Deesa, Gujrat – India (Mission 1)

Gandhi- Lincoln Hospital, Deesa, Gujrat – India; December 19-28, 2005

The first mission was held at Gandhi-Lincoln Hospital in Deesa, India from December 19 to 28, 2005. Thiry four members from different parts of the US, including medical students, residents, surgeons, physicians, an optometrist, a photographer and few non-medical volunteers made up the team. Physician members of the team delivered lectures on various topics to the local physicians of Deesa.

Many medical and surgical patients were seen by the team members, and several surgical procedures, including urosurgeries, gyenecological surgeries and occuloplastic surgeries were performed by the surgeons on the team. The transportation, boarding and lodging for the mission were supported by the Bhansali Trust of Gujarat. The team members had the opportunity to visit various projects run by Bhansali Trust including Tuberculosis clinic, Dais (traditional birth attendants) training camp, Opium de-addiction camp, and health care project for tribal communities in that area. A visit to a local tribal area as well as a sight seeing trip to Mount Abu and Pattan were also arranged by the Bhansali trust. This was an unforgettable mission and an extraordinary educational and service experience for each and every member of the team, which exceeded all our expectations.