As we missed one of the rare medical missions in march because of our intermediate seminar, we were really excited and happy about last week's news: The so called "Mercy International Medical Mission" of a medical team from Ohio (USA) would take place the coming week (8th -12th) in the public hospital, here in Samaná.
On Monday, the five of us got ready early in the morning and wearing our scrubs, we headed to the hospital Leopoldo Pou. There we had the pleasure to meet a team of approximately 30 Americans from Ohio: nurses, medical students, doctors, anesthesiologists, gynecologists, surgeons...
The mission's departments of this week were: two general consultation rooms, where in each, one of us helped taking the vitals and most importantly translated among patient and doctor; moreover there were gynecological examinations everyday; needless to say there was also a pharmacy set up with the clinic apartment and last but not least the surgery with its recovery room.
Apart from those areas, a small team worked externally in a so called "UNAP - Unidad de Primeros Auxilios" (first aid clinic) in the neighborhood or district "Honduras" of Samaná which is a rather poor community.
Two of us accompanied daily the team which carried out medical consultations there together with the doctor of that clinic.
One of us had the chance to help out translating in the surgery and its recovery area thus now and then she was allowed to watch particular surgeries like C-sections, hysterectomies, removals of gall bladders or plastic surgical procedures like fixing an ear/a nose/a mouth with tissue from another part of the body. It was super interesting and a great opportunity, on the one hand to establish new contacts and gain new or expand/extend our knowledge and on the other hand to practice and improve or challenge our Spanish.
But for me, the best was that it made me so happy an content to see how we were able to support the medical team to translate not only between doctor and patient but also between the Dominican and American doctors.
On the last day of the mission, I was really surprised and touched when the team expressed their appreciation/gratitude by inviting us to a big dinner with everyone at the hotel where they were staying. It was such a nice atmosphere and lovely evening.
For - I think not only me - again the mission was such a great experience and a diversion from our daily routine.
Thanks to everyone for letting us be part of the mission!
Write a comment