Description
Help the veterinary team at the Hicks International Training Centre to train international vet students and new graduates.
This volunteer position will be helping the ITC staff run surgical training courses for Indian and international vet students and new graduates, assisting them during surgery, leading lectures and demonstrations and helping them improve their surgical skills.
Volunteers will be helping the ITC staff run courses which teach participants about the importance of dog population control in India and practical skills in performing spay/neuter surgeries.
The ABC-surgery (Animal Birth Control) course includes practical surgery sessions in the operating theatre as well as lessons in the classroom. The focus of the course is in best recommended field practices that are relevant for the high volume ABC-clinics and programs in developing countries where huge stray dog population is a problem.
The ITC ABC-surgery course is a great opportunity to those wishing to gain more confidence in routine soft tissue surgery as well as for those who plan to work in ABC-programs or in other animal health, welfare & development programs in developing countries in the future.
We ensure each student pair performing surgery is assisted by a qualified and experienced vet, and this is where you come in! By volunteering with WVS, you'll not only be helping the local animal population but training and inspiring the next generation of vets.
All dates below include travel days.
The country this project is based in is listed as a high risk of Zika virus on the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) website. Please follow the advice on their website when considering participating in this project.
Duration
14
Availability
Spaces available
Cost
£50 (WVS admin fee)
+ Flights - approximately £560+ Vaccinations + Visas
Duration
14
Availability
Spaces available
Cost
£50 (WVS admin fee)
+ Flights - approximately £560+ Vaccinations+ Visas
Country
India
Animals
Dates
Dates available throughout the year.
Any questions?
+44 1725 557225
Courses commence on a Monday with health and safety briefing. Days will then be structured as follows:
- 08:00am daily rounds of kennels
- You will be asked to observe students administering pain relief and wound scoring
- 09:00am students to surgery
- You will be asked to observe and to ensure good practise by the student surgeons and require scrub into assist.
- Lunch served at the training centre
- Afternoons: Continuation of surgery and also lectures on surgical procedures you will be asked to talk about a subject that you specialise in or have knowledge of that the students will find interesting and stimulating, this would be required just once during your volunteering.
- Weekend free time: During the week end you will have the opportunity to explore the local area and see some of the amazing sites of Goa. You might like to join one of our mass rabies vaccination drives which would give you the unique opportunity to see rural India.
You will be accommodated at our ITC or a local hotel.
A minimum of 5 years practising experience is required to teach at the ITC.
Included as standard
Accommodation & Airport Transfers
Not included as standard
Flights, Meals, Travel Insurance, Vaccinations
What to pack
Volunteers should take practical / comfortable clothes to work in e.g (scrubs). If you would like to purchase a WVS scrub top please contact the office or visit our online shop.
- Practical / comfortable clothes to work in (eg. scrubs)
- Wet weather gear and warm clothing for the evenings
- Towel
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Ear plugs and eye mask
- Headlamp
- Toiletries
- Prescriptions & over-the-counter medication (eg. Imodium, Paracetemol etc)
The project may be extremely short on certain supplies and would likely be very grateful for donations. Please get in touch with us to find out if there is anything in particular that would be helpful to bring with you. If you have any spare room in your bag on the outbound flight, it would be highly appreciated if you are able to bring some spare supplies to use during your trip. This is at your discretion and entirely optional.
Travel Insurance
It is essential that you obtain comprehensive travel insurance for this project which also covers you for veterinary work. We recommend Go Walkabout who offer tailor made travel insurance policies for WVS volunteers. Please note that fully paid members of WVS also receive a 10% discount on Go Walkabout policies.
Health & Vaccinations
This information should be used as a guide only. For up to date information on immunisations please consult your doctor. You will need to allow plenty of time before travelling for your immunisations to be effective. DO NOT LEAVE THIS UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE. As you will be working with animals the Rabies and Tetanus vaccines are essential. We have provided links below to websites with useful information on immunisations and travel advice which we highly recommend that you visit.
- www.fco.gov.uk - Website of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for travel advice generally and specifically by Country.
- www.lonelyplanet.com - For help travel advice
- www.nathnac.org - Useful information on immunisations required for travel
- www.mdtravelhealth.com - Helpful travel advice website, updated daily.
Visas
UK passport holders are required to obtain a visa before travelling. Please visit the Foreign Commonwealth Office website for further details: www.fco.gov.uk. All WVS volunteers are required to organise their own visas.