What is a Medical Mission?
What is a Medical or Health-Focused Mission Trip?
A medical mission trip, or a health-focused mission trip is a trip in which medical providers travel abroad to tend to the medical needs of a community, usually one in a developing country. Medical missions can vary in length, ranging from a couple weeks to multiple months as well as involve different religious, secular, governmental, or non-governmental organizations. Unlike other types of developmental mission trips, medical missions focus solely on the health needs of those within the community.
A medical mission trip, or a health-focused mission trip is a trip in which medical providers travel abroad to tend to the medical needs of a community, usually one in a developing country. Medical missions can vary in length, ranging from a couple weeks to multiple months as well as involve different religious, secular, governmental, or non-governmental organizations. Unlike other types of developmental mission trips, medical missions focus solely on the health needs of those within the community.
Sustainability and Efficacy of Medical Missions
The fundamental differences between medical mission trips and other types of developmental missions pose a very necessary question to those who wish to take implement solutions that legitimately benefits communities in need: Is the work done on mission trips, health focused or otherwise, sustainable and effective? As previously discussed in the "Sustainable Work" page, sustainability and efficacy go hand in hand; solutions need to be sustainable in order for them to be effective and as concluded in Jennifer Vollmann's TEDTalk (also linked in the "Sustainable Work" page) developmental mission trips are, more often than not, not sustainable. So remains the question, do health-focused mission trips put forth sustainable work?
It is quite difficult accuse doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel (most of whom have put in years of education and medical training to participate in these trips) of engaging in mission trips for selfish reasons as one can for other types of developmental outreach. However, good intentions do not equate to positive and sustainable long-term results. The biggest concern when it comes to sustainability in these missions is how the community will fare once the assistance goes away. In the case of medical missions, how will the community resist disease, treat symptoms, and prevent further contraction without the modern medicine and methods that Western professionals provide?
Due to these concerns, some health-focused mission trips can be deemed as unsustainable. Missions that tend to a single specific community for a relatively short amount of time scientifically and theoretically cause more harm than good. If said community is within a region that lacks access to equipment or medicine that only the outreach program can provide, they will have no way of maintaining treatment. This in no way benefits patients whose conditions require lengthly attention.
It is quite difficult accuse doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel (most of whom have put in years of education and medical training to participate in these trips) of engaging in mission trips for selfish reasons as one can for other types of developmental outreach. However, good intentions do not equate to positive and sustainable long-term results. The biggest concern when it comes to sustainability in these missions is how the community will fare once the assistance goes away. In the case of medical missions, how will the community resist disease, treat symptoms, and prevent further contraction without the modern medicine and methods that Western professionals provide?
Due to these concerns, some health-focused mission trips can be deemed as unsustainable. Missions that tend to a single specific community for a relatively short amount of time scientifically and theoretically cause more harm than good. If said community is within a region that lacks access to equipment or medicine that only the outreach program can provide, they will have no way of maintaining treatment. This in no way benefits patients whose conditions require lengthly attention.
What Do I Need to Do and Consider to Get Involved?
1. Find an organization that you would want to work with.
- What are their values? What is their mission statement?
- Are they religiously or governmentally affiliated?
- Do they aid the same type of communities you wish to help?
- Are their solutions and practices sustainable and effective?
2. Know their requirements.
- Do you need to be medically trained and certified to participate?
- Is there a place for a person of your age within the mission?
3. Find a way to fund your mission trip.
- Does the organization require you to pay fees?
- Do you need to fundraise money?
- Are there any grants available to help you fund you trip?
4. Know what you need to do before you leave.
- What kinds of supplies do you need to contribute, buy, and pack?
- What immunizations does your home and visiting country require you to have?
- What are their values? What is their mission statement?
- Are they religiously or governmentally affiliated?
- Do they aid the same type of communities you wish to help?
- Are their solutions and practices sustainable and effective?
2. Know their requirements.
- Do you need to be medically trained and certified to participate?
- Is there a place for a person of your age within the mission?
3. Find a way to fund your mission trip.
- Does the organization require you to pay fees?
- Do you need to fundraise money?
- Are there any grants available to help you fund you trip?
4. Know what you need to do before you leave.
- What kinds of supplies do you need to contribute, buy, and pack?
- What immunizations does your home and visiting country require you to have?
List of Medical Missionary Organizations and their corresponding websites.