The Ole Miss MedLife chapter aided thousands of people by bringing medicine, education and development to low-income families in a mobile clinic over the summer in Lima, Peru.
Based in Lima, MedLife is a non-government organization currently operating in five countries across the world. According to UM chapter President Samuel Rose, this medical organization provides medical, dental, pharmaceutical and gynecological care as well as education on better hygiene and developmental projects for the community.
Rose first became involved during his sophomore year and was appointed president during his junior year. Since then, Rose worked relentlessly with the MedLife national office in hopes of incorporating optical care at a clinic.
“After almost a year, we successfully reached this goal,” Rose said. “This past summer we took 1,000 pairs of glasses, checked 257 people, and gave 200 people glasses. We were the first MedLife chapter in the world to do this.”
Other than integrating an optometry station at the clinic in Lima, the students also examined 1,500 people. All the patients seen will receive follow-up care, an attribute unique to this medical mission organization.
The pharmacy school also took a MedLife trip, learning how pharmacy worked in Peru. Seeing 85 patients in two days, the pharmacy school attendants tested blood iron levels and blood types.
Rose said the summer was a great success for the chapter.
Sophomore Mikayla Johnson has been a member of UM MedLife for one year. Johnson said she decided to join the chapter because she said it was a great way to not only learn about healthcare on a global scale and make a difference in communities worldwide.
The students took a tour of a poverty-stricken area and discussed the lack of electricity or clean running water and the impact it had on the community.
While serving in the Lima area, Johnson said, “We were able to give them healthcare and build staircases, which are essential in their communities.”
On clinic days, the students were granted the opportunity to teach the children about dental care, like how to properly brush their teeth.
“MedLife is an outstanding organization that literally changes lives. It is determined to help struggling communities and bring them out of poverty,” Johnson said. “Healthcare, safe drinking water and electricity are essentials, and every human being should have access to these things. MedLife is making sure this becomes reality.”
Graham Hodge has been a member for a year and a half now. He became a part of the organization by word of mouth after a friend told him how fun and how great the experience of a MedLife trip was.
As a fundraising chair, Hodge helps contact hosts of fundraisers and makes the event happen through coordinating with the school and MedLife executive board members.
So far, there have been two fundraisers. Hodge also described how this organization has many impacts on different people.
“For the students on our side, we are very much impacted by our experiences with being able to go on medical trips and gain knowledge and experience many of us can use in our future medical endeavors,” Hodge said. “This organization also has the obvious impact on those it is intending to help, like those who are less fortunate in Peru.”
Media and Advertising Officer Kimberly Pugh has served on the executive board since her junior year. According to Pugh, the university chapter typically plans at least two trips a year for members who are interested in going.
One trip is in the summer and one trip is held during winter break. The organization holds various fundraisers during fall and spring semesters to support the members traveling. Locations have included Peru, India, Ecuador, Nicaragua and Tanzania.
“Although the mission work only lasts a week, the impact we leave on those we serve is huge,” Pugh said.
