#80 - 40 Surgeries Later - A Medical Mission to Ecuador, The CAMTA Medical Team

“It fills me up to know that in one way or another… I’m scrubbing people’s bones and blood out of an instrument, that in some way has had a positive impact in getting some little kid or a mom or a dad the opportunity to have a life-altering experience, and they want to keep me coming back.” - Peter 

 Debbie is a nurse of 30 years and along with her husband Peter, has been working for an organization created in Edmonton known as the Canadian Association of Medical Teams Abroad, otherwise known as CAMTA. Around the world, one in every 1000 babies is born with clubfoot, and in Ecuador, most of these children are not treated at birth, making learning how to walk either extremely difficult or impossible. Ecuador also has a high incidence of hip dysplasia, a birth defect that can potentially cripple someone by the age of 30, and poverty and limited access to medical assistance often means children with these conditions live with pain and limited mobility for their entire lives. In 2001, a small group of health-care practitioners based in Edmonton formed CAMTA, with the group wanting to provide orthopedic surgery to pediatric and adult patients and to share continuing education on detection and treatment practices with medical personnel in Ecuador. The Universal Radio Network’s very own Qashus had the chance to sit down with Debbie and her husband Peter, who both are part of CAMTA’s missions, to discuss CAMTA as an organization, their experiences traveling to Ecuador, and much more. 

 At the beginning of their sit down, Debbie and Peter introduce themselves and how the opportunity with CAMTA arose (13:30), their role with CAMTA (15:04), their first initial trip with the company, and what the experience was like (17:36), why Ecuador is the main country CAMTA puts their focus towards (22:55), and how the dynamic has changed over the years within the CAMTA team (24:20). Next Debbie and Peter share how the relationship works between CAMTA members and the doctors from Ecuador (30:26), the process and logistics behind CAMTA (34:11), and memorable moments that have impacted both Peter and Debbie (45:06). 

 Near the end of their discussion, Debbie and Peter talk about the bonds they have forged with the individuals they have come across on their trips (51:10), the feelings they experience with every trip to Ecuador (54:13), the Canadian Ambassador story (57:32), if the CAMTA team is able to receive any downtime or breaks (1:00:34), and finally, how the chemistry is between team members and what the vetting process is like (1:04:44). 

IG: @theuniversalradio