Volunteering with MEDLIFE means that you are associating with our core values and philosophies surrounding poverty, global health, and providing rural medical services. We believe that all of our volunteers should walk away from their Service Learning Trip understanding our framework. However, if you’d like to learn about our framework before your SLT, this blog series will serve as a helpful tool to understand where we come from and why do the work we do.
In regions across Latin America and Africa where there is a lack of access to healthcare, particularly in rural areas, the importance of comprehensive and sustainable medical services cannot be overstated. MEDLIFE recognizes that while providing sustainable healthcare solutions, a collaborative approach is crucial, particularly through partnerships with local physicians. By working alongside these professionals, we aim to enhance healthcare delivery in low-income communities while also ensuring that the services provided are relevant, culturally appropriate, and effective in meeting the unique needs of each community.
The Need for Collaboration
The rural areas that we serve face significant challenges in accessing quality healthcare. People often have to travel long distances to receive medical attention, and local clinics may lack the necessary resources and trained staff to provide comprehensive care. This situation creates a cycle of dependency on short-term aid that fails to address the underlying issues of healthcare accessibility.
This is why MEDLIFE’s approach involves hiring local physicians and healthcare workers and uplifting them by providing them with resources and training. This collaborative approach not only strengthens the local healthcare infrastructure, but also ensures that rural medical services can continue long after volunteers leave the community.
It is also important to take into account the cultural barriers faced by physicians not familiar with the cultural and religious beliefs of the people living in our partner communities. Ensuring the healthcare providers in our Mobile Clinics are familiar with the local culture and beliefs of the patients, we can avoid clashes in the care provided and what patients are willing to accept. By investing in local expertise, MEDLIFE helps communities develop self-sufficient healthcare systems that prioritize sustainability and cultural understanding.
The 50-50 Model: A Lesson in Ownership
One of the key principles guiding our work is the 50-50 model, where MEDLIFE provides materials while the community contributes labor. This concept stems from a lesson learned in childhood by Nick Ellis, MEDLIFE’s founder and CEO. He recalls, “My father would offer to pay for 50% of larger purchases, like a bike, while I had to save and organize to cover the other half. This taught me the value of organization, commitment, and the sense of accomplishment that comes from working toward a goal. In MEDLIFE’s case, this model sparks the same sense of ownership and organization in communities. By requiring communities to contribute labor, they develop the skills to organize themselves, take pride in their accomplishments, and progressively take on larger projects—just as Union Santa Fe moved from building staircases to constructing schools and retention walls. The 50-50 model fosters a sense of empowerment and shows communities that, by working together, they can achieve even bigger goals.”
By implementing the 50-50 model in its projects, MEDLIFE encourages communities to take ownership of their healthcare initiatives and have a say in the work that is being done in their home. When local residents actively participate in building healthcare facilities or comprehensive infrastructure, they gain valuable skills, pride in their accomplishments, and a sense of ownership on the work being done in their community. For instance, communities that began with small projects, such as building staircases, have progressively taken on larger endeavors like constructing schools and retention walls. This growth reflects the potential for rural communities to develop robust healthcare systems and improve rural medical services.
Building Capacity and Skills
Part of MEDLIFE’s commitment to improving rural medical services includes investing in the training of local healthcare workers. This approach helps address the lack of access to healthcare by ensuring that communities have the necessary skills and resources to provide quality care. Local physicians receive ongoing support, allowing them to better serve their communities and foster a culture of health and wellness.
Moreover, by partnering with local professionals, MEDLIFE also creates jobs in the medical field, which further strengthens the local economy. When communities have access to trained healthcare providers, they experience improved health outcomes and a more resilient healthcare system.
Through its partnerships with local physicians, we at MEDLIFE are making strides in enhancing rural medical services in low-income communities. By implementing the 50-50 model and focusing on sustainable practices, MEDLIFE empowers communities to take control of their healthcare initiatives. This collaborative approach not only addresses the immediate needs of these communities but also ensures long-term improvements in healthcare access and quality.
To learn how you can start your journey with MEDLIFE and volunteer abroad in communities across Latin America and Africa, fill out the interest form below, download our free brochure, or check out our upcoming trips!