It is a common practice for students who have
finished medical school to go and serve the people in underprivileged areas,
while volunteering at mission hospitals, giving free medical care to those who
cannot afford it. Most of the time, these medical student volunteers are in a
good spirit, but sometimes, they do not perform well or even cause harm to the
patients. The reason for this is that there are many things that medical
students should know before getting involved in medical humanitarian.
1.
Know the basic facts about the country you are going to serve
It may be very tempting to travel to a developing
country and lend a helping hand. However, before you take the plunge, it’s
essential to understand the risks involved with this type of travel. For
example, you may not have access to the same level of health care that you
would in your home country. This means that if you get sick or injured, there
may not be a medical facility or doctor who can help you. You might also
encounter dangerous animals, extreme weather, or other life-threatening
situations that could lead to serious injury or death. If you do decide to
travel to a developing country, make sure you have proper vaccinations and get
the appropriate level of health coverage before you leave your home country.
2.
Know what’s the objective of the medical humanitarian mission
Medical humanitarian missions are not trips to go and
have fun. People work very hard to plan these types of missions, so it’s
important that you do your part to be a positive member of the team. If you’re
going on a humanitarian medical mission, make sure you understand what your
role will be. For example, are you going to be an interpreter or translator?
Are you going to provide logistics support for the team? Are you going to help
carry supplies? Do you have any medical skills that can benefit the team? By
knowing what your role is, you’ll be able to better prepare yourself for the
trip and do everything you can to make sure the experience is a success.
3.
Know the people you will be supporting in your mission
Before you leave for the mission, make sure you do
some research on the people you’ll be supporting. Are they a part of a
particular ethnic group? What are their religious beliefs? What are their
health concerns? These are important pieces of information that will help you
be more effective when you get there. You’ll also be able to better interpret
your findings back home, which will help the organization continue its work in
the future.
Get the right gear
The type of gear you need depends on the type of
mission you’re going on. If you’re going to be carrying supplies or equipment,
make sure you have a sturdy bag to carry everything. If you’re going on a
medical mission, you’ll need a medical bag, a first aid kit, and other supplies
to help with the work you’ll be doing. To ensure you have everything you need,
spend some time before the trip researching what supplies you’ll need to carry
with you.
If you’re not sure what you’ll need, contact the
organization sponsoring your trip or call a doctor or other medical
professional who has experience with such trips. They’ll be able to give you useful
information about what items are most important to carry and will also help you
determine how much gear will be too much.
4.
Become aware of what is happening in the mission location
It’s important to know what is happening in the
mission location before you get there. Not everyone will be at the same place
on the same schedule, and you want to avoid being in the way of other people or
showing up at a place at a time when it’s not being used. If you’re going on a
medical mission, make sure you know where the hospital is and how much time it
takes to get there.
You may also want to spend some time researching the
culture and customs of the country you’re traveling to. This can help you
better understand your mission and what is likely to occur while you’re there.
It also helps you avoid accidentally offending anyone or doing something
5.
Learn the names of some local key people
If you’re going on a medical trip, you should
practice saying the names of the key people involved in the mission. This will
help you greet them properly and understand what they’re saying when they talk
to you. It also helps you avoid accidentally offending anyone or doing
something that might offend them.
Practice using gestures and words
You should also practice using gestures and words
that are commonly used in the place where you’ll be volunteering. For example,
if you’re going to Africa, say “thank you” by making the shape of a person with
your hands. In some areas of Africa, this means “you are welcome.” If you say
“thank you” the way you do in your home country, it can be offensive.
Get a good night’s sleep before you leave
You should also get a good night’s sleep before you
leave. If you’re going to Africa, for example, you might want to take melatonin
along with you. Melatonin is a natural hormone that helps regulate sleep and
waking patterns. It may help your body adjust to the time change faster.
Bring items with you to help adjust to the new time
zone
You might also want to bring items with you to help
adjust to the new time zone. For example, if you’re going to Africa, bring a
small alarm clock with the time.
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