This blog is intended to document my experiences with the Doctors of Tomorrow team that operates under the charitable organization, Flying Doctors of Canada. Holy, am I ever not used to writing informally!
What is Flying Doctors of Canada (or FDOC, for short)? It is an organization aimed to bringing sustainable healthcare to various areas in the third world country, namely El Salvador and Nicaragua. We do this by 'attacking' the problem of sustainable healthcare on several levels: community, infrastructure, personal. The community level is addressed by healthcare education. This year, the El Salvador DOT team is researching airborne diseases and preventative measures against common diseases. The infrastructure level is addressed by implementing much-needed equipment that can help increase their quality of life. Past FDOC trips have made eco-stoves and water filtration devices! The personal level is addressed directly by our healthcare professionals (physicians, dentists, optometrists, nurses, pharmacists) in the mobile medical clinic. Daily, the average inflow of patients is 200-250. Our FDOC team, partnered with a local medical team, provides free eye exams, glasses, medical/dental check-ups amongst other things.
What is the DOT team? We're a group of University students that endeavour to pursue a career in medicine. Getting first-hand experience of third world medical issues will truly help us become better informed of the medical difficulties of those in less priviledged countries. We rotate amongst the three levels (healthcare education, infrastructure and clinic). What better way to give back to the world than to use our strengths to help evoke change for those who need it most?
