"I don't have shoes--Well then, we will play the game barefooted "

After an eight hour drive and a long flight with 3 stops for an overall  35hours in transit  I am back in the states…..just on time to begin school once again!

The trip was very demanding and it required strenuous amounts of work from all. It was essential to rapidly adapt and to work as a team to be able to provide the maximum quality of care for all the patients we would try to see.

We arrived to Uganda on Saturday the 11^th and rapidly we headed southeast to the city of Masindi. There, we have a clinic and we took our 40+ bags full of equipment and medicine and began organizing everything anticipating a long and demanding week.

Our purpose was to travel everyday to a different city, abandoned “pueblos” where there was a lack of a physician and health care and to try to see as many patients as possible. We traveled for about 1-2 hours every morning and took over any school we found. By 7am we had divided into triage, providers/surgery, PT/OT, and pharmacy. Upon our arrival we would find 500-2000 people waiting in long lines. Most people had slept overnight under the rough conditions, hoping to be seen by us-This was a very humbling experience. We tried to screen the first 300 patients and about 100 that definitely needed care. Everyday prior to begin we would walk around the long line and pull out the people that were in most need, and try to help them anyway we could.

Every morning I tried to wake up by 3 am and I would review the drugs we had on the pharmacy for about 2-3 hours, before we departed to the different cities. I felt the necessity to do so since many of these drugs are not used in the states, and the majority of women are pregnant making it a priority not to prescribe something that could cause a problem during pregnancy.

I was a provider and my main job was diagnosing patients based on their main concerns and participate in invasive procedures/ surgeries as required. This was a difficult task as many patients presented with “ususual” problems such as elephantitis, malignant tumors, sickle cell, broken bones…definitely not your everyday case scenario. I had to tell many women about malignant cancers, kids about retinoblastoma’s and many other malignant illnesses. It was definitely not an easy task and I had to learn in the process. The days were long and demanding lasting until nearly 7pm yet satisfying everyday.

Elephantiasis

Arcus Senilis, Pterigium, Cataracts, Dislocated shoulder after falling off a tree while climbing to get a mango (103 yrs)

removing a small tumor

trying help this kid however we can

Infected psoriasis

 cystic fibroid

leprosy

During our trip we visited a total of 5 cities. Kigungubwa, Bulima, Bullisa, and kyatuni.  From all these Bulisa was one of the poorest places of the country. After the recent discovery of massive amounts of oil in this city, the city is polluted with foreign companies exploiting its resources, leaving the people behind. This city in particular was right infront of the republic of Congo which I could see from the window of the math class in which I was for 12 hours helping patients to heal their pain.

As always I tried to get involved and submerge myself within the culture. I don’t go abroad not to learn so I made it a point to become on of them. Everyday I tried to learn the language which I had been practicing for quite sometime. I must say speaking Runyoro with a Spanish accent was quite amusing for most Africans but they were able to understand me, and in this way I was able to break the bridge and connect to them. Everyday I will write with a sharpie all types of words in the right leg of my scrubs and greet them and try to converse in their language. When food was served in the street around 1 pm I would make the line and eat what the locals ate. Rice, goat, bread, soup, lentels with my hands. I would drink the tap water like they did and I would give them the drinks/”American lunch” the team brought for me. I understand that the team wanted to prevent getting any diseases but I travel to learn from the poor, to try to cure the ones with needs so I take my chances, just as they take theirs by coming to me. I played soccer barefooted with the kids because if they don’t have shoes, then I can play just like they do, after all we are all equal.

penalty shoot-out!

winner team

the star of the game

This was a great experience and I am very grateful. I was able to help and somehow change the lives of some people. I would like to thank everyone for helping me and supporting my dream of learning from the poor. For your help, I was able to raise my full trip and grow as a person, and as a future physician, all thanks to you.

Webale Muno (Thank you)!

Almost there...

Thank you for all the support, good wishes and candid words I had from all you all up to this date. With only 2 weeks to go I am already in 2635$ and I am only short 615$ to get to my main goal of 3250$.

I am very happy, and impressed that so many of you have made donations. It is definitely humbling and I am delighted to know that so many people support my cause and my strive to bring support to impoverish people in third world countries. I hope to one day become a physician equipped enough to practice in all areas of the globe, treating patients with care, and narrowing the gap of classes by helping those who have little...


