The Outreach Program Leads Fall 2015 Medical Mission
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Dr. Deborah Ann Turner, VP of Int’l Programs for The Outreach Program, recently led a Medical Mission team to Tanzania, East Africa. Outreach has been taking Medical Mission teams to the Singida region for over a decade and this made the 9th trip for Dr. Turner, a gynecologic oncologist and surgeon.
“It was a very worthwhile, but busy trip,” Dr. Turner said. “Pediatricians noticed that patients were sicklier and not as well kept. That would be the effects of the drought this year that has impacted crop production and, as a result, the health of the people.”
Medical professionals such as physicians, pediatricians, EMTs, nurse anesthetist, RNs, as well as non-medical support staff worked hand-in-hand with the Tanzanian national team of doctors and nurses.
“In all these years, we’ve never seen the hospital so low on resources,” Dr. Turner said. “We had to send patients to get their own IV solutions at a store or pharmacy. We also had to buy oxygen from local welders. We realize it’s not about how much you have, but about how resourceful you can be; we are rather spoiled in the West.”
Outreach supplied the Singida Regional Hospital with two surgical suites so numerous surgeries were performed. Many of the surgeries completed were tonsillectomies, a simple procedure in the U.S. but very dangerous in Tanzania due to lack of a cauterization machine. Patients frequently bleed to death from such simple surgeries.
A number of hysterectomies were performed as well. Gynecology is an underserved medical field in Tanzania and women came from miles away – some even as far as a 7-hour bus ride – to see Dr. Turner. “It’s humbling to work and care for the Tanzanian people. They are incredibly patient and deeply grateful for any care they receive.”
Part of the Medical Mission team also assisted Outreach’s local staff nurse, Naomi, who manages the Port-A-Doc. This portable unit mounted on a Toyota pickup, is able to travel to rural areas and provide much needed care and medicine, especially to mothers and children in the Singida region.
The Outreach Program’s Medical Mission team is successful because we have served the same area since 2004 and have built lasting relationships. We have a mutual trust and respect with the community and those who provide service.
For more information on the next mission trip taking place March 31- April 15, 2016, please contact Dr. Deborah Turner at 641-486-2550 or email drturner@outreachprogram.org.
