Doctors to Help Trafficking Victims in Nicaragua
by Staff
January 14, 2010
BRISTOL, Tenn., (christiansunite.com) -- Members of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations (CMDA) will be in Managua, Nicaragua January 23-31, 2010 on a short-term medical mission's trip in an attempt to address the mental and physical health needs of human trafficking victims.Termed as modern-day human slavery, trafficking comes in many forms; the most common is the sale of women and children for sex. The team will be working with a Christian outreach to prostitutes called House of Hope a shelter that provides an alternative to prostitution for women in Managua.
Team leader and expert in the area of human trafficking Dr. Jeff Barrows will lead the team. "Coordination of local resources such as House of Hope is vitally important so that we can do the greatest good and have long-term effects. It has been a labor of love for many. President Barack Obama Proclamation of January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month provides the opportunity for CMDA to drive home the fact that we need a more concerted effort in recognizing and eliminating human trafficking both nationally and internationally," says Barrows.
"Obstetricians/gynecologists, pediatricians, family practice, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, logistics personal and pastors will be accompanying CMDA's Board of Trustees on this trip," says David Stevens, MD, CMDA CEO. "Thirty-two people have committed their time and resources to providing care to resident families at House of Hope and students from the Christian school next door and their families."
The State Department acknowledges that between 600,000 to 800,000 people are trafficked across international borders each year, and of those from 14,500 to 17,500 are brought into the United States.
CMDA is playing a leading role among medical and dental professional organizations by developing training materials for healthcare providers to learn how to recognize potential victims of human trafficking. One such resource is a self-guided test available on the CMDA website at cmda.org.
