WHY MEDICINE

          According to the World Health Organization (WHO), over one billion people worldwide currently face a “critical shortage in health care.” There are less than two doctors per individual in Latin America due to geographic isolation and a lack of transportation, as one quarter of the Latin American population lives or works in rural areas.
          Many in Latin America have chosen to leave their rural communities in search of better economic, educational, or health opportunities in cities. As a result, the rapid urbanization of cities has given rise to a separate host of problems, including improper sanitation, unhygienic living conditions, and a lack of basic amenities.

WHAT ARE MOBILE CLINICS?

A MEDLIFE Mobile Clinic brings free, high-quality healthcare directly to communities who lack access to basic health services. Staffed by local practitioners, clinics offer basic medical treatment and preventative screens and are designed to find patients who are in need of long-term assistance. Volunteers shadow medical professionals, and help in the running of the clinic as they learn about local medical practices, global medicine, and the effect of poverty on health. 

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TRIAGE

Screen patients for diabetes, heart disease, cancer risk, and other health risk factors.

GENERAL MEDICINE

Shadow Peruvian doctors and understand the effectiveness of field medicine.

GYNECOLOGY

Work with gynecologists to provide a safe space for cervical cancer screening.

TOOTHBRUSHING

Introduce dental hygiene techniques to children of age 2-7.

DENTISTRY STATION

Providing basic dental care to patients and educate the importance of good dental hygiene.

EDUCATION

Teach culturally appropriate material to improve diet and health practices of community.

PHARMACY

Provide medication free of charge for patients who have visited with clinic physicians.

SUSTAINABILITY

  • Year-round mobile clinics
    • Our clinics offer general medicine and dental services as well as preventative tests year round. 
  • Patient followups
    • Any patient who may have a serious condition are placed in our follow-up care program where they work with our field nurses throughout the treatment.
  • Locally-hired medical professionals
    • Our clinic stations are staffed by Peruvian professionals who understand local systems and provide culturally sensitive care.

OUR LOCAL WORK

The UC Berkeley MEDLIFE chapter has formed partnerships in the bay area to provide healthcare to low-income ethnic minority communities who may have little or no access to healthcare. In particular, volunteers attend their dental and medical appointments and provide case management to assess their needs.