Medical Fairs
At MdC, we strongly believe access to health is a human right. Our medical fairs are just one of the ways we improve health and wellbeing at the border.
David Rios Jr from our Mexico team helps with vision examinations.
Our team from Mexico works with medical professionals from Boston to run our medical fairs.
Poverty dramatically limits access to medical and dental care in the community we serve on the edge of the Mexican border city of San Luis Rio Colorado. Access to quality medical care is difficult. Only a handful of the members of our community have health insurance, so for the majority, their health issues go untreated, they lack medical records, and there is no continuity of care.
During our twice-a-year medical fairs, we mange the ongoing needs of patients while also addressing the urgent health needs of the community. Each patient has an individual record, so we can track each patient’s needs and progress over time.
Medical fairs are run by our team in Mexico, with the assistance of medical professionals from Boston. Our first fair served 125 individuals with three stations and a staff of only 25. At our most recent fair, we served 177 individuals with nine stations and a staff of 55 over two days.
Our medical fairs started in April 2021 with Dr. Joe Lee (DMD, MPH), Andy Noh (MSN, CNP) and have steadily grown. Our medical fairs now provide an assortment of biometric screenings, medical check-ups, dental care, medications, vision screenings, prescription glasses, ear cleanings, evaluations of wellbeing and seminars on a variety of health topic and prayer. Families are sent home with healthy groceries to last for 10 days.
Watch this video from our medical fair to learn more how MdC empowers migrants to be healthy.
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A screening station is the first step before patients visit our doctors. At this station, under the direction of Nurse Noh, patients receive a biometric screening to evaluate their overall health.
Dr. David Ting and Dr. Junne Kamihara review the results of the medical screening, ask additional follow-up questions and consult with the patients to address and create an action plan for many of their concerns including, frequent headaches, constipation, irregular heartbeats, high blood pressure, high blood sugar, diabetes, depression, and other health issues.
A scribe ensures that all information is meticulously documented in the patient’s medical record.
A list of patients requiring urgent follow-up care is created for issues that can’t be treated during the fair.
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At the dental station, our team of dentists treat patients alongside their translators, medical scribes, dental assistants and hygienists. As the dentists evaluate each patient, the scribes mark cavities and dental concerns in their record.
The hygienists provide cleaning while the dentists fill cavities and perform any necessary tooth extractions .
A list of patients requiring urgent follow-up care is created for issues that can’t be treated during the fair.
Afterwards, dental assistants apply fluoride to every patient and discuss the importance of brushing teeth and maintaining good dental hygiene. Each patient receives a bag of goodies which includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss, and kids pick a gift from our treasure box.
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Optometrist Dr. Alan Kwok adds much needed vision services to the medical fair. The vision test assesses visual function and distributes reading glasses to those who need them. Patients with more complex prescriptions chose frames and Dr. Kwok orders the glasses in the US. MdC later delivers the glasses to the community members, providing many with clear vision for the first time in their lives.
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Poverty takes a toll on mental and physical health. At each medical fair, to help us hone and improve our programs, we survey adults about income, living conditions, children's education, and more.
MdC’s goal is to continue to identify the factors that keep families in poverty and offer opportunities that empower women and children to improve their situations. At the same time, we track our results to be sure families are moving closer toward self-reliance.
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Seminars and education on physical and emotional health is critical to MdC’s mission to empower families through knowledge.
At the medical fair, every adult and older teen attendee visits the seminar station. This half-hour session, run by our medical team staff, is designed to address root cause issues our families are facing related to their wellbeing.
Over the years topics have included: educating on sugar found in foods/drinks, the importance of exercise for physical and emotional health, and various topics related to child development and discipline. These sessions have been an essential component to improving the long term success of the health and wellness of the community.
Education through seminars continues for adults at our weekly Super Saturday program and take a deeper dive in addressing the issues that our families are facing.
The health seminar station teaches families about the human body.
The survey station, learning more about mental health in the community.
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At the end of the fair, each family receives two bags filled with enough healthy groceries to prepare 10 days of meals. Nutritious food helps families avoid diabetes, obesity, and hunger.
The bags include: 3 cartons of milk, 60 eggs, lean meats (beef, chicken, sliced turkey and tuna), fresh vegetables (celery, lettuce, tomatoes, zucchini, avocados, potatoes, carrots, and onions), fresh fruits (apples, bananas, oranges, pears) and dry goods (oatmeal, whole grain bread, beans, rice, peanut butter and oil).
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After the medical stations, families are offered the opportunity to receive prayer. Almost all families accept, grateful to have their concerns heard and prayed for.
Many are brought to tears as they share their worries about family members with addiction issues, concerns about the future of their children and health issues.
Medical Records
During our medical fairs we ensure that the results of all our medical, dental, and vision screenings are recorded in each patient’s medical record. These records support our goal of improving community health over time by allowing us to track patient progress.
The following image of our medical record template shows the form that we fill out for each patient. The detailed information we track on this record allows us to provide personalized care to each patient by following up with past medical issues. Shown here are the medical and dental parts of our medical record. Additional forms track information on vision and overall family health.
Our medical record template. Click to enlarge.
You can help us
Our medical fairs are a major part of our mission to empower migrants to escape poverty. We are currently planning for our upcoming fairs.
Providing care will cost $125 per patient—$17,000 total. To support our work, please donate by clicking the button below. If you would like, you can designate the donation for our medical fair program.