Reaching out with Medical Care & Support

Medical Missions Groups Give Back to Native Countries

By Allison Skeete

New York, NY: September 25, 2009 – As the Fall Season begins across the U.S, two things happen, the Social Season of Black-tie and upscale events in support of causes begins and the fundraisers for more focused charity concerns begin. In the Caribbean Community many organizations host fund raisers in support of medical care and support benefitting the homelands of the many from the Caribbean Diaspora but who now call the U.S home.

One such group is the Health & Education Relief for Guyana Inc.; (HERG Inc.) established in January, 2000 as a non profit, 501 C-3 organization HERG Inc. is led by a governing Board of Directors and volunteers. HERG Inc.’s goal and purpose is to aid institutions delivering health care in Guyana, South America with medical care and follow-up support. Since its inception, HERG Inc. has sponsored annual medical missions to Guyana providing pediatric orthopedic care to children in many regions of the country. Doctors Wayne Sampson and Collie Oudkerk began the program after visiting their homeland while completing Medical Studies at Howard University in Washington, D.C. They and their volunteers have not looked back since their first medical mission to Guyana in December of 2000; their work continues to be appreciated and welcomed by grateful patients and the medical professionals in Guyana.

HERG is hosting their dinner event Saturday, September 26th in Queens; the proceeds go back into their work to continue providing medical care, treatment, surgery and follow-up in Guyana. To make a tax deductible contribution to HERG, visit their website: http://hergweb.org/index.cfm

The Organization for Social Health & Advancement in Guyana and the Caribbean (OSHAG-C) is another philanthropic group that focuses on the medical care, nutritional, education and research that helps Cancer patients in Guyana and the Caribbean. This group originally began as a collaborative effort between the Guyana Citizen’s Initiative and the Guyana Cancer Society. They quickly learned that throughout the Caribbean there was a severe need for help with Cancer patients since most treatment was not easily afforded in the Diaspora. The groups’ name was changed showing its inclusion of other Caribbean nations. They have previously partnered with the Caribbean Medical Mission (CMM) to take a team of doctors to Guyana in all disciplines of medicine; they provided medical and Cancer care, treatment and surgeries and hosted lectures in nutrition, health and hygiene. Check this blog for more details about their upcoming fundraiser; the event is slated to be held at Chateau Royal on December 4, 2009 in order to sponsor their 2010 Medical Mission and workshops that teach care and education fostering improved health in Guyana and the Caribbean.

The Caribbean Medical Mission (CMM) set in New Jersey and was founded in 1996 by six doctors and three nurses. Today the group includes the doctors and nurses as well as a diversity in which members who are professionals; these include clergy, business people and others who volunteer their time and service to provide medical care to the needy.

CMM is also a non-profit organization; their commitment means that their volunteers travel several times a year to provide the free care and support to the Caribbean Diaspora’s needy in Guyana, Jamaica, Nigeria, and St. Vincent/Grenadines; they also provide local health fairs in Essex County, New Jersey. Medical Mission participants pay their own travel expenses. They have just returned from Jamaica; they have also gone to Guyana, and Grenada and they are set to go to Nigeria in December to complete their missions for 2009. For more information or to make a donation to the Caribbean Medical Mission visit their website at http://caribbeanmedicalmissionnj.org/

The work and care provided by these groups is not often heralded by mainstream media but it is no less worthy or deserving of exposure. The dedication and commitment to do something for a home of the past to ensure a future to come is the common thread at the heart of all these groups purpose. To envision a collaborative of all these groups one day is certainly an idea to entertain. It would certainly bring a greater benefit to the Diaspora.