My role as a Nurse Practitioner will be working with a team of nurses and advanced practice providers to host health fairs in three different communities throughout Fogo, Cape Verde. Our goal is to reach underserved populations and provide accessible healthcare focused on prevention and education.
During this mission, we will:
Host health fairs in three underserved communities across Fogo
Provide blood pressure screenings and other preventive health assessments
Educate community members on age-appropriate preventive screenings and healthy lifestyle habits
Offer education, evaluation, and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
Explore grant opportunities to provide free STI testing kits to increase access to care
Distribute wound care supplies and provide basic wound care education
Visit local schools to educate children and adolescents on healthy habits, disease prevention, and overall wellness
Answer questions, build relationships, and connect individuals with healthcare resources whenever possible
ever possible
Learn how underserved communities navigate healthcare with limited resources while sharing knowledge and experiences with one another
Bring the lessons learned back to the United States to help provide more culturally responsive, compassionate care for diverse and underserved communities at home
Although Cape Verde has made significant progress in healthcare, rural communities of the island of Fogo continue to face barriers to preventive care and health education. Because of the geographic location, patients need to travel long distances over mountainous terrains to reach healthcare centers. There also exists transportation challenges due to financial burden that prevent the already limited access to care. Finally, although there are healthcare facilities near Fogo, these are limited to treating illness, which leaves fewer resources for preventive care.
We want to bridge the gap between illness-focused care and preventive care in Fogo. Even in a short-term mission, these efforts can guide patients to make informed health decisions and support healthier communities. That is more than we can ask for.
This is a mutually beneficially partnership for both the residents of Fogo and the mission team. Residents of Fogo will benefit from increased access to health screening and education. The mission team will gain invaluable experience and insights that we can apply to improve culturally responsive care and community outreach in our own practices.
On a personal note, as a healthcare professional who already serves many Cape Verdean patients, I will become a stronger clinician for my patients and share what I learn with my colleagues. In the end, we hope the biggest impact will be for our Cape Verdean patients, whether in Fogo or in the States.
Our global health trip to Cape Verde was a powerful reminder that even the simplest healthcare interventions can make a lasting difference.
As a team of nurses and nurse practitioners, we hosted health fairs focused on screening for chronic conditions, including diabetes and hypertension. What may have seemed like basic screenings to us meant so much to the people we served.
Some patients were grateful to finally know if they had elevated blood pressure or blood sugar, allowing us to provide education and guidance on next steps. Others left with peace of mind, relieved to know they did not have these conditions after years without access to routine screening. Some even brought their medications for review, allowing us to make appropriate adjustments and provide additional teaching.
We also supported women's health by distributing feminine hygiene pads. Though a simple gesture, it offered women a sense of dignity and addressed an important basic need.
This experience reminded us that healthcare doesn't always require advanced technology or complex interventions. Sometimes, a blood pressure check, a glucose screening, education, or meeting a basic need can change someone's life.
We came to provide care, but left reminded that access, education, compassion, and dignity are just as important as treatment.
Small screenings, meaningful connections, lasting impact.
