Welcome to Medical internship Africa at St. Anne Catholic Hospital, Damongo
With over 74 years of service, St. Anne Catholic Hospital has grown from a small clinic into a leading primary and referral healthcare facility in the Savannah Region, serving Damongo, West Gonja, North Gonja, and beyond.
St. Anne Catholic Hospital provides comprehensive healthcare services including outpatient and inpatient care, maternal and child health, surgery, diagnostics, emergency services, and community outreach. Our 100-bed facility is staffed by 288 dedicated professionals, including the only Surgical Fellow in the Savannah Region. thus, our hospital is well equiped for students to experience a unique medical internship Africa.
Medical internship in Ghana: Description
Medical internship Ghana is a global health elective in a clinically demanding setting. This internship at St. Anne Catholic Hospital offers advanced medical students an opportunity to gain clinical experience in Ghana’s Savannah region. This location is considered one of the country’s more socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. Limited access to healthcare, high rates of child malnutrition, and delayed presentation of illness result in complex medical cases that differ significantly from those typically encountered in high-income countries. Our internship provides valuable insight into healthcare delivery in a low-resource setting.
Student Prerequisites
A key feature of the elective is the emphasis on professional development. This internship location is offered to applicants in an advanced stage of their medical training (8th semester or higher). Applicants should not only have a solid foundation of clinical knowledge, but also exhibit a sound level of practical skills. Students are exspected be capable of working independently, prioritizing tasks effectively, and adapting to a dynamic and often challenging clinical environment. While select participants receive close guidance and strong tutoring from experienced local clinicians throughout the internship, our students should be able to demonstrate good situational awareness, recognize their own clinical limitations, and understand when to seek supervision, assistance, or support.
The ability to ask for help at the appropriate moment is considered an essential professional skill – a key component of safe and ethical medical practice. Resilience, adaptability, and a reflective attitude are important, as our students may encounter challenging medical, emotional, and cultural situations. These prerequisites help ensure both a high-quality educational experience and responsible patient care in a resource-limited setting.
Medical Internship Ghana: Hospital Placement and Facilities
Students placement in Ghana will be at St. Anne’s Catholic Hospital, a district-level hospital providing a broad range of medical services, including:
- Medical and surgical wards (male and female)
- Maternity and pediatric wards
- Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
- Operating room (OR)
- Emergency department (ER) and Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
Recent milestones of St. Anne catholic hospital:
- 36,538 outpatient visits in 2024 (Prior 26,795)
- 622 major surgeries, supported by surgical outreaches and expert staff
- Zero maternal deaths, reflecting high-quality care and staff training
- The hospital achieved Level 4 Safecare status
- Expanded diagnostic services utilizing solar energy
The usual elective duration is 4 weeks.
Educational Structure and Learning Objectives
The internship follows a flexible structure without fixed weekly schedule. We strieve to adapt clinical activities to both, student interests and institutional needs. This allows our students to participation across multiple departments, as for example supporting pediatric services during infectious disease outbreaks. This approach promotes interdisciplinary learning and a comprehensive understanding of clinical practice in a low-resource setting.
ER and Public Health Focus
Ongoing infrastructure development, combined with limited enforcement of traffic regulations, has contributed to a high burden of road traffic injuries. Factors such as unlicensed driving, alcohol use, and overcrowded vehicles are common. Consequently, the emergency department manages a substantial number of trauma cases, offering important exposure to acute and emergency care in resource-constrained environments.
OBS/Gyn Focus
For students interested in Obs/Gyn, a specialized 8–10 week elective provides intensive experience under the guidance of experienced tutors. You’ll work in the Maternity ward, Operating room (OR)and the NICU.
Expect to witness up to three births and up to two C-sections daily, care for patients ranging from adolescents to older mothers. From a social point of view, students can also gain insight into maternal health challenges arising from limited access to contraception and family planning. Opportunities to assist in deliveries and surgeries are usually available daily, alongside mentoring from experienced local clinicians.
As an institution committed to medical education and international collaboration, St. Anne Catholic Hospital welcomes MedoPolo medical students, interns, and healthcare professionals from around the world. The hospital provides hands-on experience in a wide range of medical disciplines and is a partner of MedoPolo International Medical Programs since 2025. The hospital is committed to contribute to the internationalization of medical education and to foster international medical exchange and networking amongst students.
Thus, select international medical students, interns, and healthcare trainees through MedoPolo Programs are welcome. Gain real hands-on experience in a dynamic clinical environment, while having the chance to contribute to the health of the Savannah Region.
You can always contact us if you have further questions about St. Anne Catholic Hospital. We hope to welcome you to our partner clinic in Damango, Ghana, and are of course available with help and advice to make your medical internship not only an educational, but as well an unforgettable experience out of the box.
Apply Now for your unforgettable medical education experience!
