This unique, two-week course is designed to give you a hands-on introduction to wildlife veterinary medicine in Malawi, with a focus on both wildlife and small animals. You will be taught by veterinarians from two of Malawi’s leading animal welfare organisations, Lilongwe Wildlife Trust (LWT) and the Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (LSPCA).

This course can be combined with another placement. If you are looking for a longer veterinary placement, check out our vet externship.

DATES

19 August – 2 September 2024 

3 – 18 August 2025

LOCATION

Lilongwe Wildlife Centre and the Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals. Accommodation will be at Lilongwe Wildlife Centre for the whole duration of the course. Our newly built volunteer house accommodates 17 people in six rooms. It features a fully equipped kitchen, indoor and outdoor dining areas, a large living room and separate sex bathroom facilities.

QUALIFICATION REQUIRED

Applicants must be studying for a vet-related qualification.

COURSE CONTENT

Five days at Lilongwe Wildlife Centre: Under the instruction of our veterinary team, you’ll be taught through both lectures and wet labs. You’ll have a chance to learn about parasitology, haematology, primate infectious and non-infectious diseases, emergency management, rehabilitation, pharmacology, medication, suture patterns in wildlife, remote capture systems, and key conservation issues. You’ll assist with our annual health monitoring programme for primates, which includes physical exams, patient monitoring, and sample collection and analysis.

Five days at the LSPCA: the LSPCA field clinics are a dynamic and hands-on opportunity for you to gain practical experience in companion animal surgery and anesthesia. You will actively participate in the anesthesia and surgical procedures, under the close supervision of our experienced veterinarians and nursing team. This hands-on experience will allow you to learn proper surgical techniques, through observation, assisting, and performing the surgeries yourself as you gain confidence and proficiency as well as learning how to administer and monitor anesthesia in a field setting. In addition to spaying and neuter surgeries, our field clinics are a great opportunity to provide primary care to sick animals presented. Cases are varied and you may have the opportunity to encounter a variety of cases, such as transmissible venereal tumors, babesiosis, and distemper to name a few.

PRICE

£1,800 GBP 

Price includes: accommodation, vegetarian meals, unlimited water, tea and coffee, airport transfers from Lilongwe, all work-related transport, a tour of Lilongwe city, a local SIM card, LWT and LSPCA t-shirts and an LSPCA surgical cap.

All other expenses will be your responsibility. This includes: flights, visas, vaccinations, a TB scan, and any excursions, souvenirs, nights outs, snacks and other personal expenses you might have.