I'll be attending a medical mission in Norway from August 25-31, where we will be acting as a primary care/urgent care clinic for Ukranian refugees. This will include health education for patients who have suddenly found themselves displaced and without regular access to healthcare. It sounds like the health system there has been suddenly overburdened by the amount of influx into the country so it is my hope that we will be able to help both the refugees who need us, and help offload some of the efforts of the local health practitioners.
The majority of the population we expect to serve will be Ukranian refugees who have been forced out due to the war. A huge number of refugees have fled to Norway and there is a need for more providers to bring medial aid and supplies to balance out the sudden influx of patients. Our focus will be on the elderly, children, and women who are in need and have no where else to turn to receive aid.
My hope is that we will be able to not just give acute medical care to the people who need it most, but also educate them about some of the things they can do for ongoing care on their own so they don't feel beholden to a healthcare system in another country. A focus on education will allow what could just be a few days of impact to be extended further. I cannot imagine the fear and stress these individuals are experiencing, for themselves and their family. If I can help even one refugee with their medical needs, or even psychologic needs by holding their hand and listening to their story, I will consider this trip a success.
We were so fortunate to have been able to provide care for the many Ukranian individuals who are seeking asylum in Norway as a result of the war currently still impacting their country. We saw several hundred people from young children to older adults and everyone in between. This trip was so unique due to the nature of their needs- rather than a significant need for medications or physical help, what they truly needed was assistance understanding their access to care in Norway. Due to language barriers as well as strain on the infrastructure due to the sheer number or people needing theses services, it has been difficult for Ukrainians to fully utilize their services. We were able to help connect these people with local resources and others who have been in Norway for a longer time period and who were more established and versed in the nuances of Norwegian health care. We also saw people forming new friendships through chance meetings in the waiting room of the clinics. I was astounded by the amount of Ukrainians who stepped up and offered to translate for our providers when they saw a need there as well. Overall, it was so amazing to see a community come together through such a tragedy and it's my hope that those connections will last long after we have departed.
