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How can I go on a mission?
Membership in Medical Wings International is the first requirement for travel with MWI. Second, if you are a healthcare professional and want to volunteer your services, you must have current licensure in the United States. We also welcome people with no medical background to serve as volunteers for staff support. Our mission trips can be very physically demanding — long hours, very hot and humid work environments. Our volunteers must be in good overall health. Immunizations are the volunteer's responsibility. Flexibility and patience is also essential, as well as a commitment to our goals and teamwork. Please see the Membership tab to become a member, check out our upcoming missions, and E-mail directly for more detailed information.
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Who is on a mission team?
Typically, a mission team consists of at least two medical doctors — one internist and one pediatrician — one nurse practitioner, two nurses, one optometrist, one dentist, one pharmacist, two staff support volunteers, and our mission director.
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How is Medical Wings International supported?
MWI is supported exclusively through donations. We are a nonprofit, self-sustaining 501c3 charitable organization, which began in 1998.. There are no paid employees; all of our planning and mission work is done by volunteers. We are an efficient organization and strive to maximize all of your monetary, medication, equipment, and time donations. Please see our Membership page and join us!
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Who covers the cost for a mission?
Typical mission costs include airfare, lodging, meals, and transportation. Often these trips are sponsored and some of those costs are deferred. Ultimately, this is determined on a mission-by-mission basis. Our costs are usually reduced whenever possible when the mission volunteer is responsible.
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What does a non-medical person do on a mission trip?
A little of everything! Work in a triage area registering patients, work as a runner for the pharmacy, assist the doctors and nurses as needed, and assist the mission director, assist with inventory and supplies. We do teach our volunteers how to use our equipment to obtain blood pressure, pulse, and temperature. Your days are rewarding, as there is always something to do and someone to help.
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What is the clinic set-up?
We are usually not in a real clinic. Usually, we set up in a school or community building, using tables or desks for exam tables. We have to be flexible and go with what we have.
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What about hygiene? How do I wash my hands?
Pre-trip immunizations are the responsibility of the mission volunteer. We are very careful about what we eat and drink in a given area. There is usually no running water, and if there is, it is not clean, so we ask all mission volunteers to bring enough hand sanitizer and disposable gloves for the entire trip to use between patients.
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What lab testing is available?
None, except urine dipsticks, pregnancy tests, and a glucometer. We are often able to set up a nebulizer for albuterol treatments.
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What type of dental services are provided for patients?
Generally, our services are limited to simple and surgical extractions of teeth only. We dispense pain medications and antibiotics when necessary, in the conjunction with the above treatments.
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Do you provide dental services for children on your missions?
Yes, we provide extractions to both children and adults on every mission. The patient population varies — sometimes it's more kids, and other places, primarily adults.
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What kind of eye care do you provide?
Our optometrists perform eye exams and prescribe and distribute prescription glasses to our patients, both children and adults. They also treat glaucoma, eye infections, and provide medication for long-term use when needed.
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Where do you get your eyeglasses and eye medications?
Exclusively though donations! If you would like to organization a local eyewear donation in your area, please contact us. Eye medications are all donated as well. If you are able to contribute in this regard, please contact our Director of Optometry.
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How can children get involved in our international community services?
Great question! We welcome school projects which involve our mission work. We have had success with school children collecting bottles of children's multivitamins, small bars of soap, a new toothbrush/toothpaste, etc. We call these ongoing projects our "Wings of Love" activity. Please let us know if you or your child would like to donate in this way, or would like assistance in organizing a school, church, or community project.
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How can adults get involved in our international community services?
If you want to participate but cannot travel, becoming a member is an excellent start. Also, we have had adults who organize fundraisers locally for MWI — we welcome and appreciate this. Garage sales, bake sales, silent auctions are all good ideas. One simple, successful effort most recently done was one of our member hosts requested her party guests all bring one large bottle of multivitamins instead of a hostess gift.
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Do I need to know another language to volunteer?
No. MWI works with our local hosts to provide a translator for each volunteer. There are times, however, when our translators are spread thin, and in these instances, knowing the language is helpful. Our volunteers sometimes carry a translation dictionary.
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