Surgery and Healing in the Developing World - Dartmouth-Hitchcock

A Commitment to Voluntary Health Care Service
The Spectrum of Christian Faith
For both Christian and non Christian physicians going to mission hospitals, a
word of advice. Diversity within the many churches we serve has always been a
quality to be championed. However, wide differences in beliefs between the volunteer
and both expatriate and national field workers and their local churches certainly
has the potential to be disruptive. While these differences can often be challenging
and stimulating and lead to interesting dialogue, it is best that basic theology and
beliefs of the volunteer fit in with those of the people with whom he or she will be
working. Since the volunteer will only be there for a short time, respect for the
beliefs of others may be all that is necessary. It can also be true that many times some
degree of diversity and openness results in growth and expansion of one’s own beliefs
in ways quite unexpected. The people in these foreign lands have much to teach
us.
The purpose of our mission work is to maintain an appropriate witness in the
community we serve. One’s attitude toward mission thus becomes important in
determining relationships with those we have come to serve. A respect for the standards
of conduct of career personnel by the volunteer when we are working in established
mission areas helps build long term relationships, and a sensitivity to local
religious practices leads to smooth and appropriate interactions within these new
relationships.
Adaptability
Different concepts of health care and levels of expectation in developing countries
make it necessary that the volunteer expand his or her horizons in order to
adapt to dramatic changes rapidly enough to gain a valuable new experience during
the time of service. Medical care differs remarkably in many areas from the more
developed and technologically advanced industrial nations. The primary determinant
of the pattern of medical care in most of the developing countries is poverty.
One must be prepared psychologically for these differences. Culture shock must be
overcome with understanding and compassion.
The volunteer must be able to adapt to working with highly limited resources
regarding equipment, procedures, facilities, and laboratory capabilities. The educational
levels of the nationals will not be as sophisticated, and the support structure
for the repair and maintenance of equipment is usually greatly restricted. Breakdowns,
dull needles, and the reuse of disposable gloves when working in mission or
government hospitals may be frustrating. Many times one must adapt to dealing
with the uncertainty in diagnosis and treatment which depends on those “old fashion”
methods of observation, experience and intuition. There also may be disease
processes which are simply not treatable under local conditions and limitations of
equipment or even the lack of available and appropriate referral sources. Frustration
and helplessness require an adjustment to a different level of expectation as patience
sometimes wears thin.
The volunteer must be adaptable enough to accept different living conditions,
foods, and customs. The length of a short term mission would not be sufficient to
make any change in these conditions. Longer term personnel who have a much
broader experience within the culture would be more appropriate individuals to
influence any changes they deem necessary.
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