Critical Analysis 2- Healing Hearts Across Borders (HHAB) (Posted) PDF

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Upon reading the two forms I noticed a lot of similarities between the outcomes of our Global Medicine course and the goals and objectives of Healthy Heart Across Borders. To reflect upon our first course outcome to assess determinants of community health at different levels, HHAB addresses determin...

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MBS 590 Clinical Topics in Urban and Global Medicine: Critical Analysis Student Name: Tiffany Polar

ASSIGNMENT #2: HEALING HEARTS ACROSS BORDERS (HHAB) – DUE FEB 2 1) List/summarize the following: a. Overall mission of HHAB: “To bring healing for the body and hope for the heart to the in Tijuana, Mexico by mobilizing material, medical, and spiritual resources on both sides of the border.” http://www.hhab.org/ b. Where they operate: California c. Key target population(s): Underserved populations in Tijuana, Mexico d. 2 types of outreach provided & specific strategies/activities of each: i. Medical Outreach in the form of transporting a free medical mobile clinic to Tijuana along with a team of physicians, dentists, labs, and pharmacists to serve the poor communities in Tijuana. ii. Food Outreach in the form of providing free food for those who receive service at the medical clinic in Tijuana. e. Partnerships/supporters/collaborators: HHAB collaborates with medical personnel including physicians, medical students, pre-medical student volunteer, non-medical volunteers, dentists, laboratory staff, and pharmacists to bring medical services to the poor in Tijuana, Mexico. 2) Describe how the content in these 2 forms reflect the 5 outcomes of our course: Upon reading the two forms I noticed a lot of similarities between the outcomes of our Global Medicine course and the goals and objectives of Healthy Heart Across Borders. To reflect upon our first course outcome to assess determinants of community health at different levels, HHAB addresses determinants for this population by bringing the clinic to the people. This demonstrates that HHAB understand transportation can be a key determinant for low income populations. The course outcome number two discusses identifying key global health topics that disproportionately affect low and middle income countries which directly is the issue that HHAB is aiming to improve. HHAB recognized the disparity of health resources between low income areas in Tijuana in comparison to higher income areas in Mexico as well as in comparison to areas in the United States. Although Tijuana boarders the United States, there remains a huge disparity between health status’ in Tijuana in comparison to the United States. Therefore, by addressing and bringing these issues to light is a very important step towards improving health disparities. Cultural competence is a key factor in the mission statement of HHAB. Cultural sensitivity and awareness across different groups is also outlined in our course outcome. In order to bring high quality health outcomes for a cultured area such a Tijuana, knowledge about their health traditions and culture cannot be overlooked. Exposure to diverse cultures is important for future physicians and medical personnel to experience and helps to develop a better understanding of cultural perspectives in relation to medicine.

MBS 590 Clinical Topics in Urban and Global Medicine: Critical Analysis Student Name: Tiffany Polar

3) Why might these 3 health concerns be more prevalent among the target population served by HHAB? Concerns with poor nutrition, diabetes, and hypertension would be more prevalent in poor areas of Tijuana, Mexico because the nutritional status of a community is directly linked to the communities’ health status. Poor nutrition significantly weakens the body and makes the body more vulnerable to infection and illnesses. For communities and families that are very low income, healthy eating habits is much more difficult to obtain and practice continuously in comparison to higher income communities. 4) Mention any connections to information found on this website that you can make to information/perspectives provided in previous class sessions. A connection I found between the HHAB website and our second-class lecture is the lecture slide on solutions discussing descriptions on how higher income countries can help developing countries address medical issues in cost effective ways. This is exactly what HHAB is doing for the people in need in Tijuana. They are bringing in various resources including food, toiletries, medical services, alongside with pertinent medical information to teach the attendees effective ways they can improve or treat their illnesses on their own. 5) List up to 3 questions resulting from your exploration/findings. I. How long has HHAB been serving poor areas of Tijuana, Mexico and have the staff and/or volunteers noticed any changes in nutrition habits, spreading of diseases, or medical related changes since they have been serving this area? II. What is the most concerning illness or disease that affects the people of Tijuana, Mexico? III. Which resources are the most helpful to the poor people of Tijuana, Mexico?...