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POST-TRIP REFLECTION: LIMA, PERU (2015)

12/3/2015

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It has been an ambition of mine to take a more active role in providing medical care to developing countries.  In the past, I have volunteered in global relief aid with the HelpingHands organization (donating to earthquake and flood victims).  However, iHelp Globally offered a more medically driven volunteering opportunity and a “doctors without borders” type of interaction and experience that I always wanted to partake in as a physician.

    On a hectic yet exciting day in the Emergency Department as a Medical Scribe, I checked my email to find out that I was chosen to receive the IHG scholarship!  Within the next few days, I was getting the proper vaccinations for travel and getting my passport renewed. The last time I had even left the country was to the Dutch West Indies for medical school several years ago.   I bough the ticket: my dream was actually becoming a reality!  Before I knew it, I was boarding the plane. I was anxious to get to my destination to set up the medical clinic for the patients.  With only one layover in Texas and several hours later, I looked through the airplane window, and I could see through the clouds: We were slowly descending into Peru, South America! I was traveling to a country I always wanted to visit.  I was passionate to serve Peru clinically because of their friendly people, rich culture, colors, music, food, and breathtaking natural scenery. More specifically I admire the amazing art, architecture, poetry, literature, civil rights and political history beautifully preserved and celebrated in the district of Barranco.

    We began our journey in Miraflores, which is a very modern, hip and up to date mini-metropolis.  Everyone was pleasant and kind, from the Peruvian city folk to visitors like my fellow clinic team members, mentors, and Spanish translators.  I went out onto the balcony of our hostel and I saw people doing Zumba in the street. I came to find out that there is a health awareness movement going on known as Rejuvenate Peru, where all throughout the city everyone participated in physical activity such as walking, running, biking, skating, soccer, Zumba, dance, and salsa.  I saw Spinning Classes and fitness centers with swimming pools, tennis courts and racquetball.  I thought to myself: There are doctors’ offices and clinics here, quaint little pharmacies or "Mi Farmacia" and has all the medical care and facilities like any big city.... What medical assistance could they need? Did I come to the right place??

    The next day, early in the morning, the team of student volunteers, pharmacists, physicians and clinic staff piled up into a van with all our suitcases full of medical aid. 

We head out towards the mountains and desert like areas. The big buildings and fancy brand name stores of Miraflores are no longer seen within our vicinity.  Houses are made of  stone slabs and huge bricks in the middle of deserts with no other buildings and not much else.  You can tell these communities are less developed.  It becomes clear, we are now going to serve those that are less fortunate and do not have the same financial resources and modern advancements like cities and districts such as Miraflores, Magdalena Del Mar, and Barranco.  We have entered Callao (a relatively long drive from where our hostel was comfortably and conveniently located).


     The history of our patient population in itself was interesting and important to learn about.  The patients were families of refugees that were displaced and started to make a home here during the political discourse and land struggle between Peru, Bolivia, and Chile.  The residents of Callao are sort of the forgotten people that had to leave everything behind in their original homes and land because of the wars and political turmoil.  Although that was many years ago, they currently do not get the best of health care, education, jobs or funding from the government. For example, a common person in Callao does not have any available plans for regular visits with primary care physicians to manage his or her diabetes or hypertension, and has a limited access to medicine.  

    It truly broke my heart when I learned many families with small children in this area did not have access to clean running water that is free of lead and coal deposits, as the Chilean mining trains would run through the town.  In fact, every time I would listen to heart and lungs with my stethoscope, I would have to time it perfectly to when the trains would not be coming through.  The trains ran through so often making loud noise and apparently dropping harmful substances into the air, water, and environment.  I made a poignant effort to educate them about covering their water well with a seal to prevent the lead deposits ending up in the water, boiling the water and filtering it before drinking it to reduce the level of contaminants, minerals, bacteria, and parasites.  

