When one hears of Costa Rica, images come to mind of a peaceful country replete with lush rainforests, tranquil beaches and scenic volcanoes. However behind the well-oiled machinery of eco-tourism and the much-touted framework of socialized medicine, lies a darker needy side which often goes unnoticed.





November 2007

Many in Costa Rica lack health insurance and cannot afford to seek medical attention. EMAS works alongside Christian clinics to bring aid, providing medications and conducting clinics. Lectures, seminars and ward rounds are arranged with our colleagues. The local workers and missionaries have inspired and challenged us all. We thank God for orchestrating all the many details that brought us together.

Tim Kelton
tim_yas@yahoo.ca

December, 2005

Literally thousands of residents in Costa Rica lack health insurance and thus cannot afford to seek medical attention. Some are illegal immigrants from neighbouring countries, most notably Nicaragua, but many are locals who are either unemployed or for other reasons are denied insurance for medical care. It was this population that our EMAS team had hoped to assist by working alongside pre-existing Christian clinics in squatter communities.

Our team represented a cross-section not only of Canada but also of the health professions, all in an attempt to suit the expressed needs of our colleagues in Costa Rica and all with previous overseas missions experience. The physicians were Jeff Kornelson, Heather MacDonnell, my wife Yasmine Kelton and me. We had a medical student, Kevin Byron, who spoke Spanish. Two specialty nurses, Isla Ghent and Kathy Mutch, along with Peggy Longworth, a pediatric physiotherapist, rounded out the team.

Peggy was particularly invaluable as she not only spoke Spanish, but having been born and raised in Costa Rica, she was able to network with her family and made our transition and work so much more enjoyable. Her brother John is a family physician who works in San José and he was able to arrange the educational component of our trip. I was privileged with the opportunity to give three ethics lectures on the Hippocratic Oath; one to the National Medical College on behalf of the Christian Medical Society (CMS) of Costa Rica; one to the Family Practice Residents in Cartaga, and one to an informal meeting of the CMS. These talks were well-received and stimulated much profitable discussion. Heather and Jeff were also able to hold lunch-time medical seminars for the Carpio staff on two occasions.

We ran two weeks of clinics; the first week in Carpio, a large squatter community just outside the capital San José, and the second week we travelled to the underprivileged Caribbean coast to work in a community center outside the industrial port city of Limón. We averaged close to 100 patients daily. As we were working alongside established clinics and staff, we had the benefit of their assistance with translation, supplies and support services. We could not have accomplished half as much without the help of the staff members who worked tirelessly, day in and day out, to provide exemplary holistic care to the disadvantaged. We were inspired by their devotion and grateful for their assistance as we sought to aid them in their work. We also provided medications for their pharmacy, not only from donated samples, but also through four Physician Travel Packs from Health Care Partners International of Canada. FAME Canada was generous enough to donate the monies to cover two of the Packs while the other two were covered by a friend and CMDS colleague, Dr. Len Prins.

There were challenges to be sure. Some of our medications (the four Physician Travel Packs) were held at Customs entry into Costa Rica and it wasn’t until the second week of clinics, after much prayer and paperwork, that they were released for our use. This delay actually worked out for the best in the end. Air Canada had recently reduced their baggage allowance thus limiting what we could bring, however Kevin used to work for Air Canada and he was able to pull some strings to get our excess luggage cleared without penalty. Some of our plans for educational times did not materialize despite our best efforts. Heather MacDonnell was not able to stay for the second week of clinics due to her scheduled return to Canada. However, overall we were amazed at how smoothly things worked together.

There was so much to be thankful for.

Our 17-month old son Philip stayed quite healthy through our travels; the team unity and commitment was refreshing and a delight to share; the lives of the local workers and missionaries inspired and challenged us all; the Longworth clan took the team under their wings; the established infrastructure enabled a greater impact than otherwise would have been possible…to name just a few.

Visiting American medical teams come regularly (two to three times a year) to assist the clinics (run under the auspices of Christ for the City), providing much needed medications and clinical assistance. We were all humbled when we were told at the end of our first week that we were the ”best team ever” that had come down. We do not take that sincere compliment lightly as we thank God for orchestrating all the many details that brought us together. We have been invited back next year and so, once we have been refreshed, we will prayerfully look at that very real possibility!

by Tim Kelton
tim_yas@yahoo.ca

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