scholarly journals Considering Medical Missions in all its Different Forms: A Viewpoint from the Asia-Pacific Region

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-52
Author(s):  
Teem-Wing Yip ◽  
Natarajan Rajaraman ◽  
Nathan Grills ◽  
Wei-Leong Goh
Keyword(s):  
Political Development ◽  
Clinical Work ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Medical Missions ◽  
Asia Pacific Region ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Medical Mission ◽  
Medical Missionaries ◽  
Medical Missionary

Whereas some medical missionaries may already have moved away from “traditional” models of medical mission, in the experience of the authors from the Asia-Pacific region, many potential medical missionaries in the region still imagine a stereotypical generalist medical missionary who runs a mission hospital.  The authors argue that with the economic and socio-political development of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in recent decades, the landscape for medical missions has changed.  Hence, contemporary medical missionaries should be well-advised to have specialist qualifications and be more likely to teach, mentor, and do research rather than only doing hands-on clinical work.  Professionalism and quality, rather than “make-do,” should be the norm.  There are more opportunities to partner with and strengthen existing local institutions rather than setting up a Christian health service.  Furthermore, mission opportunities may be available in academia, government, or secular organisations, including places where Christianity has a hostile reception.  Multi-disciplinary expertise and collaboration within health services are increasingly important and provide another opportunity for missions.  Medical missionaries may also come from other LMICs, or from within the same country.  Job-sharing, self-funding, or fly-in-fly-out, may be a viable and legitimate means of sending more medical missionaries.  These non-traditional models of medical mission that incorporate a diversity of approaches, but without sacrificing the “traditional” missional values and practices, should allow even more people to serve in medical missions. The purpose of this paper is to survey this topic in hope of stimulating discussions on non-traditional medical mission opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region and beyond.

scholarly journals Organisation of primary health care systems in low- and middle-income countries: review of evidence on what works and why in the Asia-Pacific region

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (Suppl 8) ◽  
pp. e001487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Dodd ◽  
Anna Palagyi ◽  
Stephen Jan ◽  
Marwa Abdel-All ◽  
Devaki Nambiar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Community Engagement ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Asia Pacific Region ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
What Works ◽  
Primary Health

IntroductionThis paper synthesises evidence on the organisation of primary health care (PHC) service delivery in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) in the Asia Pacific and identifies evidence of effective approaches and pathways of impact in this region.MethodsWe developed a conceptual framework describing key inputs and outcomes of PHC as the basis of a systematic review. We searched exclusively for intervention studies from LMICs of the Asia-Pacific region in an effort to identify ‘what works’ to improve the coverage, quality, efficiency, equity and responsiveness of PHC. We conducted a narrative synthesis to identify key characteristics of successful interventions.ResultsFrom an initial list of 3001 articles, we selected 153 for full-text review and included 111. We found evidence on the impact of non-physician health workers (NPHWs) on coverage and quality of care, though better integration with other PHC services is needed. Community-based services are most effective when well integrated through functional referral systems and supportive supervision arrangements, and have a reliable supply of medicines. Many studies point to the importance of community engagement in improving service demand. Few studies adopted a ‘systems’ lens or adequately considered long-term costs or implementation challenges.ConclusionBased on our findings, we suggest five areas where more practical knowledge and guidance is needed to support PHC systems strengthening: (1) NPHW workforce development; (2) integrating non-communicable disease prevention and control into the basic package of care; (3) building managerial capacity; (4) institutionalising community engagement; (5) modernising PHC information systems.

scholarly journals New Zealand Medical Missions in South China – Ko Tong Hospital in the Kirk Years, 1896-1917

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Louise A. Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Chinese History ◽  
Medical Missions ◽  
Medical Mission ◽  
Presbyterian Church ◽  
Universal Love ◽  
Missionary Movement ◽  
Medical Missionaries ◽  
Medical Missionary

<p>During the rainy season of 1909, the first hospital of Western medicine opened to the public in the bustling market town of Ko Tong, Upper Panyu, China. Po Wai Yiyuen, or ‘The Hospital of Universal Love’, was a medical missionary endeavour of the Canton Villages Mission (CVM) of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, the only mission to China from any New Zealand church. This thesis presents the first in-depth biographical and institutional study of the CVM’s medical mission, from its conception in 1898 until the closure of its first temporary hospital at Ko Tong in 1917.   The thesis argues that the trajectory of the CVM’s medical mission closely followed that of earlier medical missions in a crucial era for the presence and development of Western medicine in China. It also shows how local Cantonese responses to the medical mission in Ko Tong were complex and highly pragmatic. The study highlights the importance of relationships between returned New Zealand Chinese miners and medical missionaries. It argues that, despite numerous setbacks, the CVM’s medical mission under the leadership of Dr. John Kirk achieved a level of stability and purpose it would struggle to find again. Unlike much scholarship in New Zealand Chinese history, this research does not focus on the Chinese in New Zealand. Rather, it analyses the work and interactions of Western medical missionaries of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church active in China. A study of this kind draws on and contributes to histories of missions, medicine in China, and New Zealand-China interactions.  The thesis’ three chapters contextualise the medical mission within the pre-existing Protestant missionary movement and medical missionary movement in China, consider how local Cantonese in Ko Tong viewed the ‘foreign doctor’ in their midst, and finally, analyse the influence and leadership of Dr. John Kirk, the hospital’s main superintendent. It does this by examining mission policy, the hospital’s medical care standards, and Kirk’s involvement in medical education. This research utilises primary sources from the Presbyterian Church Archives of New Zealand, highlighting an immensely rich and varied body of archival resources, which has remained largely untapped by historians.</p>

