MEDICAL TRAINING

International Relief Teams (IRT) promotes self-sufficiency and sustainability by "training the trainers", while establishing a solid foundation upon which health care can be dramatically improved in emerging nations.

Increasing Skills

IRT conducts surgical training programs in otolaryngology (ear, nose and throat), ophthalmology, and plastic and re-constructive surgery, to improve the skills of practitioners in emerging countries.

Children with hearing impairment and adults with eye disease and vision loss are now able to have these problems corrected by their local surgeons. Those living with birth defects and burn deformities are beginning to receive quality treatment from their own physicians to alleviate their suffering.

Saving Lives

IRT implements training programs of national scope in modern methods of cardiac resuscitation, developing a cadre of IRT-trained instructors who continue the ongoing training of emergency and critical care practitioners in their country. These programs help establish uniform standards in cardiac resuscitation through the country, and increase survival rates among the population. Hundreds of men, women and children now survive accidents and post-surgical complications, because their doctors, nurses and ambulance personnel know how to effectively administer cardiac resuscitation.

Improving the Health of Mothers and Babies

IRT conducts nationwide training programs in maternal and infant care for physicians and nurses in developing nations, who in turn train their colleagues. These programs help establish modern standards of care, dramatically improve the health of mothers, and significantly increase the survival of babies.

Bringing Hope to Impoverished Communities

In many poor communities, primitive living conditions and lack of education have led to a host of medical problems, including high incidences of cervical cancer, diabetes, emphysema, skin disease, gastrointestinal and upper respiratory problems.

IRT volunteers conduct training for community health workers, teaching them first aid, nutrition, diabetes management, cancer detection, drug and alcohol abuse and child development. The health workers use the knowledge gained to educate and change behaviors within their communities that lead to better health for all.

Since 1988, International Relief Teams has utilized 162 medical training teams, involving 673 volunteers, to impart their skills and expertise to local trainers, who now carry on the training of others in their respective countries.

HOME | NEWSLETTER | ANNUAL REPORT | ACHIEVEMENTS
ACTIVE PROGRAMS | VOLUNTEER INFO | DONATIONS | PRIVACY POLICY

© 1988-2007 International Relief Teams