Bringing Healthcare to the Haitians: A Medical Mission to Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Georgia Campus-Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Suwanee
Although months have passed since the devastating earthquake that shook Haiti, its people are still in need of medical attention. This was the goal of a medical mission team that traveled to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It was an ideal opportunity for medical students to put into practice the knowledge and skills obtained during their training. The importance of primary and preventative care was emphasized with each patient. Medical students rotated with physicians specializing in family practice, obstetrics/gynecology, internal medicine, ID, dermatology, GI, surgery, and orthopedics. Students were assigned tasks such as obtaining histories, performing physical examinations, assisting in procedures, and developing a diagnosis and treatment plan for each patient. When the treatment plan included osteopathic manipulative treatment, students performed it as well. Excellent clinical skills were essential due to the limited amount of ancillary testing. Efforts were directed to Haiti not only because it is the poorest country in the western hemisphere, but also because of the shortage of healthcare evidenced by a life expectancy of 60.78 years, infant mortality rate of 59.69/1000, and a 2.2% HIV prevalence rate. Infectious diseases are also widespread with a high incidence of hepatitis, typhoid fever, malaria, and infectious diarrheas. Patients presented with a variety of common and unique illnesses. As a result of the limited primary care, chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and musculoskeletal complaints were often seen. Many patients presented with ophthalmologic conditions such as dry eye, cataracts, and ptergiums. More rare illnesses included Pott disease and elephantiasis. Communicating the importance of preventative health measures to clinic patients was essential. Although only 50% of the population has access to clean drinking water, simple hygiene practices and the necessity of clean water were emphasized. Patients were instructed to wear sunglasses and a hat to protect their eyes and prevent further damage. Everyone received multivitamins, a toothbrush, and toothpaste as supplies allowed. Educating patients is a tool that should be used at every opportunity and is the cornerstone of preventative medicine. Medical missions provide the opportunity for osteopathic medical students to practice skills, preventative healthcare techniques, and osteopathic manipulative medicine while gaining knowledge about the sequellae of untreated medical conditions and how to adapt treatment plans in a country with limited options.