13 Things to Consider in Medical Missions

Summer is already here, and this is also the time when lots of people conduct medical missions and surgical missions. Lots of groups organizing this medical missions.

This post is for those who were recruited to help out in a medical mission, you're one of the heroic doctors who will be serving for free.  You're not part of the organizing committee of the medical mission. Just a simple doctor who's willing to help out.

So you were either recruited or you wanted to join the medical mission, what do you need to do or prepare??

1. First thing that you have to ask is where the mission will be conducted? Is it a one day mission or a major mission wherein you go the the place and stay there for 3-7 days.  Your preparation will be based on the location of the mission.
2. Is it a surgical mission? medical mission? or both? - the materials you will bring will depend on what type of mission it is.  If it's a medical mission, you may have to bring your stethoscope, pulse oximeter, bp app with you.  If it's a surgical mission - usually you don't bring anything since everything has to be sterile and usually the organizers have prepared those already.
3. Wear comfortable clothes - usually I prefer a scrubsuit, since it's really comfortable.  If you don't have one, wear your comfy clothes, something that will abosrb perspiration like tshirt and jeans.
   

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Legazpi Major Medical Mission

This is my first time to join a major MMI medical-surgical mission.  What is MMI? Medical Missions Inc., this is an org in nursing & med school with the purpose of organizing & conducting medical missions all over the country.  I've heard of this organization when I was starting in med school, but since my parents were kind of strict going to far away places, I decided not to join the org.

Anyways, as a surgery resident, the org needs our help in conducting major & minor surgeries during missions. Usually the chief resident will decide on who will join the missions.  Luckily, I was chosen to join this mission.

The mission was conducted at Legazpi, Bicol.  And yes we took the 16 hours bus drive from Manila to there.  In this mission, we were joined by Ohio doctors & nurses & SCORE (Special Commission on Relief & Education).   They consisted of volunteers & medical students and maybe other professions I'm not so sure about.  The mission was conducted at Aquinas University of Legazpi and in cooperation with Aquinas Hospital.

My thoughts about this mission: that it's AMAZING! So many people, students, doctors, nurses, join together, organize this mission & MADE it POSSIBLE.  It's amazing how people improvise to make events as noble as this happen.
Here's a brief preview of our Improvised OR set up:

We were doing surgeries starting at 7am and ending at 2:30am the next day.  I think we were do 1000+ surgeries in a span of 4 days.  That's really a lot, very tiring, but you get this feeling of contentment at the end of the day that you were able to help more than 100 people per day.

On our last day, was the day for rest, after all we all needed it badly.  We went to some tourist spot, the beach, bought pasalubong etc.

I was able to meet new surgeons at other institutions as well.

Things I learned in this mission:

1. How to do Mesh Herniorrhaphy.- and I'm forever thankful to Dr William Olalia (Current President of MMI) for teaching me how to do it.
2. Excision of Baker's Cyst
3. 2nd assist of orchidopexy - as thought by Dr Orlina
4. Never ever forget to bring anti-embolic stockings
5. Bring the U shaped pillow for long bus rides
6. You'll never starve when you're with Dr Olalia, he always makes sure everybody gets their meal
7. Dr Cuevas is really fast inside the operating room
8. Sir Aldrin (Our overall HNOD, Technician etc) should get a raise for he made our surgeries successful, couldn't do it without you Sir Aldrin!!!
9. Always have a head lamp, I think this was the most useful thing I brought to the mission
10. PLOWKET! You're the best travel buddy
11. Ipad mini, iphones, phones and earphones will keep you company in the long bus drive.
12. Bring sunblock & swimming clothes, you'll never know when you'll be going to the beach

Here are some of other pictures:

Selfie at the bus (departure from Manila)

Selfie at Bigg's Diner (they say that the diner has beenaround for 30 years)