     As clinic leader, I was motivated to keep the flow of the clinic going smoothly from history and physicals to vital signs to diagnostic screening and counseling.  I was able to encounter, help diagnose and treat a wide variety of infections such us tinea versicolor, scabies, abscesses, chalazion, stye, strep throat, other cutaneous fungal infections, urinary tract infections under the supervision of licensed Peruvian medical providers.  I remember from microbiology that Malesia furfur was a common fungal cutaneous infection in South America. 

     Reflecting on this journey, it was an eye opener and humbling experience. I quickly realized how truly blessed I am.  I thought about the hospitals in the U.S. and how lucky we are to have diagnostic tests like x-rays, CT scans, and MRIs readily available. We did our best to provide the best health service we could, regardless of not having the advanced technology.  With the help of the Spanish language translators (who played a significant role), and under the guidance of the Peruvian physicians, the clinic volunteers and staff leaders of iHelp Globally tended to an exceptionally high volume of patients in a timely manner. The people of Callao were always smiling, laughing, and amicable.  I will never forget the patients and how welcoming, appreciative, and understanding they were of our efforts.  

    The most memorable moments included playing with the children: The running and playing kept them busy. We offered stickers, puppets, bubbles, coloring books, and little toys... which kept the environment lighthearted even though it could get stressful when the patient volume picked up.  You wanted to give each patient the highest quality of care.  It was challenging yet exciting to maintain the balance and flow of the clinic.  
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    At the end of the journey it was the family bond I made with the fellow clinic volunteers that made that experience even more memorable.  We were all one unit coming together for one goal: To help others, and to give back to humanity for all the things we have been blessed with.  It was an adventure we all shared together... a great memory and lifechanging experience.  I got to do yoga, run and walk on the beach, meditate, free my mind, be around nature, swim, ride bikes through the city, sandboard, sand dune riding, and enjoy Peruvian food!!  I hope to volunteer again through iHelp Globally after completing  my medical residency as I want to continue to contribute to a loving and deserving community! Thank you iHelp Globally!

Imran Hasnuddin, MD
Lima, Peru
Graduate of: University of St. Eustatius School of Medicine/American University of Integrative Sciences at St. Maarten


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September 2015 - scholarship recipient

11/11/2015

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Lima, Peru
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The trip I took through iHelp Globally completely altered my perspective about the healthcare field. I came to the realization about how broken the healthcare system is in places other than the United States. Unfortunately, not everyone is able to afford healthcare in Peru and have regular check-ups. For example, if someone were to become sick within the US, they would be directly taken to a hospital and treated right away. However, if someone were to become sick in Peru, they would just go and purchase over the counter medication. A disturbing fact I noticed in the district of Callao is how many people were infected with Tuberculosis or how many family members died due to the disease. In the US, Tuberculosis is becoming so treatable, however there I talked with many patients and discussed their family histories, and majority of the patients had family member with tuberculosis. It’s disheartening to think that the only reason people there are diseased is due to the lack of medication and healthcare provided. Through IHG, I was able to directly impact the Peruvian population and make in impact in their lives. I’m very grateful for this wonderful opportunity.

​Overall, I had a wonderful experience traveling with IHG. We participated in many activities, which truly made the trip more memorable. The bike tour took us through the district of Miraflores and it showed how beautiful the coast of Peru is. We learned about historical landmarks, which made the bike tour more meaningful. We also went sandboarding, which was a wonderful experience since many of the volunteers, including myself, hadn’t done it before. I felt completely immersed in the Peruvian culture and it was a wonderful opportunity to travel with IHG. I enjoyed giving back, participating in activities, meeting new people, and traveling to a foreign country. This trip gave me so much knowledge about the Peruvian culture and I would love to go back again someday," (Zainab Rahman, 2015)

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MARCH 2015 - SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

