Trip Locations
Update: All trips in Spring 2021 have been cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic.
MEDLIFE is offering virtual SLTs, which our chapter is participating in. Our chapter's virtual SLT date is set for May 3-8, 2021. You can learn more about virtual SLTs here.
MEDLIFE is offering virtual SLTs, which our chapter is participating in. Our chapter's virtual SLT date is set for May 3-8, 2021. You can learn more about virtual SLTs here.
Lima, PeruLima is also home to extreme poverty, especially in the densely populated settlements on its outskirts. These areas, known as “pueblos jovenes,” have grown rapidly in recent years, as people migrated from the rural sierra of Peru to Lima in search of economic opportunity and an escape from the instability and violence of the 1980s. People also continue to migrate to Lima from rural areas of Peru in search of better access to basic services -- such as health care, education, and work opportunities -- that are often limited or completely absent in their home communities. While some of the older settlements have in time become incorporated into the rest of Lima, the rapid and continued population growth in these areas has left many communities plagued by low wages, high unemployment, and a lack of attention from the state.
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Cusco, PeruThe largely indigenous population of Cusco and its surrounding communities continue to live in extreme poverty. In the rural mountainside pueblos, roads are often unpaved and unsafe, schools are stocked with only the most basic teaching supplies, and the nearest hospital may be up to two hours away by car. Like the rural communities we serve in Ecuador, residents of Cusco and its surrounding territory strongly identify with the indigenous Quechua culture, and the economy relies heavily on agriculture. Heavy rains and earthquakes frequently produce further hardships, as evidenced by the January 2010 flooding, which wiped out roads, utility grids, and structures alike. Not spared from the destruction were many of the area's few medical clinics.
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Riobamba, EcuadorAs the agricultural goods upon which the economy relies continue to decline in value, most of the residents of Cebadas remain extremely poor and thus lack access to many basic resources. Lack of transportation and sanitation infrastructure results in a high incidence of otherwise preventable diseases. Malnutrition is common, especially in children, because more nutritious food products that families grow are sold rather than consumed. Access to medical care in Cebadas is incredibly limited; the closest hospital is up to two and a half hours away from the communities that surround the town center. Consequently, transportation and lost productivity costs – not to speak of the cost of medical treatment itself – prohibit most residents of Cebadas from obtaining adequate medical care.
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Tena, EcuadorTena serves as the primary economic and government center for a vast network of outlying rural indigenous communities, many of which lie deep in the jungle. In recent years, ecotourism has emerged as a more sustainable source for economic growth in the area. Tena's location makes it a popular starting point for rafting, kayaking and other excursions in the Amazon rainforests. Students who attend the MEDLIFE Mobile Clinics in Tena will have the opportunity to experience the unique biodiversity and native culture of the region.
Poor sanitation and lack of clean water in the region has led to the spread of diseases like malaria and dengue fever. |
Kilimanjaro, TanzaniaLocated on the Eastern coast of Africa, Tanzania is known for being home to iconic landmarks such as Mount Kilimanjaro and the Serengeti National Park. Tanzania's economy relies primarily on agriculture, and 76% of the population lives in rural areas. Because of its reliance on farming and lack of infrastructure, Tanzania is particularly vulnerable to natural disasters such as drought, floods, earthquakes and epidemics third of all households in According to UNICEF in Tanzania, “Malnutrition -- most prevalent in young children from poorest or rural households -- is the single biggest contributor to child mortality, with malaria, anemia, pneumonia, diarrhea and HIV and AIDS also being key causes.”
Managua, Nicaragua
Managua is the largest urban center in the small Central American nation of Nicaragua. Nicaragua is the second most impoverished nation in the Americas, with 42.5% living below the national poverty line. Ciudad de Sandino, a particularly impoverished area of Managua, was created as a refuge for flood victims in the 1970s and has continued to take in the refugees of the subsequent civil war, earthquakes, and hurricanes that have besieged Nicaragua. In the following decades, the serious problems in the area were never adequately addressed, and many residents are still living a life without infrastructure, stable employment, and access to basic services.
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Esmeraldas, EcuadorEsmeraldas is a port city located on the northwest coast of Ecuador. The city is home to the majority of the Afro-Ecuadorian population; the province is the most ethnically-diverse in the nation. The main exports are wood and agricultural resources, yet the establishment of Esmeraldas as Ecuador's largest oil refinery has also turned it into an important commercial center. Esmeraldas was considerably affected by the El Niño events of the late 1990s, when mudslides caused explosions, fatalities, and environment damage due to ruptured pipe lines. Due to these events, the tourism industry is still recovering, yet Esmeraldas remains of interest to tourists for its beautiful beaches, tropical forests, and handicrafts.
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Trip Related Questions or Concerns?
Please contact our UTSG Mobile Clinic Officers by filling out a Service Learning Trip (SLT) Inquiry Form. We will strive to have your concerns addressed as soon as possible!