November 23, 2010 | British Columbia

Haiti is still in need of volunteers to help with healthcare efforts

Vancouver, BC - November 23, 2010 - Hundreds of thousands of people have donated money to contribute to relief efforts in Haiti, but if you'd like to help Haiti in a more hands-on way, the volunteer opportunities are endless.

The Haiti Earthquake

With so many medical facilities damaged in the earthquake, healthcare has been critically disrupted at a time when medical needs are at their highest. More than 300,000 Haitians were injured in the original disaster, and the survivors of the quake have had to face a number of dangers and hardships since. An October 2010 outbreak of cholera continues to threaten Haitians, which means healthcare aid continues top priority.

Volunteer in Haiti

Organizations are currently looking for volunteers who have some sort of healthcare-related training and experience, particularly in the surgical or trauma fields, such as doctors, nurses, anesthesiologists, general and orthopedic surgeons, and surgical technicians. However, if you don't have the training or experience yet, you can still volunteer in Haiti by assisting medical personnel, organizing health education classes, and distributing medical supplies.

Volunteering your time and helping with relief aid efforts in Haiti will provide you with invaluable experience, both personally and professionally. It'll look great on your resume and could help further your career in healthcare.

Haiti Volunteer Opportunities

If you're interested in doing volunteer work in Haiti, contact non-profit organizations like Doctors Without Borders and National Nurses United, relief aid agencies like the Red Cross, or even your local church or community centre for opportunities.

Fill in the form to your right for more information on the healthcare programs at CDI College.

Read part one in our series on Haiti.

Helen Lee is a writer living in Vancouver, BC. Her work has appeared in a number of publications including Metropolis and 10 Magazine. Helen holds a BA in English and a diploma in journalism. When she is not writing, she enjoys getting lost in new cities. She hopes to return to Haiti soon to continue helping with relief efforts.