For all those who have wonder why I am going to Uganda during my only break, this is a reason why:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/30/world/africa/30uganda.html?_r=1&hp&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1312021390-iVj4SGasu3CaQ+5kiTaaAA

Thank you-Gracias-Obrigado por toda sua ajuda!

Quebrando o gelo com os pacientes….

Eu queria agradecer a todos por toda a ajuda e boa vontade para meu missão medica. É viagem é ao virar da esquina e nós estamos deixando em menos de duas semanas agora!

Temos vindo a aprender nos fins de semana sobre as doenças comuns que vamos experimentar em Uganda. É estou muito saiu para tentar ajudar as pessoas em Uganda. Afora isso, eu também passava longas horas a tentar aprender RUNYORO. Este é o dialeto que são mais provável encontrar uma vez que chegarem a Uganda.

É muito importante tentar compreender e comunicar com os pacientes em sua língua nativa. Nas missões médicas passado eu fiz, eu aprendi que você pode quebrar o gelo e fazer o paciente se sentir confortável quando você fala em sua língua nativa. Algumas palavras levá-lo um longo caminho no exterior. As pessoas realmente apreciam isso e que você está lá para ajudá-los.

Juan José's Medical Mission for the summer of 2011

       As I pursue my dream of becoming a physician, I have been looking for new opportunities to help globally and expand my clinical knowledge.In the past I have done medical missions in many countries to include Peru, Bolivia, and Guatemala. I have lived on three continents, and usually in impoverish third world countries. I have experienced different cultures, heard different languages, and seen real poverty. All and all, I have learn to appreciate the simple things in life.

        Having being born in a third world country myself, I have a genuine desire to discover other third world countries and do medical missions there. I began traveling back in 2007 so I could somehow give back and help those in necessity.  Not knowing very well what I wanted to do with my life, I decided that I needed to travel and see the world. It all began with a last minute phone call and the next day I was in San Pedro de las Lagunas, Guatemala. This was my first medical mission, where I realized that I wanted to become a physician and try to help those in dire need.

        Between this year of medical school, I found a bitt of time to use as I see fit. Since naturally I like to travel and experience the realities of the globe,  I began looking for medical missions that would allow me to do this. As I was looking for a new chance, a new place to help, I was lucky enough to find this opportunity in Africa for another medical mission. In the midst of all the wonderful opportunities, I found The Palmetto Medical Initiative,  a non profit organization, founded by professionals from my medical school (MUSC), who travel to Masindi, Uganda 4 times a year.

        Our trip is from August 12-22, 2011 and we will spend the majority of our time in Masindi, Uganda. Upon arrival, we will be staffing a mobile clinic to treat the wide variety of medical conditions common to the people of Uganda. We will try to reach out to places where there are no facilities nor healthcare, to provide them with care, medicine, and to try to heal as many patients as possible.

        To give you some background information about Uganda, you must know that currently there is only 1 doctor per 12,500 people, and in some regions only 1 out of 25,000! The median survival age is only 50 years old compared to 78 in the USA. More than 300 people die each day of malaria, a preventable disease, and the most common causes of death amongst children under 5 years-old are acute respiratory infections and something simple as diarrhea.

        I am very exited about this opportunity because I get to have a withstanding impact on the lives of people in Uganda. I am anxious to spend the little time off I have from school to put my medical training and education to work in a place that greatly needs it. This trip will enable me to pursue my passion of helping the impoverished in third world countries.

        In order for me to attend this trip I am responsible for raising support. The total cost of my trip is 3250$ and that will include my plane tickets, meals, and a place to sleep. Any additional money left will be used as donations for the clinic we are about to finish in Uganda, and to buy toys for the kids. If you would like to be a part of my financial support for this mission trip, please make a donation. Any help, despite the quantity, would be greatly appreciated and is tax deductable. Your help will not only allow me to use my knowledge learned in previous medical missions and from medical school, but it will also help people who really need your help. 

        By clicking to the link in the bottom of the page you will be able to donate via credit cards or debit cards. If you prefer to mail a check, you may send your support to :

Juan José Villar-Benavides

24 bee street, apt-E
Charleston, SC 29403

        I will be keeping a blog and I will be updating my webpage with any new information I acquire regarding this medical mission, so please keep in touch. If you have any questions feel free to email me at villar@musc.edu.

