Tanzania is the 13th poorest country in the world. Last month thirteen students from University of Louisville School of Medicine visited to the SOS warehouse to gather 300 lbs. of surplus medical supplies and equipment for a medical outreach trip to Tanzania.
This past Tuesday the team departed for Munfindi in Tanzania’s rural mountains, where they will spend the next week delivering free medical care to orphans and residents of the village. Much of their work will be at the Mufindi Orphanage, pictured above.
SOS Board member Dr. Bill Smock will be the MD in charge of supervising the team. Dr. Smock shared his excitement with SOS. “This trip will forever impact how these future doctors practice medicine. The students will see first-hand how in large swaths of the developing world access to even the most basic care is limited by a patient’s ability to pay cash, up front. No cash, no care. They will understand how blessed citizens of the US are to have access to healthcare, regardless of one’s ability to pay.”
According to Dr. Smock, SOS is an important part of the students’ experience, and not only because the organization provides the supplies needed in order to deliver care in under-resourced communities. “SOS reinforces the story of health inequity, and gives these future doctors an opportunity to continue to reach under-resourced communities long after they’ve returned from their week in Tanzania.”
