May 12, 2008. Sichuan Province, China was hit by a 7.9 magnitude earthquake. Human casualties are estimated to be over 71,000 fatalities with over 25,000 injured. Reports suggest that over 5 million people were left homeless and displaced (USAID, 2008). Dr. Jeff DeGraffenreid, featured speaker at the 2008 Disaster Management Symposium, was one […]
I first worked in Angola during its civil war, and encountered all the injuries and disease of poverty one can possibly imagine: gun shots, land mines, measles, malaria, typhoid fever. What I did not see was HIV disease. While the rest of Africa was being ravaged by HIV, Angola was spared – largely because
In the evenings I’m entertaining myself by playing a suite of guitar pieces by Gaspar Sanz. Only one problem: the electricity kept going out. So I lit a candle and continued playing – probably just the same way he did in 1700!This morning I began be visiting hospital patients: a lady who’s husband beat
This is my 5th day as the solo doctor, and I’m thankful to find that the so far I’m keeping up. But I’ve had three patients die only since yesterday – die of disease that would have been easily treatable in Kansas City. The first was a 40-year man with “normal everyday” hepatitis. The
As I arrived at the Evangelical Med Center of Lubango today I was immediately summoned to the ER to see a child, Miguel, who’d just arrived. On first glance, the four-year old boy was swollen across his face – a sure sign of pellagra, a nutritional disease unknown in the US. But what startled
Today I’m in Lubango, Angola. If you look at a map of Africa, Angola is a nation in the southwest corner. I lived here for two years, working at a mission hospital and also doing mobile clinics. During these weeks I’m covering for Steve Foster, the Canadian doctor who runs the Evangelical Medical Center
The world of medical missions has changed dramatically since Mother Teresa left for India in 1929. Nevertheless, today some 3 billion people still have no access to even the most basic health necessities. One of these is Jose Santos, pictured here in Angola. As an infant he was never vaccinated against polio and tragically acquired
Great success is born of passion that defies intellectual assent alone. Triumphant scientists are truly zealous for research. Victorious politicians are infatuated with their causes. Enviable couples are deeply in love with one another. While duty and commitment have their proper place, any formula for success is accelerated by infusing heartfelt enthusiasm. What
Propelled by the devastating 2004 tsunami and the ever-growing global HIV/AIDS crisis, interest in medical missions has never been higher. Many health professionals feel compelled to volunteer their services to those people most in need, but few follow through on these good intentions due to numerous misconceptions about medical missions. Two of the most common
Vast wealth and medical knowledge benefit the world’s affluent, while some three billion persons still lack even the most basic health care. In response, interest in selfless service among health professionals has never been higher. Jean Fields, RN, MSN, is one who makes international service an intimate part of her career. Says Jean,