Medical Missions
Why do we do Medical Missions?
Medical missions present us with a unique opportunity to deliver free Comprehensive Primary Care services, to underprivileged communities who are in dire need of such assistance. The primary objective of the medical missions it provide available and accessible care. Our comprehensive package intends to provide as many services as we can in a single day. Patients have an opportunity to receive Medical Care including medication, Dental Services, Eye Care, Mental Health and Spiritual Counseling, Basic Lab testing, and Nutritional Education including a nutritious food bag. For patients who have conditions that require more follow up we work with community partners to refer them to facilities where they can get this care. Our team is made up of medical volunteers who are passionate about health access to underserved populations.
In addition, we conduct health talks as part of our preventive healthcare initiative. These talks are designed to educate communities about the causes and prevention of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. By equipping them with this knowledge, we empower them to take proactive measures in preventing disease and promoting health within their communities, thereby contributing to their long-term well-being.
How much does it cost to provide the Comprehensive Essential Primary Care services?
In most low and middle-income countries, the cost of providing the Comprehensive Primary Care Package is just $15 per patient, which is sufficient to cover all the necessary services. This innovative and remarkable initiative by EquiHealth Global aims to extend care to as many patients as possible by curating these services and recruiting the right team to provide them. In 2024, there is a target to provide care to 5,000 underserved patients.
What we hope to achieve with the medical camps is multifaceted.
- For the individuals we serve, our aim is to provide them with comprehensive annual care, enabling them to gain a clear understanding of their health status. We believe that being informed about health is crucial in making the correct decisions for one’s life and family. In our effort to promote health-conscious decisions, we encourage our clients to actively participate in managing and maintaining their health. Hope is the most expensive medicine for an ailing soul.
- Additionally, we utilize this platform to gather essential health data. This data collection assists us in evaluating the health and overall wellness of the community. As we understand the importance of data-driven decisions, the information we gather is invaluable in providing insights to policymakers. These insights can then guide them in formulating effective strategies and policies that directly address the health needs of the community.
- The knowledge and insights we gain from our health camps are instrumental in shaping our long-term strategies. One such example is the development of our Bridge to Health (BOT) clinics. These clinics are specifically designed to provide sustained healthcare services to vulnerable communities over a more extended period. By addressing the healthcare needs of these communities, we aim to create a lasting impact on their health and overall quality of life.
The impact of our medical camps is multi-dimensional.
- Firstly, it provides essential healthcare services to underprivileged communities, including vision and dental care, baseline testing, accurate diagnosis, and treatment of common ailments. This immediate relief is often life-changing for individuals who otherwise may not have access to such services.
- Secondly, it contributes to long-term health promotion within these communities. Through our health talks and preventive healthcare initiatives, we empower individuals with knowledge about disease prevention. This empowerment fosters healthier communities by encouraging proactive health measures.
- Thirdly, the data collected during these camps is invaluable for informing future health policies and strategies. This data-driven approach allows us to tailor our services to the specific needs of the communities we serve.
- Finally, the insights gained from these camps have informed the development of our Bridge to Health (BOT) clinics. These clinics are intended to provide sustained healthcare services to these communities, thereby creating a lasting impact on their health and overall quality of life.
Selection of the Communities
The selection process of the communities we partner with is a diverse one, and it takes into account several key factors.
- Location: This is critical in terms of accessibility and logistics. The location of a community determines how easy or difficult it is for us to reach and carry out our operations there effectively.
- Population Density: This factor enables us to determine the scope of impact our efforts can have. The denser the population, the more people we can potentially positively affect.
- Poverty Levels of the Community: We aim to target communities where poverty levels are high. This is because these are the areas where our services are most needed and can make the most difference.
- Health Access: We look at the state of health access in these areas. In particular, we target communities with poor health access due to a lack of health investment. Here, we believe our intervention can bring about substantial improvements.
- Availability of Partner Linkage: This refers to the presence of organizations or systems in place within the community that we can collaborate with to ensure maximum utilization of our resources.
- Health Inequity: We also consider the issue of health inequity. We prioritize historically underserved communities, areas with low economic activities, and those predisposed to geographical catastrophes. These are areas where health disparities are usually more pronounced, and our intervention can contribute significantly to reducing these disparities.