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Medical Brigades from Global Brigades on Vimeo.
Mission
To work with licensed medical professionals and community health workers to provide comprehensive health services in rural communities with limited access to healthcare. Our current focus is in Honduras, Ghana, and Panama.
5 Year Vision (2011-2016)
Over the next five years we plan to mobilize 31,000 volunteers to facilitate healthcare in 95 communities, providing: 850,000 consultations, 212,000 preventative procedures, and 200,000 hours of health education.
Medical Brigade volunteers have the opportunity to shadow licensed doctors in medical consultations and assist in a pharmacy under the direction of licensed pharmacists. Each of our partner community receives a brigade every 3 to 4 months where hundreds of patients are treated and volunteers deliver public health workshops. Between brigades our in-country team maintains relationships with the communities to provide follow-up and to conduct Community Health Worker (CHW) trainings to empower local leaders to sustain a consistent level of healthcare. Electronic patient records are collected for future visitations and to monitor overall community health trends.
Volunteers’ duties on brigades vary based on the medical background and skill of the volunteer. Volunteers with little to no medical experience have the opportunity to assist during the triage and intake of patients, shadow doctors during consultations, and help pack medications in the pharmacy under the direction of our on the ground pharmacist. Volunteers with greater medical experience have the opportunity to take a larger leadership role during triage and assisting with health education workshops, both under the supervision of licensed doctors. All patient consultations and medicine prescriptions are only done by licensed doctors. Regardless of medical skill level, there is a role for any type of volunteer and the chance to learn about providing sustainable healthcare to rural communities who would otherwise have limited access.
Brigade Length & Location
Global Brigades offers 7-10 day Medical Brigades throughout the year in Ghana, Honduras, and Panama. Student volunteers can get involved with an upcoming Medical Brigade by joining a local student chapter on their college campus or creating a new chapter and recruiting a group of students. Health professionals can also participate a brigade by viewing our calendar for an upcoming brigade and joining as a medical professional.
View Medical Brigades Brochure for Honduras & Panama
View Medical Brigades Brochure for Ghana
