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Medical Missions Foundation: Giving Health, Providing Hope

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Across the globe, one billion people lack access to health care systems. More than 7.5 million children under the age of five die from preventable diseases each year. Developing countries account for 99 percent of annual maternal deaths in the world.

The Medical Missions Foundation has at its heart the goal of ameliorating these dismal statistics by providing surgical and medical care in underserved communities around the world, positively impacting the lives of children and their families. Since 1996, the foundation has undertaken 91 missions in 14 countries, aided by 3,000 volunteers, to serve 62,000 patients.

Medical Missions Foundation provides access to specialized surgical care and delivers community health education through educating local health care providers. Missions are primarily staffed by local Kansas City volunteer doctors, nurses and other medical and non-medical specialists. Individual mission trips average 80 to 100 surgical procedures and provide thousands of clinic visits.

In addition to direct medical care, volunteers work with patients through art therapy and teach important healthy practices based on the need of the country. These areas include women’s health, burn prevention, hand washing, clean water, dental hygiene and more.

At home in Kansas City, the foundation has partnered with Cerner’s First Hand Foundation for two years to provide Urban Plunge, an initiative that provides health screenings to inner-city residents. Last summer, more than 100 volunteers provided screenings to 234 patients. ■

To learn more about the global work of Medical Missions Foundation, please visit medicalmissionsfoundation.org.

Art for the Children, February 11, 2017
Each year, Medical Missions Foundation presents Art for the Children, its most important fundraising event. This gala provides the resources that allow its volunteers to continue providing surgical and medical care in underserved communities around the world. Art for the Children will celebrate its 21st year on Saturday, February 11, 2017, at the Westin Crown Center Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. Community leaders and humanitarians will be honored, and guests will enjoy an evening with a silent auction, dinner, dancing and revelry. This year’s featured artist is Lisa Lala, known for her luminous palette knife oil paintings. Sponsorships and tickets may be purchased online or call 913-338-0343.