The trip, which is one my faculty attends annually, aims to provide urogynecologic surgical care to patients in need through the International Organization for Women and Development. The program provides much needed surgical care for patients with fistulas as well as other urogynecologic concerns. Medical education is also a focus of the organization, and we will have the opportunity to work with other traveling as well as local trainees.
We aim to benefit the local Rwandan population, directly through surgical interventions, as well as indirectly by contributing to surgical teaching on the mission. I am choosing to work with this population because there is already a strong system in place to make sure that this is not a "one off" trip that does not provide long lasting benefit, but rather an organization that aims to provide consistent care and lasting change.
The primary aim is to bring care and assistance to an underserved area of the world. Our faculty also work to teach healthcare providers in these regions, so they are able to continue providing care between each medical mission trip.
This trip was my first opportunity to be involved in a global health trip, and my first time joining the IOWD team in Rwanda. As this is an established organization, I was able to work with many other physicians and nurses who have traveled to work at the Kibagabaga hospital before. From the first day, everyone was motivated and enthusiastic to continue providing care to this community. In addition to providing surgical care to patients with fistulas or prolapse, we saw many patients in clinic, either to establish urogynecology care or for follow-ups from prior trips. I also had the opportunity to work closely with local residents and medical students, who helped us to navigate language and cultural barriers at all steps of the journey. I also got to work with the local urogynecologist, who shared her experiences through training and now operating in this community.
This experience was eye opening and I hope to travel back in the future!
