Bridging the Health Gap
From March 31st to April 2nd, 2025 and on April 8th, 2025, transformative healthcare outreaches took place at St. Philip Clinic, Eswatini. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of Cabrini Ministries, Mercy Air Switzerland, and Taiwan Technical Mission in Eswatini, rural communities around St. Philips, Eswatini, which often struggle to access quality dental services, received free dental and non-communicable diseases (NCD) care.
Rural communities frequently face significant barriers to healthcare including lack of financial resources, and lack of transportation, resulting in poorer health outcomes compared to urban areas. Cabrini Ministries, with its deep-rooted commitment to health equity, teamed up with Mercy Air and Taiwan Technical Mission, marking a crucial step in changing that narrative.
Non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases, are increasingly prevalent worldwide and unfortunately rural areas are not immune to this trend. The lack of accessible dental care further exacerbates health challenges. Many rural families face the difficult choice of traveling long distances for treatment. The outreach program for the day provided a range of essential services, including:
1. Dental Care Services such as tooth extractions and education on oral hygiene, crucial for preventing future dental issues.
2. NCD comprehensive screenings for conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
3. Immediate on-site consultations and basic treatment initiations to address urgent health concerns.
4. Health Education and Prevention Counseling with guidance on maintaining health and preventing diseases.
Where necessary, patients were referred to local hospitals for further diagnosis or treatment, with Cabrini Ministries coordinating follow-up care and support.
Cabrini Ministries and its partners believe that health is a right, not a privilege. No one should suffer from preventable illnesses due to their location or financial situation. Cabrini Ministries aims to provide comprehensive health services to the communities that need them the most.
Cabrini Ministries outreach program continues to offer weekly NCD care and basic treatment across different rural areas. This ongoing commitment ensures that residents in these areas receive consistent and quality healthcare. Through efforts like these, Cabrini Ministries - St. Philips Clinic, Taiwan Technical Mission and Mercy Air are making significant strides in bridging the health gap, proving that effective healthcare interventions can indeed reach those who need them most.