Thanks for your help!

Nueva Misión Medica

            En busca de cumplir mi sueño, y llegar a ser un médico mas completo, he pasado mucho tiempo buscando nuevas oportunidades para ayudar a la gente mas necesitada .  Para ampliar mis experiencias clínicas y poder ayudar tengo que intentar mejorar la calidad de vida de aquellos que carecen de recursos.  Por ende, mi vehemencia en ayudar a los mas necesitados me ha llevado a poder participar en varias misiones médicas,  incluyendo países tales como Perú, Bolivia, y Guatemala por mencionar algunos.

            Habiendo nacido en un país pobre, tengo un deseo tremendo de poder ayudar a la gente que vive en los países mas desolados, y con menos recursos . He vivido en 3 continentes y he pasado la gran mayoría de mi vida en países pobres, aprendiendo lo que es la sobrevivencia. De esta forma nació mi deseo noble de volverme médico y de ofrecer una mano a nuestros hermanos mas necesitados mediante la exploración de  tierras lejanas, los pueblos jóvenes, y los campos mas desolados.


           Aun recuerdo que todo comenzó en el año 2007 con una llamada de último minuto; al dia siguiente estaba en mi primera misión médica en San Pedro de las Lagunas, Guatemala. Esta fue mi primera vez en un país extranjero, ayudando médicamente, y la cual, me transformo y me hizo darme cuenta que quería hacer con mi vida.

            Tras un año nuevo en el curriculum rígido de medicina, este verano, he podido encontrar un poco de tiempo durante mis vacaciones de la escuela.  Naturalmente, al gustarme tanto viajar y descubrir las realidades de un mundo ajeno al que vivimos aquí en los Estados Unidos comencé a buscar una misión médica. Durante este tiempo tuve la suerte de poder encontrar a “Palmetto Medical Initiative”;  una organización creada por colegas de mi escuela de medicina (MUSC) los cuales viajan a Uganda 4 veces al año.

           Nuestro viaje será entre el 12-22 de Agosto y pasaremos la mayoría de nuestro tiempo en la ciudad de Masindi, Uganda.   En Masindi, nos dividiremos en grupos e iremos en busca de los lugares mas remotos y desolados, donde hay poco acceso y ayuda médica. Para darles un poco de información, la gran mayoría de gente en Uganda tiene acceso a 1 médico por cada 12,500 personas, y en algunos lugares 1 médico por cada 25,000.  Mas de 300 personas al dia mueren de malaria, una enfermedad prevenible, y las causas mas comunes de fallecimiento de niños menores de 5 años son infecciones respiratorias y diarrea. 

          

         Después de ver la magnitud de carencias de personas que viven en países pobres, decidí hacer mi mayor esfuerzo para ayudar en su calidad de vida utilizando los conocimientos que he tenido la suerte de aprender en la escuela de medicina. Estoy emocionado por la oportunidad que se me ha presentado de ayudar a la gente de Uganda y cuento los días hasta que este allí para poder poner en practica mi entrenamiento médico y los conocimiento que he aprendido en previas misiones médicas.  Este viaje me va a dará la oportunidad única de seguir mi gran pasión de poder ayudar a aquella gente necesitada que precisa de nuestra ayuda.

         Para poder participar en esta misión médica, necesito recaudar una suma de $3,250 la cual cubrirá mis gasto de viaje, comida, y alojamiento. Si llego a conseguir mas dinero, lo usare para ayudar a terminar la clínica que hemos estado construyendo en Uganda y para comprar juguetes a los niños. En particular pelotas de fútbol que les encantan! Sepan que cualquier ayuda seria grata y bienvenida; vale la pena resaltar que su soporte económico también lo ayudaría a reducir sus taxes.

        Si desean donar con tarjeta de crédito o débito, por favor vayan a la parte de abajo de la página y encontraran una dirección que con un clic los dirigirá a hacer una donación. Si desean donar de otra forma, pueden enviar un cheque a la dirección de abajo.

       Haré mi mejor esfuerzo para mantener a todos en contacto mediante esta página Web que estará disponible en español, inglés y portugués . Manténgase en contacto para mas información!

Muchas gracias!!