NYSNA Journeys to Brazil for Medical Mission in the Amazon

In April, NYSNA and other allies joined Brazil's Medical Mission in the Amazon and Recife. In the Amazon region, our team had an intensive half-day seminar at the Amazon University to learn how to interact with the indigenous people and about the Universal Health Care in Brazil as well, asthe residents of south and southeast are well-served and the north and northeast neglected.

For two days the nurses had a unique opportunity to provide medical services to an indigenous tribe, learn about medicinal plants, and how to protect the environment under the indigenous perspective.

They also navigated on the Amazon River during the day and during the night together with the indigenous tribe members to learn the different sounds and identify the animals, as well as participate at their ceremonies. The group was divided into two teams; one side provided health care to the indigenous, and another team went to a remote area in the middle of the jungle.

The groups switched the next day, so that everyone would have both experiences.

The Amazon University provided all necessary support, including 20 nursing students as translators. doctors, and nurses from the state association also helped. In total, we had 101 local volunteers, motivated by NYSNA’s team. From the Amazon, we went to Recife, where we served an underprivileged community that was much in need of medical assistance. At Recife, we had another group of 38 volunteers including doctors, translators, etc.

The sum total of the trip had us serving 1,142 patients.

Visit the NYRN page to see how you can volunteer on future trips.