The Medicine Man
By: Jessica Fox
In 2004 I took a class called “Contemporary Issues.” At first I didn’t know what to think about this course because I hadn’t brushed up on any current events, basically I didn’t know what was going on in the world at that time. Throughout the year we talked about current issues affecting the world’s population. We talked about the 2004 Iraqi elections, AIDS/HIV in Africa, and other current events. While we were on the topic of AIDS in Africa we were given a book to read called “Mountains beyond Mountains, the quest of Dr. Paul Farmer.” By: Tracy Kidder. From the start, I was glued to this book.
In the beginning we are introduced to a young doctor named Paul Farmer. Farmer is an American medical anthropologist and physician who received his degree from Duke University. Coming from a very frugal life, growing up on a bus and a boat, Farmer always knew he wanted to diagnose and cure infectious diseases. Not only that, he wanted to bring the tools of medicine to people who couldn’t afford them, had no means of getting them.
Known as the “world-class Robin Hood” Dr. Paul Farmer showed us how change can happen in the worst of insurmountable situations. He and his team built hospitals out of war torn buildings. Farmer’s mission was to basically transform health care on a global scale, focusing on the world’s poorest nations. In 1987 he helped found a non-profit called “Partners in Health.” Today over 1000 patients come through its doors for free healthcare in the Haitian countryside. He believes that you have to pay attention to humanity. Everyone has basic rights, and the right to health is an important part of that. We also need to change the way the world health experts treat communicable diseases. Focusing on bringing down the cost of medical supplies and medicine is always a must. Farmer and his ideas have traveled mountains beyond mountains including places like Siberia, Lima Peru, and Cuba.
The reason I wanted to write about Dr. Paul Farmer on this month’s blog is because his work reminds me a lot of the work that is done here at the International Institute of St. Louis. This organization provides open arms for incoming refugees. Everyone who walks through the doors here has basic rights which need to be met. Here, we are trying to make a world a difference by teaching English classes, providing adjustment services, helping new refugees find jobs in St. Louis and empower new immigrants and refugees. It takes the work of everyone around us to make it happen. The services that are offered here are not offered at just any immigration and refugee organization, we are all grateful for that.