The International Medical Volunteers Association (IMVA) is a nonprofit organization that promotes, facilitates, and supports voluntary medical activity through education and information exchange. Our interests are primarily in developing countries. Formed in 1996, we work with a wide range of volunteers: physicians, dentists, nurses, therapists, hospital administrators, public health specialists, technologists, health educators, missionaries, physician's assistants, students and others interested in health care. We provide information about volunteer opportunities and offer practical advice on how to find and choose compatible assignments.
We do not, however, send or sponsor volunteers ourselves. We facilitate volunteering by providing educational materials about health problems in various parts of the world and on how to function effectively while abroad. Most importantly, we attempt to motivate healthcare workers to aid those most in need. The IMVA assists volunteer-seeking organizations, principally non-governmental organizations (NGO's), in locating volunteers to work in their programs and by providing a forum for project cooperation, information, equipment and supply exchange. Every year thousands of people donate their time to help combat disease and suffering in developing countries. Many work at home in support activities such as raising funds and collecting supplies. Some volunteers travel to lend a hand in person. They are a varied group including doctors, nurses, therapists, students, technicians, religious, missionaries and other dedicated persons with non-medical training. Some work independently, but most are at least loosely affiliated with a group or organization. Many come from North America or Europe to team up with local personnel. Many are able to give a week or two at a time, but some dedicate years or even a whole career. Short-term volunteers often travel at their own expense, sometimes even bringing with them donated supplies, money and medicines. Many, especially long-term volunteers, receive food, housing and perhaps even a small stipend while on assignment. The total numbers of individuals actually engaged in these activities and the monetary value of their work is unknown, but in 1990 the International Medical Volunteers Association surveyed 1,000 doctors and medical students and found that 11% indicated that they would strongly consider foreign service. Of those showing such an interest, one third had already had some overseas medical experience. Volunteers may choose from a variety of groups sponsoring medical aid work. They range from tiny informal associations to huge multi-national organizations with multi-million dollar budgets. Many groups have a religious affiliation. Institutions of higher education, national governmental and world governmental organizations such as the World Health Organization support these activities both directly and indirectly through training, research and supplies. The impact of volunteer work varies from country to country. In a country like Haiti, volunteer organizations (principally missionary groups) deliver a substantial proportion of health care to the poor. Read More
We do not, however, send or sponsor volunteers ourselves. We facilitate volunteering by providing educational materials about health problems in various parts of the world and on how to function effectively while abroad. Most importantly, we attempt to motivate healthcare workers to aid those most in need. The IMVA assists volunteer-seeking organizations, principally non-governmental organizations (NGO's), in locating volunteers to work in their programs and by providing a forum for project cooperation, information, equipment and supply exchange. Every year thousands of people donate their time to help combat disease and suffering in developing countries. Many work at home in support activities such as raising funds and collecting supplies. Some volunteers travel to lend a hand in person. They are a varied group including doctors, nurses, therapists, students, technicians, religious, missionaries and other dedicated persons with non-medical training. Some work independently, but most are at least loosely affiliated with a group or organization. Many come from North America or Europe to team up with local personnel. Many are able to give a week or two at a time, but some dedicate years or even a whole career. Short-term volunteers often travel at their own expense, sometimes even bringing with them donated supplies, money and medicines. Many, especially long-term volunteers, receive food, housing and perhaps even a small stipend while on assignment. The total numbers of individuals actually engaged in these activities and the monetary value of their work is unknown, but in 1990 the International Medical Volunteers Association surveyed 1,000 doctors and medical students and found that 11% indicated that they would strongly consider foreign service. Of those showing such an interest, one third had already had some overseas medical experience. Volunteers may choose from a variety of groups sponsoring medical aid work. They range from tiny informal associations to huge multi-national organizations with multi-million dollar budgets. Many groups have a religious affiliation. Institutions of higher education, national governmental and world governmental organizations such as the World Health Organization support these activities both directly and indirectly through training, research and supplies. The impact of volunteer work varies from country to country. In a country like Haiti, volunteer organizations (principally missionary groups) deliver a substantial proportion of health care to the poor. Read More
