International Medical Expeditions: Sustainability is Key

Over the past four months, I have had the opportunity to observe and be a part of the processes of international development from both an inside and outside perspective. Spending time behind the scenes, in the office and in the field on an expedition, has taught me more than I ever hoped for coming into my internship at ASCEND, a Humanitarian Alliance. Being able to experience the work of an NGO from both sides of the spectrum has opened my eyes to the world of humanitarian work, and the complex inter-workings of international development.

As a pre-nursing student I spend many hours volunteering locally, but what I really wanted was an opportunity to serve internationally through health care. As it turned out, my idea of humanitarian medical work was much different than I thought. There are no immediate results when it comes to international development, which was something I had to get used to. I wanted to immediately see the difference being made, which is simply not possible. It is a long and often tedious process before any real impact can be made.

If I could only pick one thing that I have learned, it would be the immense importance of sustainability when it comes to humanitarian work of any sort, but especially in health care. There are volumes of literature and people who are against medical expeditions that many small NGOs much like ASCEND are conducting because they are assumed ineffective. I was able to go to Peru and see first hand exactly how effective and ineffective medical expeditions have the potential to be. Handing out medicine to a community may make an immediate improvement to their health, but it is so short-lived and ultimately not worth the investment. However, by teaching communities basic skills in nutrition, hygiene, and disease prevention, a worthwhile improvement can be made.

The key to international development is to give a gift that keeps on giving, to build something sustainable. I believe that sustainability is the most important component of any NGO, but it is also the hardest to accomplish. It is the direction the non-profit world must be headed in order to have any hope of success. It is the core of ASCEND's vision, and what sets ASCEND apart from other organizations.


Written by Brooke Mariger, an intern at ASCEND, a Humanitarian Alliance. Ascend focuses in International Economic and Health Care Development in Africa and South America and provides professionals, volunteers and interns an opportunity to provide service or travel on expeditions to Bolivia, Ecuador, Ethiopia and Peru. We work to empower those in need to save their children and ASCEND out of poverty. Learn more http://ascendalliance.org