Thread: Don't take water for granted

Great post, Weatherweenie. It's good to take time to think about what more we can do to make the world a better place, and where and how we could pitch in. Thought I'd share info on a similar volunteer non-profit organization called Medical Teams International, used to be called Northwest Medical Teams. I've supported them for the past 20 years, since the first time I was invited to a fundraising dinner by a friend, before I even had a stable entry-level job with benefits myself.

http://http://www.nwmedicalteams.org/site/PageServer

They started here in the Pacific Northwest about 25 years ago. I live a few hours from their homebase, otherwise I'd spend time volunteering in their warehouse for donated medical and disaster-relief supplies on weekends. As is, I chip in financially and maybe someday I'll learn of a volunteer team gearing up to address a community development problem where my background and skillset would be helpful.

Medical Teams International, began in the heart of one man in 1979. He had no medical background. Ron Post was a businessman.

But in 1979, he and the rest of America watched television reports of mass suffering as thousands of Cambodian refugees escaping the Khmer Rouge stumbled across the border into Thailand, “as if looking for a quiet place to die,” Ron said.
Less than a month later, Ron led a group of 28 medical volunteers to care for the survivors of Cambodia’s killing fields.

This compassionate response by people initially from the Pacific Northwest—and now from around the world—has occurred over and over again. In early 2006, they sent their 1,500th team.

non-profit
Medical Teams International is supported by the generous donations of individuals, corporations, medical institutions and churches. Every $30 helps send $3,900-worth of humanitarian aid and supplies to people in need. More than 95 percent of all donations goes to programs and services.

volunteer-driven
Hundreds of volunteers contribute by working in the warehouse, home and satellite offices; by serving on short-term mission teams; and by assisting in the work on the field. They welcome volunteers of various faith backgrounds.

They recruit professional medical, dental and work teams who volunteer their time. Development teams cover their expenses and gather donated supplies for the hospitals and clinics where they serve. There is involvement of volunteers from various faith backgrounds in their work.
The volunteer teams do medical and dental direct aid, but also do disaster relief and longterm community health development including medical and emergency service training, HIV/AIDs community support and education, nutrition and safe water, sustainable agricultural tech training in drought-and poverty stricken desert subsistence agriculture communities (this one facet I learned early on won them my full lifelong support for their holistic mindset) and support local medical and emergency service providers with donated supplies and services.

Their Mobile Dental program provides low- and no-cost dental care to low-income children and adults, the homeless, and migrant workers in the U.S. who lack insurance or a realistic way to pay for treatment. More than 900 generous volunteer dental professionals provide approximately $4.2 million worth of free dental care every year.

Many countries are not adequately equipped to provide health services. Their health clinics and hospitals may be understaffed. Others lack necessary equipment, supplies and trained workers. Those are the countries where Medical Teams International sends tvolunteer teams. Their goal is to treat the individuals and train the medical workers in:

• primary health care
• dental
• surgery
• opthalmology

Local health needs and health program activities depend on the context of the project areas. Services to individual patients and the communities include:

• diagnosis and treatment of acute or chronic medical illnesses.
• provision of basic ambulatory surgical care.
• pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology care.

In 2007, Medical Teams International responded to nine disasters.

• Pacific Northwest, USA: Flood
• Bangladesh: Cyclone
• Mexico: Flood
• Peru: Earthquake
• South Asia: Flood
• Jakarta, Indonesia: Flood
• Darfur, Sudan: Complex humanitarian relief
• Uganda: Complex humanitarian relief
• Louisiana and Mississippi: Hurricane

Disaster Intervention focus areas include:

• Control of communicable diseases, including malaria, diarrhea, acute respiratory infections, cholera.
• Immunizations.
• Malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies in vulnerable populations.

Disaster Response strategy
To develop a high-impact relief and rehabilitation program to provide emergency, lifesaving health care assistance and services to populations at risk through natural disaster, displacement, and conflict. We focus on the most vulnerable people as security and access permits.

Long-term disaster response goal
To effectively transition to development programs, helping people rebuild their lives.