Issues of Interest
Oasis Trip Report
by Mali Mann, M.D.
May 15-17, 2005
In May, my husband Bill, his copilot Damir, my daughter and I took off from Palo Alto airport for our mission with Los Medicos Voladores (LMV).
Our plane was Damir's swift and comfortable Arrow, N226DB, one of five that took 20 physicians, dentists and volunteers from Northern California to Oasis,
where we offered medical and dental services to children, teenagers and their parents.
LMV has made a commitment to help to this community of people who are under privileged and in need of medical, dental and sometimes psychiatric care.
We arrived at the Toro Canyon middle school at 7:30 AM on Saturday to set up our clinics and stayed until after 5:00 PM.
Our medical staff saw 301 patients for chronic pain, respiratory illness, diabetes, skin ailments and medical examinations, and a mobile clinic provided 25 breast examinations.
Our dentists gave 55 cleanings and other treatments, as well as 44 extractions.
Vision specialists examined 132 patients, giving glasses to 107 and Lens Crafters vouchers to an additional 25.
Chiropractors provided 23 treatments, physical therapists, 25, and our "pharmacy" dispensed free medication.
In all, we provided 606 patients with health care. The promotion and preparation by our hosts were outstanding.
At the end of this full day, we were tired but happy with the results.
Among the 22 patients I saw, three were individuals that required a psychiatric diagnosis.
One had major depression and a schizoid life. He was 67 years old but dressed in a much younger man's attire.
He had visitation rights to see his son who lives in San Francisco, but lacked the resources to visit or to pay for his son's trip south.
He was afraid of getting old, depressed with delusional ideas, and fearful of death.
I used the medication we brought with us, instructing him how to take it.
I also encouraged him to participate in his local community and become an active group member.
The second case was a man in his 40's, divorced with two children.
He had a severe mixed drug addiction for seven years and now was going to methadone clinic daily.
He suffered from a mood disorder and had self medicated by taking street drugs for many years.
During the last six months that he was taking part in methadone clinic, he noticed having increasing symptoms of depression.
He was tempted to use the drugs again but restrained himself.
I tried to educate him about his drug dependency and its meaning as well as his depression.
I also encouraged him to go to a recently established free clinic for follow-up of antidepressant medication I prescribed and to receive therapy.
The last psychiatric case was a man with his five year old daughter who had shared custody with his ex-wife.
He was suffering from post traumatic stress disorder because of the custody battle with his ex-wife and other unfortunate legal problems.
I spent time educating him about his depression, also encouraging him to go to the free clinic for follow up treatment, antidepressant medication and therapy.
I came away from this trip tired from the travel and intense work, but satisfied that our visit made a real difference in many peoples' lives.
As always, despite the tiredness of travel and practice, we gain more than we give on these important LMV trips to help the poor and dispossessed.
