Welcome to the MedicalMissions.com Podcast

This is a series of sessions from leading experts in healthcare missions.

Malaria (or, more broadly, Febrile Illnesses in the Tropics)

This session will cover the rationale for a syndromic approach to fever in the tropics. We will consider the causes of 8 common fever syndromes.

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Disability and the Millenium Development Goals

At the completion of this session, participants will be aware of: The Millenium Development Goals (MDGs); Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of disability to achieve the MDGs; Violence, causing/resulting from disability - a new global health priority; Resources related to disability and the MDGs. The Millenium Development Goals are to monitor progress toward a 'World Fit for Children'. The 8 Millenium Development Goals are: 1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger 2. Achieve universal primary education 3. Promote gender equality and empower women 4. Reduce child mortality 5. Improve maternal health 6. Combat HIV/AIDs, Malaria and other diseases 7. Ensure environmental sustainability 8. Global partnership for development - What was surprising was that disability was not included in the MDGs! However, one billion people or 15% of the world's population experience some form of disability. It is estimated that 93 million children live with a moderate or severe disability. The Convention on the Rights of the Child identifies 4 cores principles; * Non-discrimination, * Best interest of the child, * Right to life, survival and development, * Respect for the views of the child. One of the rights is that 'children with a disability have the right to special care, training, to help him/her enjoy a decent life in dignity - and achieve the greatest degree of self reliance and social integration possible.' During this session, there will be discussion of each of the 8 MDGs as they apply to all children - with a focus on Disability. International successful initiatives will be discussed - as well as challenges and opportunities for future involvement of conference participants to make a difference in this new priority of preventing disability - and caring for those with a disability, and in partnership with those who have a disability , advocate for integration of children with disability into the community so that together we can maximize the potential of each

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Health Consequences of Human Trafficking

At the completion of this presentation the participant should be able to:
1.value the importance of health care in trafficked populations
2. identify physical health problems that are common to trafficked individuals
3. identify the mental health consequences of trafficking that may need to be addressed.

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Overview of Global Dental Health and the Intersection of Dental Missions Efforts

The global dental healthcare environment is changing rapidly in many parts of the world and much too slowly in others. These changes impact both our current dental missions efforts as well as provide insight and opportunity into ways the dental profession may continue to increase its Kingdom impact.

Learning objectives:
1) Articulate changes in the dental healthcare environment occurring in various parts of the world
2) Discuss current opportunities to further the impact believers can have through dentistry and how these opportunities can play a key role in ongoing global mission efforts.

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Cultural Intelligence

Western missions and service agencies have frequently been unknowing victims of their own culture’s values, communication, social norms and worldview as they seek to minister to people in other cultural contexts. Sadly many well-meant ministries and community development programs have floundered due to lack of culturally appropriate design and operation. This is not only true when we cross national and language boundaries but also includes working within a western value system while crossing barriers of culture that exist even with the United States and Europe. Recently Cultural intelligence has been identified as a way to identify cultural barriers, to find the right inroads to penetrate difficult cultures. When properly employed we can design and develop programs that naturally increase the likelihood of success. In this session we will explore issues of beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors that should be considered when working outside of one’s own culture. Research with youth and ministry programs in 50 countries is used to illustrate simple applications of qualitative research to better understand the culture, norms and needs of those we seek to serve through our ministry.

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