Volunteering for Medical Missions in Haiti
Volunteering for a medical mission in Haiti requires a spirit for adventure and personal flexibility. The infrastructure, general customs and value systems can often seem challenging on initial exposure. The experience of a mission, however, leaves the volunteer with a new perspective on life, the world we live in. The impact a small group of people can have on a community so far from home is extraordinary.
Medical Mission Trips to Haiti
Medical volunteers, accustomed to the sophisticated standards of care in western countries, must adapt when working in Haiti. Conditions in Haiti are a world apart from the modern, state-of-the-art hospitals in the US. A patient’s medical history becomes the only input to diagnosis, complemented by physical findings. Diagnostic studies are not available for some patients. These patients may have only one opportunity for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
NOVA Hope for Haiti’s medical volunteers include general physicians, specialty physicians, and surgeons. Medical volunteers, who cannot physically travel to Haiti, are called upon for opinions and referrals when needed. Medical professionals we send on medical missions include:
- Pediatricians
- Internists
- Specialists in the education of personal hygiene, health, and nutrition
- Dental Hygienists
- Nurses
- Nurse Practitioners
- Pharmacists
Non-Medical Volunteers
Because there is a variety of work to be done, non-medical volunteers are as important as medical providers. We are always in need of English-Creole translators. A background in medical terminology is especially helpful. College students, and other non-medical volunteers, acting under the supervision of physicians, actively participate in the mission. All missionaries contribute to the smooth function of our clinics through positive interaction with the Haitian patients, staff and community.
For more information about Volunteering in Haiti please contact us at: [email protected]
