Med'EqualiTeam
Med’EqualiTeam is a French-based non-profit organisation and is entirely dependent on crowdfunding, donations and support from other NGOs. The mission of Med'EqualiTeam is to provide free healthcare for displaced or vulnerable populations, when they face financial, social, linguistical, logistical, or psychological obstacles in their access to healthcare.
Our project in Northern Greece is providing medical support through a health clinic in Thessaloniki, a mobile unit operating in community centers accessible from isolated camps, and training and health education sessions for NGOs and community members to improve population health. We also monitor health needs and advocate for our patients to access services they need for their health, thanks to our interpreters and trusted services.
All of our healthcare is provided with respect, dignity and absolute confidentiality. We work according to established medical and general ethical guidelines.
Where is it?
Thessaloniki, Greece
What will I be doing?
Volunteer as a Medical Doctor:
Our team of doctors spans a wide variety of experience and medical specialties, including not limited to: general practitioners, paediatricians, internal medicine (or infectious diseases), and emergency medicine.
Doctors treat patients in our clinics; they examine patients, identify cause of symptoms, explain treatments and administer simple medications if necessary, provide medical advice and make prescriptions.
They can be also involved in first aid trainings and health education sessions (cf nurse part)
Volunteer as a Nurse:
Our nurses are responsible for supporting in clinics by running the wound care area, taking patients observation, undertaking some quick tests and other procedures.
Depending on interest, experience and training, nurses can also partake in consultations and administer symptomatic treatment.
Nurses are also required to help and support with the first aid trainings we deliver to the volunteer of partner ngos, as well as health education sessions we design for beneficiaries in different centers. These sessions are very popular and require some preparation, as well as understanding the needs and framing the contents so they can be as best received and useful to the population.
Volunteer as a Medical Student:
Our medical students are responsible for assisting doctors with operational procedures and can support (depending on the configuration of the clinic) with: screening, triage, medication preparation and health workshops. They can’t discharge a patient by their own. They are also more than welcome to support the training and health information sessions.
Volunteer as an Interpreter:
Interpreting from the most commonly spoken languages in Thessaloniki - Arabic, Farsi and Kurdish - our interpreters are the crucial bridge between our medics and patients
What impact would I have?
Obstacles encountered by refugees are a lack of available physicians, translation services, identification and medical documents, funding, trust in or understanding of local services, and distance to clinics. In addition, the mental burden of displacement, often coupled with the hope of returning home soon, often leads to dangerous delays in seeking medical assistance.
The influx of large numbers of refugees, both to urban centres and rural areas, stretches the capacity of local medical services and can threaten the goodwill of the local population towards refugees. By providing relief for local medical services, Med'EqualiTeam helps to reduce the tensions and fatigue arising in long-term displacement scenarios.
Who will I be working with?
Volunteers will be working closely with our Team of Coordinators.
Medical and non-medical logistics - such as pharmacy and equipment orders, volunteer welfare, scheduling, budget, and contact with other NGOs - are organized by our coordination team.
They are usually long-term members of the organization who are very familiar with the local working context and the running of the clinic.
They are always available for any support you may need.
Minimum age
21
Accommodation
Med’EqualiTeam has an NGO flat in the Neapoli Area in the west of the city, a 35-minutes walk to the Wave clinic and the city centre.
There is a shared room (3 people) for volunteers which is available for €5 a night for the first month, and €2 a night thereafter. Check with the volunteer coordinator to find out if there is availability for you to stay here.
Other accommodation options would be to rent privately through Airbnb or local agents. Facebook is a common place for available accommodation places to be shared including sublets.
Extra Costs
Personal living expenses
Transport to and back from Thessaloniki - transport on the ground to the different centers is covered by the NGO.
Medical liability for doctors (as our NGO doesn’t not provide it)
An emergency health insurance with repatriation is provided by the NGO.
Skills needed
Throughout your stay with us, you will have to be flexible and adaptable, as we are constantly adapting our services to refugees’ needs.
You will also be required to help with other tasks to keep the operation going, such as restocking the mobile units and other support tasks.
Finally, the following are additional desired experiences and skills:
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Previous experience with working with displaced people.
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A driving licence and experience driving a manual car.
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Knowledge of locally relevant languages (Greek, Arabic, Farsi).
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Minimum time requirement
2 Weeks
Interested in Volunteering?