As science students, we all theoretically understand the effects of different sicknesses – such as bacterial/viral infection and cancer. As people, we are taught to recognize the signs and symptoms of the most common ones. If you have a sore throat for a couple of days along with a fever, you just walk or drive to your clinic and get antibiotics. Within the next day, you’ll be well on your way to feeling normal.
​Inagine that you didn’t know the signs for a throat infection, and just believed it was a normal cold. Imagine you didn’t notice a lump growing on your breasts. Imagine that even if you did realize there was something wrong and you knew you had to visit a doctor, you would be required you to walk kilometers away from where you live, lose a day’s pay, and practically spend an entire day just to see a doctor. If you eventually find time and manage to do all that, it is highly likely that by the time you get to the doctor, your condition has worsened; that lump on your breast is no longer just breast cancer, but has metastasized to other organs in your body…

​This is what I saw on my MEDLIFE trip to Peru. During our first tour in Pamplona, we saw the harsh reality of day to day life. Through TV, most of us have become familiar with the conditions in the poor parts of various countries, and we have all heard of the difficulties they have to face. We set up fundraisers and charities to raise money and make a difference in their lives. However, most of us don’t ever truly get to see the difference we have made. Taking part in MEDLIFE’s mobile clinic allowed me not only to witness the difference I have made indirectly, but to help those who ultimately change lives.
​I went on this trip with other students. During the clinic week, we assisted doctors, dentists, gynecologists and pharmacists. We had the pleasure of educating children on how to brush their teeth and the importance of brushing your teeth. As well as health care for all, MEDLIFE also provides education on cancer, basic health care, preventive measure and STIs to adults. Due to all the donations and money raised for MEDLIFE, we were able to also provide them with the drugs they needed for free. All in all, we helped 302 patients!

​Additionally, MEDLIFE volunteers also takes part in developmental projects. This includes building schools, bathrooms, and stairs. As I mentioned earlier, we had done a 6km hike through Pamplona on our first day. We hiked from the foot of the hills to the top. I can assure you – that was no easy task. But this is what the people of Pamplona do EVERY DAY! Because they don’t have stairs, they walk up extremely dangerous and steep dirt paths. Young children at the age of 5 or 6 have to hike everyday just to get to school. So MEDLIFE builds stairs, not just to make their lives easier, but also to prevent people from slipping and gravely injuring themselves. During our clinic week, we were able to complete a staircase in the Buena Vista community. For us, it may have just been a staircase, but for them it is one step towards a better future.
​Although there are so many more people around the world who still need help, it makes me happy to know that I was able to help change some lives forever for the better. Additionally, I have been changed for the better as well, by the people I’ve met: the friends, the doctors, the staff, and all the patients we treated. They are my inspiration and I will forever be grateful for everything they have shown me and taught me. I believe that we gave each and every one of those 302 patients and the community of Buena Vista hope for a better future. And, in the words of Thomas Carlyle, he who has hope has everything

Swati Patel is in Microbiology and Immunology.

by Doulia Hamad

Buenas Tardes,

Today was our first day of clinic. After a quick breakfast and wishing good luck to those of us that were headed to the grueling stairs construction project, we packed our materials and headed to a district near Pamplona Alta for the day.

My first station was general medicine with Cesar, a physician who’d specialized in geriatric care. Before the patients began rolling in, Cesar took those of us assigned to his station aside and began teaching. With humour and patience, he showed us how to distinguish abnormal heart and lung sounds from those of normal beats and breaths. He also introduced us to some ailments specific to the living conditions of the villagers; he directed our attention to the signs of anemia and vitamin A deficiency (discoloured gums and mucosa and white spots on the skin, respectively). As well, we got to see first-hand many cases of tonsilitis and parasite infections, as well as an older woman afflicted with ptosis, thus causing her to have a droopping eylid on one side only.

By noon, I was getting hungry – my breakfast of bread, banana and egg was now long gone – but I didn’t want to leave Ceasar’s side. There were always more patients to ascultate, more heart sounds to hear.

Eventually (and somewhat reluctantly), I did head for lunch and to my next station, but not before taking the time to pass over the knowledge I had gathered to the friends that were coming to replace me.

In the afternoon, triage proved equally interesting, albeit a bit more challenging since we were directly interacting with patients. My Spanish is far from perfect, but I was relieved to realize that I spoke well enough to be understood clearly by the villagers, even on my first try. Keeping a big smile on my face and using even larger gestures helped, too.

You should come see for yourself!