Medical

Since the first distribution trip in 1999, F.I.R.E. volunteers have always conducted a medical assessment as well as collected, shipped and delivered medical supplies. Over the past 4 years the medical program has steadily grown.

F.I.R.E. medical assessments from 2005 - 2007 have identified many needs, both material and educational in their developing health care system. Though there are a large number of young, eager medical professionals, they are compromised in their ability to provide the necessary care due to a great lack of resources and advanced medical training.

In 2007 4 medical volunteers gave medical training and lectures to approximately 250 physicians and nurses on a variety of public health topics. They also distributed $300,000 worth of medical supplies to 20 rural hospitals and family clinics in 4 provinces.

It is the intention of F.I.R.E. to move in a sustainable and focused direction to better empower the people of Mongolia. We will be focusing more engery on the expansion of our medical projects.

Surgical trip 2008

Currently there is only 1 orthopedic hospital, in all of Mongolia. Although there are many hospitals throughout the countryside, these hospitals lack orthopedic instruments and supplies to do surgery. Two thirds of Mongolians live in the countryside, without orthopedic treatment for simple injuries such as broken arms and legs, resulting in disabilities. To receive treatment, they have to travel days on dirt roads. The logistics and expenses involved in this journey make it an impossible reality for most Mongolians.
Orthopedic surgical education is a top priority in Mongolia. The goal of this project is to provide Mongolian surgeons with resources in the form of supplies and training to assist and treat the injured and disabled of Mongolia’s countryside.

This trip will be in collaboration with Dr. Kelly Reber and Dr. John Durham of the Northern Arizona Volunteer Medical and Surgical Team of Flagstaff Arizona. Dr. Reber is a Podiatrist and Dr. Durham is an Orthopedic surgeon specializing in hands, both are based in Flagstaff, AZ. This team of medical professionals has been conducting medical missions around the world for 15 years. Both Dr. Reber and Dr. Durham traveled to Mongolian in 2007 to begin the preparation for the 2008 trip.

From September 29 – October 10, 2008, 2 surgeons and 2 surgical nurses will conduct training at the Orthopedic Trauma Hospital in Ulanbator and Tov Aimag Hospital to develop the Mongolian physicians surgical abilities. They will also distribute $100,000 worth of surgical implants which will allow for the treatment of hundreds of orthopedic injuries.

In addition, an oncology nurse and a neo-natal nurse practitioner with work with the Maternal and Child Health Hospital and the Cancer Hospital. F.I.R.E. will be coordinating all training and supply distribution through Dr. Yanjma and her Autoimmune Rehab Clinic and the Ministry of Health.

Initially this surgical team will work closely with the Trauma Hospital of Ulanbator and the Tov Aimag Hospital in Zuumodt. Over time, we hope to form a model for teaching orthopedic surgery in Mongolia which we will allow F.I.R.E. to spread orthopedic resources to the countryside of Mongolia.

The surgical team will continue our work with the Trauma Hospital in Ulanbator and the Tov Aimag Hospital doing orthopedic training. In addition we will be doing general medical training as well as specialties. The type of additional training we provide is partly dictated by the volunteers who are interested in joining this trip. This trip is 2 weeks and usually in September.

Future - Hepatitis B Vaccination

There is currently no vaccination process established for Hepatitis B in Mongolia for health care workers. Estimates as high as 60% of all health care workers are infected with Hepatitis B. For the past 3 years F.I.R.E. has worked with Dr. Yanjma of the Autoimune Disease and Rehabilitation Center in Ulanabator. A colleague of Dr. Yanjma’s, Scott Patlovich is currently researching Hepatitis B vaccination programs in Asia. He is also currently researching the possibility of implementing such a vaccination project in Mongolia specifically targeting health care workers in order to bridge this apparent gap in vaccination coverage. It is our intention to work together with both individuals as well as the Ministry of Health to help prevent this infectious disease, which is of particularly high risk of transmission in the health care setting due to exposures to items like blood or potentially infectious medical waste.

Hepatitis B is a 3 step vaccination process, so follow through is mandatory and essential. This may best be accomplished by working with hospitals and schools. An initial target population may be health care workers, due to the high infection rate, and ease of follow through and their position in the community. Healthcare workers would also be able to educate the general population about the benefits of vaccination. Schools will also have the ability for record keeping, allowing for follow through.

F.I.R.E. is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions are tax deductible.