Medical Service Journey to Nagaland by P. Abraham Lincoln

Dr. Elizabeth Lincoln, of Yale University Health Services and Pastor Abraham Lincoln of Yale UBF are organizing a medical service trip to Nagaland, a state in the far reaches of Northeast India from December 15-17, 2006.

The American medical team is comprised of physicians, nurses, and students from Yale, the University of Illinois, and UCLA. They are: Dr Annette Molinaro ( Asst Prof, Yale School of Public Health), Alex Diaz De Villalvilla, Jonathan Chen, Louvonia Boone (med students, Yale U), Jill Garland ( P.A. student, Yale U), Audrey Luchayco (RN, Yale U), Dr Augustine Sohn ( UIC), Dr Marc Brodsky ( UCLA), Dr Samuel Yoon, and Thresiamma Thomas ( RN). We will be working in conjunction with Nagaland health workers Dr Temsu ( WHO representative for NE India), Dr. Amenla, and Dr. Pangjong ( pharmacist) along with ten translators to run a medical clinic for 3 days. 2500 people are expected to attend the celebration of 100 years of Christianity in AONOKPU BAPTIST CHURCH. The American Baptist Mission pioneered this part of India at the foothills of the great Himalayas in the mid-19th century. What opportunity is provided for us to reach out to those who are less privileged than many of us here in America!

Nagaland’s Health Service is still in its ABC stage. The basic need of health service is acute; for example, to buy Tylenol, villagers have to travel up to 3 hours to the nearest town where the meager pharmacy is located. The poor villagers who find it difficult to buy Tylenol or other medication rather decide to live with their problem. The lone health provider, the state health infrastructure is at the minimum level. Proper diagnosis is difficult because of no equipment. Even if they are able to properly diagnosis, the sky-high travel cost and medical expenses to come to mainland India make villagers live with their problem as long as they live. Malaria is a common problem. Water-borne and air-borne diseases are also very common. There are just 500 doctors for 2 million people of Nagaland.