Millions of people suffer from preventable health problems, such as infectious diseases, malnutrition, and complications during child birth every year
• Low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs) account for 90% of the global burden of disease, but only for 12% of global spending on health (Peters et.al, 2008).
• Approximately 600 short-term medical missions take place all over the world each year (Naujokas, 2013).
• Unmet expectations due to language barriers or lack of medical training for particular diseases.
• Culturally irrelevant or inadequate care to the communities they are serving,
• Missions may not follow current standards of health care delivery(continuity, access) or public health programs (equity, sustainability) (Suchdev et. al, 2007).
• Community health needs assessment prior to departure through collaboration with host country or organization
• Pre-trip Orientation for volunteers focusing on: language, cultural practices & beliefs, demographics health diseases prevalent to country, health policies, skills, and health objectives for the trip.
• Engagement with the community to build a trusting relationship
• Collaboratively developing and revising protocols for the host country to implement after the mission is complete.
• Training and education for local health care workers.
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