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Loaded with my bag of speculums and other gear, I arrived in San Salvador on March 4, 1995. That day proved to be a foreshadow of the work that lay ahead. Right off the plane, I was scheduled to go to three meetings: A logistical meeting with the MDM team, another with microbiologists at the National University of El Salvador, and the third to create the Salvadoran Volunteer Foundation Medicos por el Derecho a la Salud (MDS). (MDS was DGH's partner organization in El Salvador between 1995 and 2004.) My mind was a blur by the end of the three meetings, but they oriented me as to exactly how much work we would be doing and more or less with whom. Just observing how things were buzzing in the office made me realize that this team works very hard, but works together well. Only later would I understand what it means to be a part of the hard working family of Medicos del Mundo.
Early the next morning we left for Estancia with five medical students from the National University of El Salvador. With Lanny Smith serving as their professor in Community Oriented Primary Care, the medical students compose an important part of the team. This particular weekend the visit centered on the theme of nutrition. As another part of the nutrition lessons brought to the community, Jorge, a Spanish veterinarian, taught families how to raise, kill, prepare and cook rabbit, which provides an excellent source of protein. While preparing a delicious meal for all, Jorge also served as a great role model to a man's ability to help in the kitchen. The involvement of a veterinarian highlighted for me the fact that mdm not only treats medical diseases, but concerns itself with the whole person and all aspects of his life. The team constantly researches the needs of the community by asking and working with community members. Because of this, the projects tend to be very successful with lots of community involvement. As a result, members of the team are welcomed into the community and the community appreciates and cherishes the work.
Meetings with the communities are held every month. Each community tells MDS/ MDM what its greatest needs are, prioritizes them and helps develop the projects that could help meet those needs. MDS/MDM requires a certain level of community involvement in the projects. For example, mothers take turns cooking a hot lunch for the children at the MDS/MDM kindergartens.
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