A practical review of parasitic diseases uncommonly seen in the developed world but commonly encountered on the mission field will be presented to help re-familiarize the new or short- term medical missionary with these diseases. The emphasis will be on practical diagnosis and management in settings lacking easy laboratory access.
The etiology of diarrheal illness in the mission field differs considerably from that in developed countries and requires a different approach for the short-term or new medical missionary. This talk will prepare the medical missionary to evaluate and manage common diarrheal illnesses seen on the mission field, emphasizing clinical evaluation and diagnosis in conditions of limited laboratory availability. The causes of disease commonly seen on the mission field and clinical clues to their diagnosis will be emphasized. Treatment will be discussed with an emphasis on oral rehydration therapy included.
This talk will begin by examining the biblical basis for mission and the biblical basis for linking spiritual and medical ministry. It will then look at practical ways that spiritual ministry can be incorporated into short term medical mission projects for maximum impact for the kingdom.
The Vanga Hospital began in a rural area of western Congo in 1920. Beginning in 1961 the hospital grew into a comprehensive and sustainable Christian health service run by the Congolese church in partnership with a missionary staff. The health system includes: (1) A 400 bed multi-specialty teaching hospital (2) A school for training nurse practitioners and nurse midwives (3) A widespread system of improving community health through dialogue and community initiatives (4) A decentralized network of rural health centers that make primary health care services accessible to the entire population of 250,000 in the catchment area
(5) A family medicine residency for Congolese family physicians (6) A team approach to caring for the whole person (7) An integrated approach to coping with the HIV-AIDS epidemic
This talk will examine cultural dynamics and work through the layers of culture from the outer layer of behavior down through the layers of values and beliefs to the core of worldview assumptions. Customs and health-related behavior derive from the basic assumptions about God, humankind, nature, and the origin of disease. Only when these worldview assumptions are understood and entry-points found to bring in new ideas can sustainable behavior change occur. Examples will be given.