Trauma Quality Improvement in Low and Middle Income Countries of the Asia–Pacific Region: A Mixed Methods Study

2012 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1978-1992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Thomas Stelfox ◽  
Manjul Joshipura ◽  
Witaya Chadbunchachai ◽  
Ranjith N. Ellawala ◽  
Gerard O’Reilly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Improvement ◽  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Mixed Methods Study ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Asia Pacific Region ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

scholarly journals New Zealand Medical Missions in South China – Ko Tong Hospital in the Kirk Years, 1896-1917

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Louise A. Stevenson
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Western Medicine ◽  
Chinese History ◽  
Medical Missions ◽  
Medical Mission ◽  
Presbyterian Church ◽  
Universal Love ◽  
Missionary Movement ◽  
Medical Missionaries ◽  
Medical Missionary

<p>During the rainy season of 1909, the first hospital of Western medicine opened to the public in the bustling market town of Ko Tong, Upper Panyu, China. Po Wai Yiyuen, or ‘The Hospital of Universal Love’, was a medical missionary endeavour of the Canton Villages Mission (CVM) of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, the only mission to China from any New Zealand church. This thesis presents the first in-depth biographical and institutional study of the CVM’s medical mission, from its conception in 1898 until the closure of its first temporary hospital at Ko Tong in 1917.   The thesis argues that the trajectory of the CVM’s medical mission closely followed that of earlier medical missions in a crucial era for the presence and development of Western medicine in China. It also shows how local Cantonese responses to the medical mission in Ko Tong were complex and highly pragmatic. The study highlights the importance of relationships between returned New Zealand Chinese miners and medical missionaries. It argues that, despite numerous setbacks, the CVM’s medical mission under the leadership of Dr. John Kirk achieved a level of stability and purpose it would struggle to find again. Unlike much scholarship in New Zealand Chinese history, this research does not focus on the Chinese in New Zealand. Rather, it analyses the work and interactions of Western medical missionaries of the New Zealand Presbyterian Church active in China. A study of this kind draws on and contributes to histories of missions, medicine in China, and New Zealand-China interactions.  The thesis’ three chapters contextualise the medical mission within the pre-existing Protestant missionary movement and medical missionary movement in China, consider how local Cantonese in Ko Tong viewed the ‘foreign doctor’ in their midst, and finally, analyse the influence and leadership of Dr. John Kirk, the hospital’s main superintendent. It does this by examining mission policy, the hospital’s medical care standards, and Kirk’s involvement in medical education. This research utilises primary sources from the Presbyterian Church Archives of New Zealand, highlighting an immensely rich and varied body of archival resources, which has remained largely untapped by historians.</p>

scholarly journals Asia Pacific Sepsis Alliance; Critical Care Resources and Disaster Preparedness Survey 2020 Results (March 2021)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brett John Abbenbroek ◽  
Simon Finfer ◽  
Naomi Hammond ◽  
Bharath Kumar Tirupakuzhi Vijayaraghavan ◽  
Lowell Ling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Care ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Life Support ◽  
High Income ◽  
Asia Pacific ◽  
Organ Support ◽  
Pacific Region ◽  
Asia Pacific Region ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries

Aim: To investigate critical care resourcing and the clinical management of sepsis in lower-middle income, upper-middle income and high income countries across the Asia Pacific region. Background: Sepsis is a time-critical complex condition that requires evidence-based care delivered by appropriate levels of well trained, qualified and experienced staff supported by proactive organisational and quality processes, sophisticated technologies and reliable infrastructure. In 2017, the estimated sepsis incidence in the Asia Pacific region ranged from 120 to 200 per 100,000 population in Australia and New Zealand to 2500 to 3400 per 100,000 population in India. Currently, there is limited information on the organisational structures, human resources, clinical standards, laboratory support and the therapeutic options available in the Asia Pacific region to treat sepsis. Method: Prospective electronic survey. Results: Representatives of 59 hospitals from 15 countries responded. Provision of critical care and the management of sepsis varied considerably between lower-middle income, upper-middle income and high income countries. Specific differences include nurse to patient ratios and availability of allied health services. Conventional organ support modalities such as mechanical ventilation and non-invasive ventilation were commonly available. Even advanced life support like extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was available in at least 60% of surveyed ICUs. However, in contrast, essential monitoring devices including EtCO2 were not universally available. Lower-middle income countries had considerably lower provisions for isolation and surge capacity to support pandemic and disaster management, though basic personal protective equipment was widely available. A majority of ICUs used the Surviving Sepsis Campaign guidelines or the adapted version for lower-middle income countries, though only 21% of ICUs in lower-middle income countries used the adapted version. While essential antimicrobials were accessible across most ICUs, availability of reserve antibiotics was limited. Conclusion: The disparities identified in this survey inform healthcare workers and health services, policy makers and governments on the priorities for action to improve the delivery of critical care and sepsis outcomes in this region. Keywords: critical care, disaster, resources, sepsis

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