The Joy and Challenge of Simple Medicine in India

​BY KATE BANKS, MDThe Himalayan Health Exchange (HHE) is an organization that assembles volunteers and health care providers from all over the world to deliver care in underserved areas in northern India. I had the amazing opportunity in my second year of residency to spend a month delivering medical care with HHE in the beautiful inner Himalayan mountains. The month was full of exploring, trekking, camping, learning, doctoring, and personal and professional growth.The clinics were scattered throughout different areas in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Our convoy of interpreters, cooks, volunteers, and health care professionals made camp in remote villages or in the mountains near small towns. Clinics were generally held in the areas close to our campsite. HHE visits these sites several times a year, so the local residents are familiar with their group and there is a small degree of continuity. Patients came from all over to see the physicians at our clinics. One patient, who was in the second trimester of pregnancy, walked more than 18 kilometers through the mountainous terrain to see a doctor. We also held clinics at schools and orphanages. After clinic, we had educational sessions about hygiene and dental care.Luckily for our patients, physicians and government hospitals will see them for free or at reduced rates. Access to health care, however, can be quite far geographically, and may require a one- or two-day trip. Most people cannot afford the transportation fare or mi...
Source: Going Global - Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs