Kenya is a developing country and a majority of the citizens live below the poverty level. Many rural families receive less than basic health treatment and facilities are substandard. Basic Kenya healthcare is deficient amongst the poorest citizens who already do without so much. Loved ones are lost each day to afflictions that could be remedied with simple but essential healthcare.

To address these issues, Kenya government has established many rural health centers and government hospitals. As these facilities are cheaper or affordable for poor families, they are always over-crowded with patients. There is a consistent shortage of resources and manpower, specifically doctors. Available doctors often have no facilities at which to care for the sick.. The outlying areas and villages desperately need medical interns. As a medical intern in Kenya , you often work in these rural conditions. Usually an intern acts as an assistant to available doctors, helping with whatever task necessary. Work responsibilities vary with education, skill and experience. There are so many areas in which the medical community and Kenyan citizens need help.

Interns/interns who are interested in joining our internship health program must possess health care certification, such as an ID as a medical student, EMT or paramedic certification, or nursing or physician's credentials. We do not permit interns without medical credentials to work in this program due to the potential risk. The hospitals require a copy of your resume, clearly documenting credentials and education, before your arrival to the project. Projects will also require an official copy of your credentials.

Job responsibilities for medical project interns/interns vary dependent on education, skills, experience and qualifications and on the community's current needs. Interns/Interns are not permitted to perform major exams or surgeries. Most often interns help doctors or work as their assistants. As a medical intern in Kenya , you could be placed in a large hospital or small rural health center. Most of the hospitals (regardless of size ) have many departments: Emergency, Gynecology, Pediatrics Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases, Hematology, Endocrinology, Oncology, Internal Medicine, Clinical Pathology etc. so a intern may be placed in any department, but skills/qualifications will also be considered. Interns may take patients' blood pressure, temperature, height, weight and carry out health center tasks. You also assist in health camps, distribute medicines, provide tips to patients on health, nutrition and sanitation or provide counseling to patients. You may provide treatment for minor injuries or wounds and document patient records. The tasks and activities vary day by day!

IFRE manages living accommodations, provides meals and supervision for interns for the entirety of their stay in Kenya . During the internship period, most interns stay in our safe and secure Nairobi homebase. IFRE's Nairobi homebase is located in a beautiful area nearly 30 km from the Nairobi (Jomo Kenyatta) International Airport in the Thome 1 Estate in the Kasarani division of Nairobi . The estate is very safe and manned with onsite security. It is a clean, sparsely furnished home but will meet all your needs as an IFRE intern. It is close to the local bus station.

In the Thome 1 estate you can see beautiful British style houses that belong to some wealthy families of Kenya . Many business families, high ranked government officials and people with high social status live in this village. The nearby local bus (matatu) station is only one km away from the homebase and it is easily accessible by walking. This matatu runs to downtown Nairobi and it is approximately 15 km from IFRE's homebase in the Kasarani division. The matatu (van/bus style taxi) fare should be approximately $1 one way. Useful amenities within 2 km of the IFRE homebase are an internet café, restaurant and supermarket. The local police station is also located within approximately 2 km from the IFRE homebase.

Occasionally, depending on intern traffic, available projects or distance to an intern's assigned project, we may also place our interns with carefully pre-screened host families. Our host families are socially respected and are experienced with hosting international interns. They have strong interest in our interns' safety and well-being and demonstrate this with caution and care. In most host family situations, interns will share a room with another intern of the same gender. Another viable option is an at-orphanage stay. Many orphanages in Kenya have set aside special rooms to house international interns. Interns who have stayed with a host family or at an orphanage describe an enriched experience because of having done so. Once you have applied for program placement, you will find the specific details of your accommodations in your personal placement documents for your project interns are provided three meals a day. Kenyan foods include ugali - a porridge-like mash made from corn meal; chapatti - bread similar to a tortilla made from wheat flour; irio - a mash of corn, beans, greens and potatoes; rice. Due to monetary constraints, for the interns who arrive earlier or who want to stay longer, it is impossible to offer extra accommodation or food.