6/8/2015

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MARCH 2015
Guatemala
Medical Mission
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I wiped the sweat off of my brow as I escorted a patient to get her vitals checked and proceeded to the waiting area to call out “número noventa y ocho.” A woman with 5 children walked up and gave me a paper with the number 98 on it. I motioned the family to my makeshift office – a couple of chairs on the back porch of the church with the scorching Guatemalan sun as my light source. My body was completely drained after spending all morning working the vitals station and then switching over to the patient history station. I suddenly remembered sitting through multiple patient consults in a doctor’s office during my past internship. I remembered how the doctor treated each patient as if he or she was the first person he saw of the day, with the kind of respect and undivided attention each of them deserved. I looked at the woman and her children sitting in front of me, her sweat carrying pain and exhaustion as it rolled down her face; she must’ve been waiting all day to be seen. I quickly cast my selfish complaints out of mind, smiled at the children, and started to take the family’s history. 

My trip to Guatemala over spring break is one filled with experiences that have played a crucial role in my journey to becoming a physician. I will never forget the man who told me he walked for over two hours just to be seen by a doctor or the two women I spoke with in the waiting area who were telling me how untrustworthy the doctors at their local hospital are. They did not feel respected or truly cared for when they tried to seek medical care. Such circumstances are difficult to ignore. I am very privileged to have a wide array of opportunities in America and I want to live a life caring for the medical needs of others. This trip helped solidify my desire to pursue such a path and I would definitely go on another medical mission’s trip with IHG.

- Zhanna Dariychuk
 
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September 2014 - Scholarship Recipient

9/30/2014

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September 2014
Lima & Arequipa, Peru
Medical Mission

When I wake up each morning, I take a moment to ponder whether my participation in a medical service trip to Peru was a dream. Honestly, it seems way too good to be true; that exactly one month ago, I was boarding a plane destined for Lima. During the entire flight, however, I was so tense and apprehensive. Perhaps it was the fact that I didn’t speak a single word of Spanish, or maybe it was the uncertainty of traveling to a new, and unfamiliar foreign continent. Regardless, I soon realized that I had indeed made the right decision in joining the program. 


Compared to other very similar organizations, iHelp Globally not only gave me the opportunity to help those who are in dire need, but it also allowed me to immerse myself in cultures that I would not have otherwise been able to explore on my own. Personally, learning about the history of the communities we visited allowed me to better understand the hardships that our patients faced. All in all, it enhanced the overall experience, as well as reinforced the underlying principles of the program. It is this dualistic nature of the program that distinguishes iHelp Globally from other seemingly identical organizations. 

In retrospect, while my decision to partake in the medical service trip to Peru with iHelp Globally was spontaneous, the program was, without a doubt, the most rewarding and satisfying experience that I have had the opportunity of being a part of. iHelp Globally helped solidify my aspirations in pursuing a career in healthcare, and I hope that I can continue participating in medical service trips in the future. I truly believe that if people are willing to take the initiative to meet us halfway, we have a duty and obligation to help them in any way that we can. So whether it is with or without iHelp Globally, I would still strongly encourage others to go out and help those in need, (Nicholas Fung, UCD 2014)."

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December 2013 - Scholarship Recipient

12/30/2013

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iHelpGlobally provided me with an experience that will always hold a special place in my heart. When applying for the trip, I was questioned by many of my family members and friends – “Why Peru?” I would go on to explain that it’s a medical mission trip to help the underserved communities. However, when I arrived back at home, my answer was different.

From the very first day of the trip, I knew that this would be a life changing experience. Seeing the kids run after our bus with cheerful smiles reassured me that I am in the right place this winter break. As clinic days began, I got to experience even more appreciation from the people in Ventanilla. Whether I just filled out an H&P form, or measured their temperature, people were quick to thank me and give me a warm smile. Seeing how little I did and how appreciative they were made me realize that our team gave these people not only medical treatment, but hope. The open arms of the kids to accept us and spend time with us simply brought tears to my eyes. We gave them hope, but were showered with love. I went on this mission trip to help, but came back with much more than I had given.

iHelpGlobally provided me with an amazing experience of building strong friendships while serving a thankful community of people. Why Peru? Because in this country, I know that I 
                                                                   am making a difference. (Alina K, 2013).


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