phoenix, you are expected to arrange transportation either to Phoenix, a mid point transfer or to the final destination. We can help you with this.  In this case, the fee charged reflects the actual cost of air travel from your chosen airport.

3)     What kind of living quarters can I expect?

Living quarters vary from staying in a modest hotel to camping and all points in between.  The quarters are determined by our location.  If we are in a city most likely we will be staying in a BASIC ONE STAR HOTEL.  If we are in the countryside we may be camping or sleeping in a school or warehouse type building.

4)     Is it safe?

Before Peacework goes to a new site, a site visit personally conducted by Pam Burwell is accomplished.  In addition to determining if there is a need for our service, she evaluates logistics, living quarter options, food options, the relationship with our local counterpart, and safety and security.  If there is any reason to feel that safety and security is compromised, we will not go.  However, just as within the U.S., there are areas within each city or country where it is unsafe to travel.  These are noted and any specific local issues are evaluated.  It is ultimately the volunteer who is responsible for his/her own personal safety.  Peacework will do everything possible to empower the volunteer to assure that safety and security.

5)     What if I get sick?

Each volunteer is required to obtain personal insurance that covers you during foreign travel.  If you have existing coverage, make sure that it covers foreign travel.  If it does not, there are several commercial insurance policies available at reasonable cost.  If you do become ill and the Peacework staff and volunteers are unable to provide adequate treatment, you will be transported to a local provider that has been vetted by our local counterpart as providing adequate and sanitary treatment and facilities.

6)     What do I need to bring with me?

As little as possible.  You will be expected to bring at least one suitcase weighing full baggage allowance for one bag that contains medicines.  This will leave you one bag for personal items.   If you do not depart from PHX, we will help you with this. As for clothing, that is very dependant on the area and time of year, but at all times your appearance in the villages must be modest.  In Cambodia, there should be no bare shoulders or thighs while in the pagoda where we are working and staying. Most places that Peacework serves are in hot and tropical areas so forget your cold weather gear and opt for sandals, sneakers, light cotton clothes.  Almost always there will be laundry service available so you don’t need to bring a clean change for every day.  Bring bug spray and sun block.  Bring enough of your medicine regimen to last for your full trip; you may not be able to secure additional supplies in-country.

7)     What about my computer, camera and cell phone?

It is strongly recommended that laptops NOT be brought.  Further, it is strongly recommended that if you bring a camera (and who wouldn’t???), that you keep the camera with you.  Cell phones in most places are GSM rather than CDMA as are most U.S. cellular phones.  If you bring a CDMA phone you can receive but not make calls.  If you have a GSM phone you can receive and make calls.  Also, you can get a local SIM chip in most countries that may be cheaper than international roaming.  Remember that most countries do not have the same plug configuration that we have in the U.S.  If you have a battery charger for your camera or phone, there is no problem with using 220 or 110 current but you must have a plug adapter. It is very easy to get internet access for e mail when we are in the cities where we travel. While in the villages, it is almost impossible to have outside contact.

8)     Who can participate?

Peacework Medical Projects accepts all medical practitioners including MD, DO, PA, NP, EMT, Paramedic, etc.  Except in pre-arranged rare circumstances, we do not accept students or volunteers without a medical training background.

9)     What about the language differences?

As a Peacework volunteer you will have the services of local interpreters if you do not have local language skills. 

10)  Will I have time to do any local site-seeing?

For every trip there is at least one day that is a “down day” and set aside for personal endeavors.  If you wish to shop, visit local tourist facilities, site see or just “bag it” that is your option. There are tourist sites of cultural significance that are visited in each country. Past examples: the Mayan Ruins of Copan in Honduras, the Slave Dungeon and Jungle Canopy Hike in Ghana, and Angkor Wat and The Genocide Museum reflecting the Khmer Rouge terror in Cambodia.

11)  Will I need special vaccinations?

For some countries special vaccinations are required.  Ghana is an example of a country requiring a current Yellow Fever vaccination.  You will be give specifics for any country for which you volunteer. As of 2008, there are no special vaccinations required for Cambodia or Honduras, although malaria prophylaxis is a personal choice. In Phoenix, you may wish to contact the travel RN Eileen at Arcadia Family Physicians for exact recommendations for your country of service. She is able to take care of your travel prophylaxis and vaccinations from that office.

12)   What sort of medical problems will we see and treat?

It may surprise you to learn that 95% of what we see as clinicians during our projects is no different than what is seen in primary care practice every day all over the US! This would include body aches, cough, congestion, rashes, skin infections, stomach ache...in some cases we see the end stage of disease that would not be seen in primary care practice domestically: untreated cancer or serious congenital problems, for example. The rare exotic medical problems do come forth, however: for example, you may see filarias, burulli ulcer, leishmaniasis, dengue fever, bot fly infestation, or malaria. We treat what we can, and for those who need referral, we make every effort to have those patients referred to regional medical authorities.

13)   How does Peacework Medical stock its pharmacy?

            Nearly all of our medicines come from two non profit clearinghouses for pharmaceuticals: MAP in Brunswick, GA, and Globus Relief Fund in Salt Lake City, UT. Peacework maintains partner status with these organizations, and pays a very reasonable fee for a ton of medicine (literally).