Fleming College

Two fourth-semester Practical Nursing students recently joined a local medical brigade that travelled to the Philippines from Feb. 25 to Mar. 13.

Kathleen Campbell and Sara Henderson visited Kalibo, in the province of Aklan as part of a team of 20 that included five doctors and three registered nurses (one of the RNs was Fleming clinical teacher Amy Doherty) to help residents there with medical issues.

The group would set up a triage each day and assist local residents with everything from gun shot wounds, removal of sebaceous cysts to diagnoses of cancer and congenital heart defects.

“We saw a lot of children with congenital heart defects. They can’t afford the (necessary) surgeries so they will probably die,” said Sara of the tough challenges the team faced.

However, she said the highlight of her trip was assisting with an ultrasound for a pregnant woman.

Kathleen said the trip helped her realize all of the material things she has in her life.

“When I came home I wanted to get rid of everything. People there can’t even afford rice for their family. Once they get money, the first thing they do is feed their family – they can’t afford medication,” she said.

Seeing such a range of physical ailments took a toll on the students. For example, one 22-year-old woman was diagnosed with thyroid cancer and would likely die because she couldn’t afford treatment, something she would have free access to in Canada.

Both Kathleen and Sara had emotionally difficult days but the women were able to support each other.

In the past, Dr. Hardy Friesen has led local medical brigades to Honduras. This is the first time he has led a medical brigade from Peterborough that has gone to the Philippines.

The team worked well together, said Kathleen.

“Dr. Friesen said it’s the best team he’s ever taken,” she said. “All the doctors were amazing and we learned a lot from them. Everybody got along… and everybody was excited and happy to be there.”

Sara says the trip has inspired her to do more medical missions in the future.

Nursing Program Coordinator Iris Gravel praised the students for taking the opportunity to go on the trip.

“What they have gained will be invaluable to them.”

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