Medical Aid Worldwide

How do American nurses and doctors benefit underdeveloped countries through their medical assistance, and how are their projects supported?

 

source: http://resurge.org/graphics/feature/story_medical_volunteers.jpg

Throughout my research, I have discovered that not only do American nurses and doctors volunteer through different medical organizations in order to help underdeveloped countries, but the benefits those doctors and nurses receive for helping people are also morally rewarding.

There are many different medical organizations available for people to volunteer. One of the most prominent organizations is Americares, and the story of how this organization was founded is quite interesting. In an article found on the official Americares website entitled, “Our History: How Americares was Founded”, the author describes how a plane full of vietnamese orphans crashed into a jungle near Tan Son Nhut. Fortunately, a man named Robert C. Macauley courageously volunteered and took the risk of flying jets to Vietnam in order to save the orphans. He needed money to do this, so he sold his house and many of the belongings in order to help these orphans. Afterwards,instead of feeling regretful, Macauley felt relieved to have had the opportunity to help others. He then founded one of the most helpful medical organizations in the world, which continues to save lives today.

This article shows how the moral benefits of providing medical aid outweigh the costs of providing it. Macauley knew that it was more important to help the orphans, and he was willing to do so in the first place because he knew that it was the right thing to do. In addition, it also shows how one man can make a difference in so many others’ lives.

Americares and many other organizations accept donations including medical supplies and money in order to support their cause, and the effects that these donations can have on other people are extraordinary. An article entitled “Global Programs” found under the website of Americares describes how it can provide supplies, medicines, and even build hospitals in underdeveloped countries around the world because of such donations. This greatly benefits the people of underdeveloped countries because they now have access to medical resources and assistance that they would not normally have.

This greatly shows how one donation can go a long way. It is important for people to donate because their money can be used to help people who desperately need it. It is also morally rewarding this way to know this.

In addition to medical organizations accepting donations, volunteers are also necessary for these organizations to function and prosper. An article entitled “Medical Volunteer Programs Abroad: Top 9 Countries in Need” describes how volunteers in Peru help the people there because Peru is the number one country in need of medical assistance. Volunteers usually work in local clinics or in villages, so they have a first-hand experience with these people.

Volunteering is necessary for organizations to function, and it also causes the volunteers themselves to be immersed into different cultures. This is good because it is important to know and understand different people in order to help them. In addition, volunteering is also good because it encourages global relations with other countries.

Most basic organizations provide medical assistance on a daily basis, but when a serious disease or a virus threatens the safety of people everywhere, the United States government steps in. In an article entitled, “FACT SHEET: U.S. Responds to Ebola Epidemic in West Africa”, President Barack Obama describes how the United States donated extra resources including medical supplies and money in order to aid those being affected by the Ebola virus in West Africa. However, an additional article entitled, “Report Slams U.S. Ebola Response and Readiness”, the author exposes how average American citizens feared their own risk of catching the disease, and instead of focussing on helping the affected nations, citizens focused more on protecting themselves.

Even though the U.S. prepared to respond, the fear of its citizens prevented it from addressing the issue properly. Perhaps if citizens got over their almost their fear, then more lives would have been saved, and the disease would have been contained earlier. This shows how it is very important the put others before oneself when addressing major medical concerns.

I have learned a lot throughout the course of my passion project in regards to medical aid in other countries. I have discovered that much of the medical aid provided to underdeveloped countries is distributed by medical organizations. I have also discovered how these medical organizations thrive off of donations and how they accept volunteers who work first-hand in affected communities and villages around the world. In addition, I have learned that the United States government plays an important role in addressing major medical concerns around the world. Most importantly, I have learned that people’s health and well-being is an international concern that requires global support and that people providing this support will always be morally rewarded.