Our plan as it was last year is to return to a low income country to provide ear nose and throat (ENT) surgeries and general surgical procedures and care to underserved communities in Africa. Our medical mission plans to address ailments that affect the thyroid gland, parotid glands and some plastic reconstructive surgery to the face as well as inguinal, umbilical and ventral hernia surgeries to improve the quality of life in underserved communities.
I know that it will make a difference as the conditions affect the thyroid gland and the parotid glands not only compromise a person’s airway, but can affect multiple organs in the body. So I understand that the difference this mission has made and will make this year will improve the overall health of the community we visit.
Underserved communities in low income countries in Africa. Last year our medical mission took us to Rakai, Uganda. This population is underserved and would otherwise not be cared for multiple reasons including but not limited to lack of access to a hospital nearby, lack of access to good roads to travel to a hospital, lack of a means of transportation to a hospital, lack of funds to have the procedure to save/ improve their lives and a lack of medical experts and devices, supplies and medical equipment.
The expect impact would be to enhance the quality of life for the community we serve. Last year we completed 86 surgical procedures in 1 week and the impact was felt in the community. This year our goal is to surpass 86 cases with better equipment, supplies and devices. My personal goal is to also equip and empower the community and the healthcare providers of that community with the knowledge and skills to continue to provide safe effective care to the people of that community.
As a CRNA who solely practices in rural towns in the United States, the experiences of this medical mission trip has been translated into my practice as it helps me appreciate how resources should be managed and care for on a day to day basis. It has allowed me to appreciate the abundance of resources available to me in the United States and it also helps me to manage the resources we have finding ways to improve the lives of my patients.
This was my first trip to Zambia and my second medical Mission trip with the organization Operation International (OI). Just as with my first mission, this second trip was just as impactful especially to me. The population of patients I cared for and impacted while I was in Zambia at the Livingstone University teaching hospital were from across the lifespan with the youngest being three months of age. We are a unit provided general and neuraxial anesthesia for ear, nose and throat procedures as well as general surgery, mostly hernia repairs.
I also had the opportunity to impact the lives of the Anesthesia providers who were currently providing Anesthesia within that facility in the form of teaching. I had the opportunity to expand on their knowledge and experience of general anesthesia as well as teach skills in neuraxial Anesthesia.
On our last day at the facility, the faculty members of the hospital expressed their gratitude for our presence as well as those from the community. It is one of the most gratifying things to witness the immediate impact of our presence in the community in such a short amount of time.
This grant by Doximity foundation by far surpassed its intention for this trip, its purpose, and has impacted me personally by giving me the opportunity and the ability to travel to a low income country that is most needing and deserving of the kind of care that I provide.
As I mentioned, this is my second medical mission trip, and I made a promise to myself that for as long as I’m able to I am willing to dedicate each year of my life to travel at least once a year to impact in a positive manner the lives of those who would otherwise have no other way to better their lives through healthcare. And I hope to continue this tradition that I have started with myself.
I once again would like to thank the Doximity foundation for providing, not just for me but also my colleagues, the ability to travel to make such a wonderful impact in the lives of people across the globe.
Your sincerely
Crystal Ike DNP, CRNA
