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Serve where you’re needed mostMaternal and Child Health Specialist
Health
Job highlights
- Turn your passion and skills into impact by supporting public health programs in Guyana.
- Expand your project management proficiency and sharpen your monitoring and evaluation skills.
- Experience one of the most biodiverse South American countries while gaining a deeper understanding of its culture.
Guyana • South America
In partnership with: Ministry of Health-Maternal and Child Health Unit
Get answers live — every weekday at .
Apply by
November 15, 2026Know by
January 1, 2027Depart on
May 30, 2027Duration
10 monthsAbout the project
Communities in Guyana are looking for certified midwives and nurses to support community-level health education and services.
Limited sexual and reproductive health education, cultural stigma, transportation barriers, and shortages of trained healthcare workers all restrict access to timely prenatal and emergency obstetric care in Guyana. Adolescent pregnancy—roughly 20% of the country’s pregnancies—is closely tied to cycles of poverty, school dropout, and limited access to contraception and reproductive health services. Geographic isolation further complicates healthcare delivery, particularly in remote and underserved regions that face a shortage of obstetric specialists and midwives. While maternal and adolescent health are national priorities, the scale and complexity of these challenges exceed the capacity of Guyana’s health system, underscoring the need for substantial additional support.
As a Maternal and Child Health Specialist, you will collaborate with health workers to support the design, implementation, and evaluation of public health programs. Together, you will provide high-quality health education, equipping families with the knowledge to make healthy choices. Through sustained community engagement, strengthened health workforce capacity, and improved organizational systems, you’ll support communities to build healthier, more resilient futures.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Guyana project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have the following criteria:
Bachelor's degree in public health, community health, social sciences, or a related field.
AND
Two or more years of relevant work experience in public health, preferably in one of the following areas: maternal health, infant and child health, nutrition, malaria control, and the prevention and care for tuberculosis (TB) or HIV/AIDS.
Language: There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
Required behavioral competencies
These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:
Motivation for and commitment to service
Adaptability and open-mindedness
Problem solving and resourcefulness
Behavioral maturity and professionalism
Photos from Guyana
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Facilitate knowledge-sharing of health topics to encourage healthy behaviors.
Strengthen the technical capacity of service providers to effectively deliver health services and high-quality health education.
Implement community mobilization activities to increase awareness, acceptance, and use of health services, products, or behaviors.
Support the implementation of new practices, tools, or resources to strengthen organizational capacity.
Organize and facilitate training sessions, workshops, and community outreach.
Prepare regular progress reports, success stories, and case studies.
Support the development of monitoring and evaluation tools and frameworks.
You may also work on additional projects that meet your community’s interests and priorities, such as maternal mental health screening and awareness and physical activity and exercise groups.
Peace Corps Response Volunteers (PCRVs) serve in regional communities ranging from remote towns to semi‑urban villages. PCRVs will be accommodated in host families as a priority, with limited independent housing. Daily life may include modest living conditions with limited electricity, internet, and running water. While most sites are rural, Volunteers can visit larger markets monthly to restock supplies.
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Guyana country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Guyana
Christopher J.
Small Business Trainer
"It has been rewarding to see how much we can accomplish and how my skills can be applied in different contexts, all from the comfort of my home."
See full Volunteer profile
After a two-week orientation on topics such as health and safety, you will move to an urban community where you will collaborate with maternal child health workers to assess the needs and develop a workplan in line with their established goals.
Only heterosexual couples can be accepted for this program. Each person must apply separately and must qualify for a position in either the same or a different sector than their partner. Couples will live together during training but may separate occasionally for field-based activities. Couples who are selected for the same sector will live together but work with different local partners which may be in the same community or in neighboring communities (not more than 30 minutes apart).
To learn more about serving as a couple in Guyana, visit the country page.
Application process
From application to departure takes around nine months. Learn about the application process for Volunteer opportunities.
Medical/legal clearance
You will need to be cleared medically and legally in order to serve in Guyana. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
