Flying Samaritans Clinic Trip Report – October 2023
Location: Lopez and LSI Clinic, Baja California, Mexico
Welcome to the start of the 2023-2024 season! Although humanitarianism isn’t seasonal, hurricanes are. We did see a hurricane hit the Baja, but luckily, it stayed far enough south that it did not affect our travels.
Summary:
In October 2023, the Flying Samaritans team embarked on our first clinic mission of the 2023-20204season. The trip aimed to provide essential medical, dental, and optical care to the local communities of LSI and Lopez. However, there were a few last-minute challenges that impacted the mission, including the unexpected cancellation of the Lopez clinic.
Clinic Details:
The LSI Clinic, located in a remote and underserved area of Baja California, successfully treated a total of 16 dental patients and 17 medical patients during the mission. Our dedicated team of dental and medical professionals, pilots, and volunteers worked tirelessly to provide quality care to those in need. We have been told by our local contact that the clinic is having some issues with decay of the concrete, and she recommends that we repair the concrete and put down tile to slow the erosion. The cost estimate for this is approximately $700.
There remains concern about the condition of the runway. It remains soft, and only a few pilots/planes are able to land at LSI, secondary to the runway conditions, prop clearance, etc. However, the runway does get packed down during the early spring, as whale-watching planes will frequent the town/airport. Which typically improves the runway conditions.
Dental Services:
For the first time in a while, we were able to provide much-needed dental care at LSI. Dr. Lipton attended to 16 patients. Dr. Lipton ensured that each patient received personalized care but was challenged with the limited availability of anesthetic. A restocking of medications is being undertaken for both medical and dental purposes.
Medical Services:
The medical team saw a total of 17 patients during our mission to the LSI Clinic. Patients received medical assessments, treatment for acute issues, and assistance with managing chronic conditions. Medications and follow-up care instructions were provided to ensure the well-being of the patients.
Challenges:
While our team was able to make a significant impact at the LSI Clinic, the mission was not without its difficulties. The most notable challenge was the unexpected cancellation of the Lopez clinic. This cancellation was due to issues with the cannery company that owns the runway and clinic facilities in the Lopez area. However, the advance team was able to clean the clinic and prepare it for the season. We quickly adjusted plans and resources to focus solely on the LSI Clinic for this trip.
Conclusion:
The Flying Samaritans team remains committed to its mission of providing vital dental/medical/optical/chiropractic care services to underserved communities in Mexico. Despite the challenges faced during this mission, we were able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the patients we treated at the LSI Clinic. We are determined to continue our work and find solutions to overcome obstacles, ensuring that care remains accessible to those in need. We look forward to future missions and the opportunity to serve the community with unwavering dedication and compassion.
Reminders:
Please remember to pay your dues for the season. Funding for our clinic operations and supplies comes from member support! Click here to renew your membership.
Tax season is coming up… Get your donation in before the end of the year! Private or corporate donations can be made by clicking here.
Melinda Radcliffe
