GHV Partners with Missionaries of the Poor in Jamaica
From January 25-February 4th, a team of 13 Global Health Volunteers traveled to Kingston, Jamaica for a 10-day primary care mission. The team consisted of 6 medical providers (4 MDs, 1 Physical Therapist, and 1 Behaviorist), 3 nurses, a respiratory therapist, and support staff. The team continued to work side-by-side with in-country partners in the Trenchtown Community as well as the Brothers of the Missionaries of the Poor (MOP), who run several residential facilities for individuals with severe physical and/or mental disabilities.
Mission Highlights
There were many highlights on the Jamaica mission, but two highlights happened at the Missionaries of the Poor residential facilities. Our team conducted 5 educational sessions at the request of and to the staff at Bethlehem House. The topics included: seizure protocol and documentation, feeding positions and nutrition along with choking risks, how to give respiratory treatments, proper lifting techniques of non-mobile residents, and behavioral understanding for non-verbal and verbal residents.
The second highlight is shown above, as a bed-bound child is presented with a mobile that was created and made by our physical therapist (pictured on the right) and other team members to help engage and stimulate children by giving them something to focus on, touch and move toward. These bed-bound children, many with severe contractions, were moving their eyes, neck, heads, and hands to activate the different devices.
Follow-up
A list of referrals and follow-ups were left with our in-country partner for the Trenchtown community. The Brothers of the Missionaries and their staff, including full-time physical therapist, care for the residents all year long. GHM volunteers have documented extensively regarding each patient, and have scheduled follow-ups with the staff as needed to discuss different patient conditions.
