Pakistan Is Not Haiti
Tuesday, August 31st, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »The heartening North American response to Haiti's earthquake has tragically not been replicated in the case of Pakistan. With twenty percent of the nation underwater, some 1100 people known dead, and four million now homeless, this catastrophe ranks among the ...
Demand For Global Health Training?
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »INMED is continually approached by universities that are scrambling to provide global health training and service opportunities. What is driving this demand? YOU CHOOSE: A = Student interest, B = The Gates Foundation, C = Inspiring role model, D = ...
Colleagues Murdered in Afghanistan
Monday, August 9th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »I am aghast tonight over the tragic news of a British physician, Karen Woo, and ten other aid workers killed this week by gunmen in an ambush in a remote area of northern Afghanistan. The team was on site working ...
What’s The Good News From Bangladesh?
Sunday, August 8th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »In Bangladesh forty years ago one infant in five died during the first year. Today, only one infant in twenty dies. WHAT'S the reason for this progress? You choose: A = Childhood vaccinations. B = General economic development. C = ...
From Rescue To Self-Sufficiency - Ghana Day 13
Saturday, July 24th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »Last night a lady arrived at Ghana's Baptist Medical Center in labor with twins. Our ultrasound quickly confirmed their heart rates were low, and a Caesarian was needed at once. A familiar scenario out here - and for the last ...
Commitment & Consistency: Doug Parkin - Ghana Day 11
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »One of the most disturbing elements of today's 'short-term medical missions' phenomena is how individuals boast over the number of different countries where they have served. In truth, the learning curve is steep for each new healthcare facility. Commitment and ...
A ‘Normal’ Doctor’s Schedule - Ghana Day 9
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »Just a typical day at Ghana's Baptist Medical Center: This morning I arrived find to 27 new patients admitted to the pediatrics ward by the nurses overnight! That's 27 kids with malaria, sepsis, pneumonia, dehydration, all on top of chronic ...
Culturally-Appropriate Orphan Care - Ghana Day 7
Monday, July 19th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »Pictured here with the children of Nilerigu, Ghana's first orphanage. Attitudes toward orphans and care provided are quite culturally-dependent. In more traditional African communities to concept of an "orphan" was almost unheard of. All children have relatives, and if their ...
The Tough Questions - Ghana Day 5
Sunday, July 18th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »Walked into the pediatrics ward at Ghana's Baptist Medical Center this morning, where I almost collapsed from the gravity of suffering and stench of human waste. I'm contemplating the questions that plague us all who engage healthcare among the extreme ...
Snakes In The Grass! - Ghana Day 3
Saturday, July 17th, 2010 Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »Making rounds at Baptist Medical Center in Ghana - up near the northern border with Burkina Faso. Stunningly, a quarter of our hospital patients are here for snake bit! Now is the rainy season, when farmers are scrambling out to ...