Medical Missions
Daybreak has been engaged in numerous efforts to minister to the physical needs of the Zambian people. We conducted large-scale, one-week Medical Missions almost every year between 2007 and 2013 (about 12 different medical missions over seven years). These included general medical, dental, and optical care (e.g. We have distributed more than 25,000 eyeglasses). Most of our medical missions have included a equal mix of American and Zambian healthcare workers (as many as 30 Americans and 30 Zambians working together). We have also shipped medical equipment and supplies into the country (distributed among the Kafue District clinics).
In more recent years we have begun to focus more on efforts that will be more ongoing (long-term) and emphasize specific needs. We are also shifted more toward training our students in basic heathcare and preventive healthcare. One of our goals is to train our students so that they will be able to serve as Village Healthcare officers. Presented on this page is a collection of pictures from many of our past Medical Missions.
The child (right) was diagnosed with harlequin ichthyosis (genetic skin disease). The child was in great pain and could not hardly bend her neck. One of our American healthcare workers was able to diagnose the rare disease and was able to provide the necessary treatment which moistens the skin and improves quality of life (with continuous treatement). After just one month the child (pictured far right with her mother) the child began to make great improvements (decreased pain) and was able to move much more freely.
Pictured here (left) is a three-year old child (Ryan) who was born deaf and blind. His mother brought him to Kerin's Kids where he stayed for about a year.
Daybreak managed to raise the money needed so that he could get an operation to correct his blindness. Picture to the right (below) is Ryan after the operation. He can now see.
Optical Care.
We have had four American optimists who have visited Zambia several times and have sponsored an ongoing program to provide prescription eyeglasses (and reading glasses) to the people of Zambia (mostly those in rural villages). In fact, Daybreak now has equipment that can read prescription eyeglasses. This is part of a program by which donated eyeglasses from the USA are shipped to Zambia (Daybreak) where they can be distributed. Here are pictures from our Optical care program.
Pictured to the right is the mobile optical clinic (stocked with thousands of prescritpion eyeglasses). Below are two of the visiting Optometrists and pictured below (right) are two pictures of the optical care teams during some of our past Medical Missions.
Local Cheif visiting one of our Optical Clinics in Central Province (below).
Dr. Judy and Dr. Moore using portable device to determine precriptiions.
Conducting vision exams to determine if patients needed reading glasses.
Dental Care.
Daybreak has purchased a dental kit with most of the dental tools that are needed to provide basic dental care in area where there are no dentists. Daybreak has periodically joined up with Zambian dentists in sponsoring short-term clinics in the villages where there are no dentists. Dental care has always been a part of our Medical Missions, but Daybreak has also conducted separate Dental Care Missions as well since dental care is a urgent need in the villages.
