About Medicos en Accion
Our contribution
Each member of our team fundraises the value of $500, pays their own airfare, accommodation, and other expenses. Members participate in fundraising so that we are able to purchase medicines, supplies, pay for patient support and travel, and to pay for the use of operating facilities. The hospital which we use in Antigua is run by the Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro. These facilities are also residences for handicapped people, and homeless children. The money we pay to Obras Sociales is used to maintain these facilities, and to pay local personnel. We also rent space in the Casa Fe, a residential facility run by the group Faith in Practice, in order to house out of town patients and their families.
Organization of the mission
Medicos En Accion organizes mission dates, accommodation, and outlines flight options. Individuals book their flight independantly to allow flexible payment and travel options. Team members will receive a charitable donation receipt for these expenses. Money is channelled through the group bank account. If anyone chooses not to travel with or stay with the group, they must make their own arrangements. Although we travel as a group, it is possible to arrange separate return flights to provide for a holiday.
A little history of our beginnings
In 2001, Kamloops volunteers formed their own group, a charitable society known as Medicos En Accion. Altought we are a Kamloops based organization, we continue to draw volunteers from across Canada, USA and Internationally. Initially our base was the Hermano Pedro hospital in Antigua. Over the years we have expanded. In 2003 primary care clinics were initiated in villages near Panahachel, Lake Atitlan. Also social projects such as the construction of a shelter for homeless people , provision of clothing, and distribution of school supplies were instituted. In 2006, a pilot surgical team was sent to Patzun. This proved to be feasible, and a larger team went to the facility in 2007 and 2008. As in 2008, we provide medical and surgical services to three areas: Antigua, Patzun and Panajachel.
In 2010 we sent our last team to Patzun for the foreseeable future. Dr. Rod Symes has taken the lead in organizing medical operations in Antigua and Dr. Jon Just is leading teams in The Gambia.
For a more detailed history of the organization see the Our History page.