Health Sciences, Public Health and Care Careers· Beginner level

Health services run on far more than doctors. Registered nurses. Midwives. Community health nurses and officers. Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Medical laboratory scientists and technicians. Physiotherapists. Radiographers. Dietitians and nutritionists. Environmental health officers. Health information officers. Paramedics and ambulance crew. Care and support workers. Health promotion and public health officers. Hospital administrators.

In Ghana, most of these people work in facilities under the Ghana Health Service, in mission and private hospitals, in pharmacies, in laboratories and in district health offices.

In Canada, they work in hospitals, long-term care homes, community clinics, home care, public health units and pharmacies. Care work as a personal support worker and practical nursing are common first entries into the system, and some people move up from there into registered nursing later.

Pick three roles and find out where they work, what shifts they do, and who they answer to.

Health entry requirements are specific, and being one subject short stops you completely.

In Ghana, nursing, midwifery, pharmacy, medicine and most allied health routes normally require WASSCE credits in the core subjects, English Language, Core Mathematics, Integrated Science and Social Studies, together with electives such as Biology, Chemistry and either Physics or Elective Mathematics. Nurses' and midwives' training colleges set their own combinations, so check with the individual college, and check what the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Ghana requires of a programme before you enrol in it.

In Canada, a nursing degree usually requires Grade 12 biology, chemistry, English and a mathematics course at the university-preparation level, and the exact list differs by province and by school. College practical nursing and paramedic programmes have their own prerequisites.

There is also non-academic paperwork. Health programmes commonly require immunisation records, a criminal record or vulnerable sector check, and current first aid and resuscitation certification before you can go anywhere near a placement. Start collecting these early because they take time.

Health work is physical, repetitive and emotionally heavy. Find out how you react before you spend years training.

Safe options include volunteering at a community health event, screening day or vaccination outreach; helping in an organised way at a care home or a church health programme; completing a recognised first aid and resuscitation course; helping care for a relative with adult supervision; or preparing a short, accurate explainer on a health topic for younger students.

Write a reflection afterwards. What was harder than expected? What did you find easy? What did you not want to do?

Confidentiality is not a formality. Never photograph, name, describe or post about a patient or anything you overheard, even without a name. Breaking that once can end a health career before it starts. Arrange anything involving a facility through an adult, and get guardian approval first.

Ask about the parts of the job that are not in the brochure. What does a night shift feel like by hour six? What is the worst part of the paperwork? How do you handle a patient or a family who is angry? What made you want to leave, and what made you stay?

Ask practical route questions too. Would they choose the same qualification again? Which route has the fewest wasted years if you change your mind later?

Do not share medical information about yourself or anyone else, and do not ask for medical advice. A mentor here is talking about careers, not treating anyone. Keep your own health records out of the conversation, and get guardian approval if you are 12 to 18.

In health, one missing subject blocks everything, so deal with that first.

A realistic month: get help with the science or mathematics subject most likely to block you, finish your reflection from the experience you arranged, read two programme pages in full including the non-academic requirements, and start collecting whatever documents they list.

Date all four and tell someone what you have committed to.