User:Melinab21/Medical volunteerism

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Medical volunteerism, also medical volunteering, is volunteering in the context of providing medical treatment. It is one form of both international and domestic volunteering. International medical volunteering may include a range of resource-based solutions associated with the set up of a mobile clinic, volunteer assistance in local hospitals or clinics, or at home healthcare services.

History

International medical volunteerism

In the 1800s and early 1900s, during the period of European colonialism, international medical volunteering were considered "heroic missions" and a "Christian duty". Starting in the 1960s, secular medical volunteering abroad emerged as a response to the lack of qualified healthcare personnel in developing countries and to the advent of nongovernmental and governmental organizations. This led to doctors and nurses practicing Western bio-medicine in non-Western environments. Almost a decade later, the growing interest in international volunteering was aided by globalization, which has played a pivotal role in the increased sense of global connectivity and awareness of health disparities and humanitarian needs. Major global health initiatives presented a notable shift from disease-specific interventions (specifically malaria and HIV) to the advancement of general health care, and a focus on access to resources such as clean water, education, primary care, and hygiene. Starting in the 19th century, the WHO (World Health Organization) sought to encourage a change in policies to effectively bolster internal healthcare system. Following this, there was a rapid increase in the number of privately-managed short-term medical brigades, providing solutions aimed at outlining the WHO.