Several members of the volunteer team in Nicaragua this week are providing services and training at Fara Clinic in Matagalpa. This blog entry is written by volunteer Andrea Anderson, a Physician Assistant from Gundersen-St. Joseph’s Clinic in Hillsboro.
This being my first trip to Nicaragua and my first mission with Global Partners, I was unsure what to expect when I got here. Would I be busy? What level of illness would I see? Having been on a medical mission in the past I assumed I would at least have some insight into what this trip would bring. Amongst the small group here split into even smaller groups with 3 separate missions, my mission was to assist with cervical cancer screening so the gynecologist who usually does these could be freed up to be involved with breast ultrasound and biopsy training. I guessed I might be doing several Pap smears per day.
My expectation so far has been fairly accurate. I am doing Paps, but only a few per day. Due to their limited staffing as well as their different way of practice in Nicaragua compared to the U.S. things move at a much slower pace in the clinic. I’m not used to this, but am making use of it. During slow times I am able to assist with other procedures I don’t normally perform in my practice. I am able to do some learning with the local physicians. It also gives me time to reflect on my time here and try to decide, am I really making a difference? We all seem to be asking ourselves the same question. It surprises me that although we are able to recognize the incredible value of each volunteer, we struggle with our own contribution. What I’m realizing is that the work here is not valued by what we can measure here today but by the partnerships created, the lives touched, the doors that may be opened for future trips and new projects.
By Andrea Anderson, PA
Central America 