Miami University Healthcare Delivery in Central America: Belize
Miami University Healthcare Delivery in Central America: Belize
Belize is a Central American country with a population of roughly 400,000 over a square mileage about 1/5th the size of Ohio. However, the two weeks of studying abroad in the country were among the most valuable learning experiences I had the privilege of being a part of. We spent this time traveling to four different underserved communities. We set up clinics and supplied care packages for residents, many of which had not seen a health care professional in numerous years. A community health worker helped us identify residents who could benefit most from our services during our first day at each location. Appointments were then scheduled for them to come into our clinic to see one of the physicians in our group.
Our team of 20 students and 5 physicians ran this clinic very efficiently. We were able to see roughly 50 patients per day, which allowed us all to become more familiar with tasks such as physical assessments and gathering a proper medical history. While this was a great experience to improve my clinical skills and learn about disease from physicians, the most rewarding aspect of these clinics was conversations with patients that portrayed the importance of empathetic and holistic care. Most patients were so grateful to see a healthcare professional for the first time in many years. Still, we did not have advanced medical tests, so we needed to be thorough in our evaluation to improve their health. I felt that learning the stories behind each patient’s condition and lifestyle helped us understand how to guide them to improvements in acute and chronic disease through medication and lifestyle changes. We treated over 180 patients across all four communities, and each one taught me a lesson somehow.
While the majority of this trip was focused on service learning, we also learned so much about the history of Belize. We developed a deep understanding and respect for the Belizean culture by exploring ancient Mayan ruins, touring some of the most significant towns, and eating a wide variety of fantastic food throughout this time. In addition, over two days of the trip, we were also able to explore some of the more tourist excursions such as cave-tubing, zip-lining, and even scuba diving on a nearby island! Overall, this trip was one of the best experiences I've had, and other pre-health students may find this opportunity very valuable.
