medical mission

CaLLaCoDe, BSN, RN · Feb 16, 2009

What about the peace corps, unicef?

Two weeks is a mighty short time to set aside though...

Larry77, RN · Feb 16, 2009

I'm going to Honduras on the 3rd...will be my 4th trip. This time only for 7 days but usually we go 10-14 days. We stay at the orphanage and run clinics in outskirt communities that don't get any medical care. It is run by a "religious" group but there have been many secular people that have gone.

I think it would be harder to do missions without prayer because you don't have the resources to help some people...and all they ask (after you tell them you don't have a pill that will cure them) is for you to pray for them..."Uh...sorry I don't believe in God..." Would be a tacky answer :)

doctorswithoutboarders.org is a good group and so is nwmedicalteams.org

I usually go with Worldwide Heart to Heart Ministries http://www.wwwh2h.org

country mom · Feb 16, 2009

Larry- wha'ts the best way to prepare for such a trip? I'm sure you'd need immunizations, but anything else? Does it help to learn the language first?

Christie RN2006 · Feb 16, 2009

Larry- wha'ts the best way to prepare for such a trip? I'm sure you'd need immunizations, but anything else? Does it help to learn the language first?

Check with your local health department and they can let you know what immunizations and medications you may need. If you learn some of the basic words, it is helpful, but most trips you go on will have translators. Spend some time researching the area you are going to and learn about the culture because each culture has little things that are considered rude or a requirement... for example, in Thailand it is considered rude to show the bottoms of your feet, so you have to be very careful about how you sit.

Larry77, RN · Feb 16, 2009

I do know some Spanish which has helped a lot but yes we have translators usually from a local English school. The first time you go I would recommend going with someone you know because it can be quite a culture shock and if you aren't with supportive people it can be more difficult.

Also I have taken Cipro as a prophylactic but usually just take a couple Pepto tabs every day. We take IV supplies for the one or two people in the team the get dehydrated from the runs every trip. I could go on with recommendations but these are usually given to you by the team (bug-spray, no wallet, don't go off by yourself etc etc).

jzkfel · Mar 17, 2009

Check out Operation Smile. http://www.operationsmile.org . They go all over the world, are non denominational, the cost is reasonable ($500) per mission, includes airfare and housing, and their time commitment is 10 - 14 days.

There are a lot of smaller trips run by universities and individual doctors. I would keep an eye on the news and get in touch with some of those people directly. Once you get on a trip, you get to know people, and its easier to get on subsequent trips.

I wouldn't worry about the religious part. You deal with and support other people's religious practices and needs wherever you work, whether you share their faith or not.