MedLend.Org is truly out to accomplish it's mission: to offer improved reproductive health care solutions to impoverished communities around the globe.
I was on staff as an administrative assistant for a few years, attending missions with them to remote areas in the Philippines, Peru, and Uganda, although I did not attend every service program or go to all the locations they service.
Once, after a particularly long day of surgeries in Uganda, ending late with a complicated AIDS patient case, the team got word after retreating to their dormitory for the evening that something had gone wrong with her recovery, and the patient could be in crisis. They rushed back to her aid immediately, and were able to stabilize her within the hour. That's the kind of leadership they have. There is no such thing as tired in the face of patients who need them.
Each mission takes a year to plan, and volunteers cycle through 3 - 4 missions per year. The cost of producing each mission, including supplies, mechanics, travel, and accomodations roughly averages $30,000 / team.
They see an average of 60 surgical patients per 7-10 day mission, and can help over 200 more at the same time, with non-surgical related issues.
Each doctor that volunteers is board certified, practicing physician in the U.S.
Partnerships with local hospitals must be organized a win-win-win, so the patients get quality care, the hospital often gets equipment or training, and the mission team gets an appropriate place to see patients for the duration of the mission.
By inviting promising medical, tech, and nursing students to attend as well, writing scholarship programs for a select few who make a commitment to future volunteer service, MedLend includes support for the next generation of medical staffers willing to dedicate their work to servicing communities with limited access to health care, thus improving the future of access to quality health care through support and experience today.
This team illustrates the definition of the term dedicated, going so far as to perform a medical mission even during the pandemic lockdown of 2020, as soon as flights began opening up for international travel.
The only staff assistant they have is usually paid as an office assistant through the medical practice, and tasked with helping market, manage, and fundraise. That way they keep costs down for the non-profit, and can commit virtually every donation dollar towards producing or supporting the mission programs abroad, for the benefit of patients.
True story from Bayombong, Philippines:
A patient had a benign tumor. Before MedLend.org arrived, her family had spent their life savings to get the diagnosis. They could not afford treatment. So, the tumor grew for 7 years.
When MedLend.Org got there, the blood banks were empty, so they scheduled her surgery for a Thursday. Meanwhile, her whole village - husband, sons, uncles, sisters - walked over 23 miles to donate blood for her.
Her surgery was successful. The tumor came out at 23 lbs. I saved a picture of it (but it tends to make people squeamish so I won't share).
The volunteers were so impressed by her village, that they made a deal with the local hospital - by pooling their personal resources - to continue providing ongoing aftercare for this patient, since the medical mission would be ending soon, in case she needed it.
MedLend knows the people they care for are so highly valued by their communities. So they regularly go above and beyond for their patients. It's not just what they do. It's who they are.
Caregivers. That word means the world to them.
Ive worked first hand as a volunteer Physician with Medlend for about three years. I've gone on several missions to Peru serving the medical/surgical needs of the poor. I have another mission to Uganda coming up with Medlend. The only thing that can be said of the staff and volunteers associated with Medlend is that they are professionals of the highest order. They are completely selfless and generous. They remain unsung heroes who work for the betterment of mankind. I am honored to have had the opportunity to know and work with these excellent people.