By: Andrew Ramsay, UK Office Area Coordinator, North Scotland
In April I was lucky enough to be invited, along with my wife Alison, to assist with this year’s Medical and Dental Campaign in Guatemala. Each year a team of doctors, dentists, nurses and other medical professionals travel to Guatemala and run clinics at three different mountain locations over a period of six days. These medics from the USA and Canada, together with our local medical staff and a local chiropractor, hit the ground running from the start. We were up at six every morning, fed and on our bus or in trucks by seven and on the way to the clinics.
The medical staff treat everyone waiting to be seen until no one is left. Each day we had queues of people waiting, some since 2 a.m., and many who had left their homes at that time to arrive early. For most, this was their only chance to see a dentist or doctor for a year, unless they could see one of our own doctors in between. The medics would see anyone who came, whether or not they were part of our ministry already; and many were not. As neither Alison nor I are medically trained, our job was to make sure the medics got their coffee and snacks. We served lunches to them as well as to our staff of evangelists, security officers, drivers, translators and administrators. We also did back rubs for tired doctors and held flashlights for dentists.
This was a well-organized operation when in full flow with people coming, being registered, given a ticket, put into triage and then seen by the doctor or dentist. Any prescription was then issued and the individuals would wait for their medication at the pharmacy area which was staffed by a medical team. The drugs were dispensed with a translator giving clear instructions as to what to take and when. The patients could then go and, if necessary, were given an appointment to call back the next day.
One elderly gentleman came in almost completely deaf and, after having both ears syringed, left able to hear clearly for the first time in years. One small boy with behavioral issues was diagnosed as being profoundly deaf! During the six days of the campaign, a total of 1,441 people were treated by the team. Lots of advice on hygiene and cleanliness was also given and many superstitions surrounding medicine were removed once people were able to see a proper doctor or dentist.
Our evangelists who talked to patients while they waited, were able to lead 74 people to the Lord after explaining the gospel to them. It was a delight to play a tiny part in this year’s campaign and I look forward to perhaps working again with these dedicated and caring doctors and dentists, many of whom gave up their work time and incomes to serve others.
