Healing the Children: medical missions

In 1993, I started documenting medical missions organised by the American-based, non-profit organisation Healing the Children (HTC). With 14 chapters in 21 states, HTC has helped tens of thousands of children worldwide since it was founded in 1979. The organisation arranges specialised medical treatment and surgical care for children whose families cannot afford it or whose communities do not offer it. HTC relies entirely on volunteers. In 1995, the northeast chapter of HTC alone provided more than $7·5 million in services to about 2300 children. HTC also provides treatment and assistance to disadvantaged children in US communities, arranges special care in the USA for children from nearly 60 countries, and recruits organisations to provide supplies and refurbished equipment to hospitals in underdeveloped countries. In October, 1994, I traveled with an HTC team of over 50 medical personnel on a cardiac trip to Guatemala City. More recently, in April, 1996, I documented a team of 11 who travelled to Cochabamba, Bolivia, to carry out soft tissue surgery.