Whenever a volunteer reports any illness it is important this is recorded via health care diaries and communicated to your Project Coordinator.
NB: Overcommunication is better than under communication, especially when it comes to volunteer health – so if in doubt, contact your PC.
Key Points of Communication (Leader & Project Coordinator)
Contact Points (In the village):
Option 1: Scheduled PC check-ins (Mon/Wed/Fri) = Provide PC with a detailed group health update including all health updates from health diaries. Please be prepared with relevant documents for this chat.
Option 2: Ad Hoc Updates = You will need to send Ad Hoc health updates as and when needed. There are two types of updates:
- A new health update and
- A follow up health update (see templates in section below)
When to send ‘New Health Update’
- Illness or Injury & Unable to Attend Project (for over 24 hours)
- Deterioration or 48 Hours of Illness or Injury
- Emergency/ larger illness
When to send ‘Follow Up Health Updates’
- Daily for the first 48 hours after reporting illness
- If symptoms worsen at any point you are concerned about the volunteer, raise this immediately with your PC & seek medical treatment.
- After 48 hours (if symptoms are improving) = updates every 48 hours until better. If after 48 hours there is no improvement, volunteers should seek medical advice.
Contact Points (If visiting a medical facility):
- Leaving the Village = Project Coordinator should be contacted prior to a volunteer being taken to the Nurse or Doctor (where possible & phone signal permits)
- Arrival at Medical Facility = Update Project Coordinator
- After Consultation = Update Project Coordinator on the diagnosis & recommended course of treatment after consultation (send photos of prescriptions, treatment received, doctor’s certificate)
If a volunteer requires time away from the project a plan of action/expectations surrounding communication can be discussed with the PC.
Contact Points (Reintroduction to village after medical leave)
- Village arrival = Message project coordinator once volunteer arrives back in the community.
- Day 1 & 2 = monitor closely and provide updates every 24 hours
- After day 2 if symptoms have cleared up, close case. If symptoms are improving but still need monitoring, leaders update the PC every 48 hours. Once you are happy that the volunteer is back to full health, communicate this to your PC and we can close the health case.
If symptoms worsen during any point you are concerned about the volunteer, raise this immediately with your PC & seek medical treatment.