Haiti Medical Mission Trip
Donation protected
“Men anpil, chay pa lou” – Haitian Proverb
"Many hands make the load lighter"
Over the past seven years, first year medical (like myself) and professional health students from Morehouse School of Medicine have visited one of the most impoverished areas in Haiti, the Central Plateau region of Thomonde, for a one-week mission trip through the university partnership program with Project Medishare . While there, we will provide primary care and perform life-sustaining procedures for local residents. The majority of the patients have had limited exposure to medical care and in many cases are in desperate need of it. In fact, a mere two hours away from the continental U.S, Haiti continues to suffer from some disparaging statistics:
- There is $117 per capita healthcare spending as compared to $8,895 in the U.S.
- About 25% of the children are vaccinated, one of the lowest in the world.
- Infant mortality is 72 per 1,000 live births, almost twice the regional average
- 1 in every 10 children dies before reaching age 5.
- 30% of the population is considered food insecure.
- Only 25% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
- Half the population earns $60 or less per year (median income).
This year’s medical mission is planned for July 17th-23rd, 2016. Almost six years after the devastating 2010 earthquake, Haiti is still recovering from its aftermath and subsequent cholera outbreak. While on my mission trip, I will be working alongside other students and medical staff, traveling to rural communities to make house calls and transporting medical supplies (pharmaceuticals, medical, surgical equipment, etc.) purchased for the trip. I will also help provide physical examinations, vaccinations, general wellness checkups, hold large mobile clinics, and seminars on educating the general population. The goal of our trip is to each day serve as many underserved individuals as possible while positively impacting our community!
The trip will not only provide valuable critical care with medical training, but also give us a humanitarian perspective on the disparities that affect developing nations; most specifically, an appreciation of the challenges that some individuals face when accessing health care. Compassion, humility, and awareness of the diverse needs of patients remain critically essential in the proper training of future physicians. This trip is just one of the ways I am looking to hone these good interpersonal characteristics and contribute to improvements in key health indicators.
As with anything worthwhile, there is a cost to this medical mission trip, an approximate $3,000/student. Since this is a student ran trip, we are solely responsible for the fundraising and planning efforts of the medical mission trip. Without your support Morehouse School of Medicine cannot continue offering these volunteer services to Haiti. Your gift today will support everything from the cost of traveling, lodging, translators, medical supplies and medicine for the citizens of Thomonde, one of the world’s poorest communities. Your assistance in reaching this goal is greatly appreciated and I am beyond thankful for your willingness to make this lifesaving work and development possible!
Thank you!
"Many hands make the load lighter"
Over the past seven years, first year medical (like myself) and professional health students from Morehouse School of Medicine have visited one of the most impoverished areas in Haiti, the Central Plateau region of Thomonde, for a one-week mission trip through the university partnership program with Project Medishare . While there, we will provide primary care and perform life-sustaining procedures for local residents. The majority of the patients have had limited exposure to medical care and in many cases are in desperate need of it. In fact, a mere two hours away from the continental U.S, Haiti continues to suffer from some disparaging statistics:
- There is $117 per capita healthcare spending as compared to $8,895 in the U.S.
- About 25% of the children are vaccinated, one of the lowest in the world.
- Infant mortality is 72 per 1,000 live births, almost twice the regional average
- 1 in every 10 children dies before reaching age 5.
- 30% of the population is considered food insecure.
- Only 25% of the population has access to safe drinking water.
- Half the population earns $60 or less per year (median income).
This year’s medical mission is planned for July 17th-23rd, 2016. Almost six years after the devastating 2010 earthquake, Haiti is still recovering from its aftermath and subsequent cholera outbreak. While on my mission trip, I will be working alongside other students and medical staff, traveling to rural communities to make house calls and transporting medical supplies (pharmaceuticals, medical, surgical equipment, etc.) purchased for the trip. I will also help provide physical examinations, vaccinations, general wellness checkups, hold large mobile clinics, and seminars on educating the general population. The goal of our trip is to each day serve as many underserved individuals as possible while positively impacting our community!
The trip will not only provide valuable critical care with medical training, but also give us a humanitarian perspective on the disparities that affect developing nations; most specifically, an appreciation of the challenges that some individuals face when accessing health care. Compassion, humility, and awareness of the diverse needs of patients remain critically essential in the proper training of future physicians. This trip is just one of the ways I am looking to hone these good interpersonal characteristics and contribute to improvements in key health indicators.
As with anything worthwhile, there is a cost to this medical mission trip, an approximate $3,000/student. Since this is a student ran trip, we are solely responsible for the fundraising and planning efforts of the medical mission trip. Without your support Morehouse School of Medicine cannot continue offering these volunteer services to Haiti. Your gift today will support everything from the cost of traveling, lodging, translators, medical supplies and medicine for the citizens of Thomonde, one of the world’s poorest communities. Your assistance in reaching this goal is greatly appreciated and I am beyond thankful for your willingness to make this lifesaving work and development possible!
Thank you!
Organizer
Daryl Singleton
Organizer
Atlanta, GA