2012 Panama Medical Brigade August 1-8th

Affiliated Organization: Global Brigades USA
Group: Medical Brigades at Duke University

Volunteer Activity Description
Global Medical Brigades is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that maintains a year-round, sustainable healthcare presence in impoverished communities around the world. Global Brigades is the world’s largest student-led global health and development organization! Along with 78 other university chapters spread across the United States and Canada, our Duke chapter organizes resources, supplies, medical professionals, and manpower and is an integral part of a major medicine and health initiative. Our efforts are currently focused, as they have been for the past several years, on the rural villages in Honduras and Panama—two of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere where over half of the population lives below the poverty line (as defined by the World Bank). There, malnutrition and commonly treatable diseases are particularly problematic and disproportionately affect young children and the elderly; proper health education and clean water are also lacking, leading to unhealthy practices and recurring, endemic illnesses.

Over the last five years, Duke Global Medical Brigades has provided free medical care and over $600 000 worth of treatments to over 6 000 patients - predominantly women, children, and the elderly.

Duke will be holding its 5th Summer Medical and Dental Brigade in August. This year, we will be serving the impoverished communities of rural Panama! If you are an interested student, medical professional, or dental professional, please email morgan.mcleod@duke.edu or faith.robertson@duke.edu to get registered! Otherwise, feel free to donate or join our cause!