FIMRC

Giving Thanks (November 2009)

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:11:38 +0000

This Thanksgiving, we at FIMRC would like to express our gratitude for the thousands of dedicated supporters whose generosity makes FIMRC’s vision a reality. Special thanks go out to:

Global Health Volunteers, who selflessly integrate themselves into the communities we serve, providing life-changing health education to local children and much-appreciated assistance to FIMRC’s medical teams;
Student chapters large and small, who never cease in their creativity and initiative in raising funds for our clinics, collecting needed medical supplies, recruiting volunteers, and bringing FIMRC’s vision to life in their own hometowns through community service;
FIMRC Ambassadors, Fellows, and volunteer-basis team members who help us maintain our operations at low overhead cost;
Medical professionals who donate their time and expertise by practicing at our clinics and donating valuable medical equipment;
Generous donors who grant FIMRC the financial resources necessary to provide a high quality of patient care.

On behalf of the entire FIMRC team, please accept our warmest gratitude for giving health and hope to children around the world. You have shown that even the smallest acts of charity have the capacity to change lives. A simple “thank you” isn’t enough to express the impact you’ve made; the smiles of the children we serve do a much better job!

Water Treatment Campaign Reaches Goals in El Salvador (November 2009)

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:06:03 +0000

FIMRC’s on-site team in El Salvador has completed a yearlong campaign to combat the contamination of drinking water in the community of Las Delicias. Field staff conducted door-to-door visits to distribute home filtration systems which had been generously donated by FIMRC’s chapter at the University of Michigan. Team members also led educational seminars to teach local residents to treat their own water supplies. At the conclusion of the campaign, 95% of the community had been reached through educational initiatives to prevent parasites and other waterborne gastrointestinal infections. In light of the campaign’s success in improving in-home water quality, plans are already in place to conduct a follow-up campaign. In 2010, FIMRC will work with El Salvador’s Ministry of Health to reduce contamination in the community’s water sources.

Busy Winter Planned for Volunteers (November 2009)

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:03:45 +0000

Over the course of only five weeks this coming winter, plans are in place to host 24 different volunteer groups of undergraduate and medical students at eight medical sites across Central America, South America, Africa, and Asia. Clinical activities will include assisting with the intake of patients, taking vital signs of patients, and distributing medication. Some groups will conduct house calls, while others will shadow physicians in large government hospitals. All will form lasting relationships with children and families receiving care at FIMRC’s facilities. Our volunteers’ impact will be felt far beyond the walls of FIMRC’s clinics, as activities are also planned to conduct educational health outreach to children in schools, soup kitchens, and orphanages.

Communities Empowered in Peru (November 2009)

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:02:52 +0000

FIMRC’s on-site team members in Huancayo, Peru are helping local women achieve an independent source of income through small business. Caretakers and staff at a local orphanage have been taught methods of preparing traditional foods to sell to visiting tourists. Proceeds from this project will go toward the cost of providing care to the children living at the orphanage.

Treatment Boosted for Respiratory Infections (November 2009)

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:02:02 +0000

Due to the onset of Central America’s dry season, FIMRC’s clinics in El Salvador and Nicaragua have seen a recent increase in upper respiratory infections among local children. This November, FIMRC’s medical staff have enhanced their efforts to provide a high quality of care by ensuring individualized attention to patients, an adequate supply of necessary medications, and an increased focus on preventative health education.

Team Member Highlight: Meredith Mick (November 2009)

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:00:56 +0000

At end of 2009, Meredith (left) will complete her two-year placement as FIMRC’s Field Operations Manager in Las Delicias, El Salvador. In her time as Field Operations Manager, Meredith presided over the launch of FIMRC’s Micro Health Insurance Program and piloted countless ongoing preventative health initiatives, all while managing the operations of FIMRC’s primary care clinic. She has since been promoted to Director of Special Projects, and will be based in FIMRC’s Philadelphia Headquarters office starting January 2010. In her new role, she will bring new dimensions of perspective and expertise to the management of each of our international medical sites. A Michigan native, Meredith attended Hope College and previously served in the Peace Corps before joining FIMRC.

India Project Expands (October 2009)

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:59:59 +0000

Following the success of FIMRC’s new volunteer program in India, on-site staff have wasted no time in expanding the project’s reach through community partnerships. Several facilities will now benefit from the support of FIMRC staff and volunteers, including:

CSI Home: a residence and safe haven for children with special needs, including cerebral palsy, polio, and visual/hearing impairments. FIMRC is helping residents construct craft items to be sold around India, providing children with a creative outlet and CSI Home a much-needed means of raising income. In addition, volunteers will visit to play with children and present health skits and lessons.

Pasam Health Center: the only free clinic in Kodaikanal, this facility not only serves walk-in patients, but also conducts extensive medical campaigns to reach those in need.

Kodaikanal Health and Medical Services: a vital resource for underserved residents of Kodaikanal. Alternative healing is practiced here, with services including Reiki, acupressure, acupuncture, magneto therapy, naturopathy, and meditation. Volunteers have the opportunities to shadow doctors, yoga gurus, and traditional medical practitioners, and even have the opportunity to volunteer in a center for homeopathy and watch surgeries. For more information about volunteering, please visit www.fimrc.org/india.

Chapters Pledge Support to FIMRC Projects (October 2009)

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:58:15 +0000

The Chaptership Program’s second annual Adopt-a-Project initiative was launched for the 2009-2010 year, and chapter response has surpassed all expectations! This year, chapters at schools and institutions nationwide will work toward individual goals to support a FIMRC medical site of their choice. Projects include raising funds for HIV test kits in Uganda, collecting first aid supplies for FIMRC’s Costa Rica clinic, and even collecting gear for a newly formed kids’ baseball league in Nicaragua. Chapters will spend the year striving toward their goals through fundraising events and supply drives on campus, and many will send groups of volunteers to our international sites to deliver supplies in person!

Team Member Highlight: Karine Nankam (October 2009)

admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:57:01 +0000

Karine Nankam, FIMRC’s newest Field Operations Manager, has actually been working in the community of Bumwalukani, Uganda for quite some time. For the past two years, Karine (right) served with the Peace Corps, planning and implementing health outreach programs that vastly enhanced the teaching of positive health practices in the community. As Field Operations Manager, she will manage FIMRC’s clinic operations and health education initiatives. Her proven track record of forming positive relationships in the community makes her a wonderful match in her new role!

Community garden cultivates health in El Salvador (September 2009)

admin — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:58:25 +0000

The first seedlings have sprouted in the new community garden on the grounds of FIMRC’s Las Delicias clinic in El Salvador! Staff members and local residents worked side by side to plant radishes, squash, eggplant, and other vegetables. A major obstacle to good nutrition in Las Delicias is lack of access to healthy food, and as a result, one of the most common ailments seen in children at FIMRC’s clinic is malnutrition. One of the primary commitments of FIMRC’s Micro Health Insurance Program (MHIP) is to equip community members with the tools necessary to maintain baseline health, an important element of which is nutritious food. By working with community members to transform an unused plot of dirt into a functional garden, FIMRC’s field staff aims to improve overall health by encouraging healthy eating habits. As the flagship location for MHIP, Project Las Delicias serves as a pilot site for this community garden concept, which is planned to launch at other FIMRC sites within the year.