Global Alternative Healthcare Project - Bali, Indonesia April 2009 |
Hello. My name is Dan Wunderlich. Welcome to my trip journal!
AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE WAR ON POVERTY, DISEASE, AND SUFFERING IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD
Here is a summary video slide show of the first leg of the journey to Bali.
GAHP Field Trip Spring 2009 (Part 1, Bali, Indonesia)
Chinese medicine practitioners Frank Butler, Jen Resnick and Dan Wunderlich are taking a place at the forefront of the war on poverty, disease, and suffering in developing nations. Recognizing the urgent need for accessible and effective medical care, in December 2007 the team provided more than 2,400 treatments to villagers in remote areas of Indonesia. Their patients included expectant mothers, infants, children with developmental challenges, and adults with a variety of medical complaints. The result of that voyage was what is now known as the GLOBAL ALTERNATIVE HEALTHCARE PROJECT, a humanitarian aid initiative that delivers free, high quality alternative healthcare to under-served populations in the developing world.
While many people think first of western medicine as the primary source for international medical aid work, it is worth noting that Chinese medicine existed in ancient times when there was no refrigeration, running water, vaccinations or MRI machines. Our medicine was made to work in rural conditions, with limited access to resources. It is incredibly effective, mobile, inexpensive, and free from the constraints that limit western medicine in reaching these remote and needy populations.
GAHP founding members Frank, Jen and Dan began planning the current two-week intensive field trip to Bali and Nepal immediately after returning to New York from their last GAHP trip in December 2008. For the Spring 2009 return trip to Bali, the founding members were joined by: Grainne, Julie, Katie, and Mimi. Frances and Tim would join the team in Nepal during the second week. Selecting dates and coordinating the travel logistics (-- love those frequent flyer miles!) for eleven team members was challenging, but it all worked out pretty smoothly in the end.
All of the GAHP participants completed a series of advanced training classes to develop skills that would be useful for treating individuals in medically underserved areas around the globe. The seminar series included instruction in utilizing Chinese medicine to treat wilderness trauma and first aid, infectious diseases, and childhood/pediatric conditions. GAHP had a great line-up of instructors this past year, including Ray Cramer, Daniel Altschuler, Sharon Goldberg, and Alex Tiberi.
All GAHP participants are self-funded volunteers who helped raise money and solicit supply donations to pursue this incredible project of providing free, high-quality alternative healthcare to communities in need around the world. On the ground in Bali, the team was joined by locals David, Janine, Victor, Kemur & Ketut, as well as translators Agus, Chrisma, and Maye.
Upon arriving in Bali, the team took a half-day to organize treatment supplies and arrange local site logistics. Then, in a quick span of five straight days, more than 730 patients were treated in seven different outreach sites!
Thanks to everyone who participated!!!
For more information about GAHP, visit the GAHP website.
p.s. Watch out for Part 2 of this video series, which will highlight the GAHP team’s continued journey to Nepal during the second week of their travels!
p.s.s. Check out Jen's travel blog too. For more information about my prior GAHP field trips, visit my December 2007 blog and/or my December 2008 blog.
p.s.s.s. See My Travel Homepage for my contact information.
AT THE FOREFRONT OF THE WAR ON POVERTY, DISEASE, AND SUFFERING IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD
Here is a summary video slide show of the first leg of the journey to Bali.
GAHP Field Trip Spring 2009 (Part 1, Bali, Indonesia)
Chinese medicine practitioners Frank Butler, Jen Resnick and Dan Wunderlich are taking a place at the forefront of the war on poverty, disease, and suffering in developing nations. Recognizing the urgent need for accessible and effective medical care, in December 2007 the team provided more than 2,400 treatments to villagers in remote areas of Indonesia. Their patients included expectant mothers, infants, children with developmental challenges, and adults with a variety of medical complaints. The result of that voyage was what is now known as the GLOBAL ALTERNATIVE HEALTHCARE PROJECT, a humanitarian aid initiative that delivers free, high quality alternative healthcare to under-served populations in the developing world.
While many people think first of western medicine as the primary source for international medical aid work, it is worth noting that Chinese medicine existed in ancient times when there was no refrigeration, running water, vaccinations or MRI machines. Our medicine was made to work in rural conditions, with limited access to resources. It is incredibly effective, mobile, inexpensive, and free from the constraints that limit western medicine in reaching these remote and needy populations.
GAHP founding members Frank, Jen and Dan began planning the current two-week intensive field trip to Bali and Nepal immediately after returning to New York from their last GAHP trip in December 2008. For the Spring 2009 return trip to Bali, the founding members were joined by: Grainne, Julie, Katie, and Mimi. Frances and Tim would join the team in Nepal during the second week. Selecting dates and coordinating the travel logistics (-- love those frequent flyer miles!) for eleven team members was challenging, but it all worked out pretty smoothly in the end.
All of the GAHP participants completed a series of advanced training classes to develop skills that would be useful for treating individuals in medically underserved areas around the globe. The seminar series included instruction in utilizing Chinese medicine to treat wilderness trauma and first aid, infectious diseases, and childhood/pediatric conditions. GAHP had a great line-up of instructors this past year, including Ray Cramer, Daniel Altschuler, Sharon Goldberg, and Alex Tiberi.
All GAHP participants are self-funded volunteers who helped raise money and solicit supply donations to pursue this incredible project of providing free, high-quality alternative healthcare to communities in need around the world. On the ground in Bali, the team was joined by locals David, Janine, Victor, Kemur & Ketut, as well as translators Agus, Chrisma, and Maye.
Upon arriving in Bali, the team took a half-day to organize treatment supplies and arrange local site logistics. Then, in a quick span of five straight days, more than 730 patients were treated in seven different outreach sites!
Thanks to everyone who participated!!!
For more information about GAHP, visit the GAHP website.
p.s. Watch out for Part 2 of this video series, which will highlight the GAHP team’s continued journey to Nepal during the second week of their travels!
p.s.s. Check out Jen's travel blog too. For more information about my prior GAHP field trips, visit my December 2007 blog and/or my December 2008 blog.
p.s.s.s. See My Travel Homepage for my contact information.
