ND's Working Around the World to Improve Global Health
While we at NDI are doing our part to improve global health, all over the planet, more and more NDs are stepping out and doing amazing projects and international work. If you know of an ND that does good work internationally, please submit their stories to NDI for posting here so we may work in solidarity with our fellow NDs and support each others efforts. NDI will also highlight other global health organizations run by naturopathic physicians that are doing sustainable, long-term work rather than short-term travel trips. If you or your organization has long term global health programs, please send us your stories!!! If you are a naturopathic student working abroad, we want to hear from you too!!
Dr. Ameet Aggarwal, ND - Kenya, Africa; Organization: FIMAFRICA
The Foundation for Integrated Medicine in Africa (FIMAFRICA, www.fimafrica.org) is a registered Canadian charitable organization and a Trust in Kenya, providing alternative medical treatments to remote communities in northern Kenya using mobile clinics. Spearheaded by Dr. Ameet Aggarwal ND, these mobile clinics bring affordable medicines to underserviced communities with minimal or no health facilities. Volunteers work closely with local health workers to exchange knowledge on disease treatment and participate in personal growth work. Using Gestalt therapy, Dr. Aggarwal leads personal development workshops for his volunteers while in the bush, often camping by firelight. Ameet sees this as an essential part of the volunteer experience, since emotional wellbeing is an integral part of naturopathic medicine. Ameet uses Gestalt to help participants develop counselling skills, which they can take back home with them – like the saying goes, “physician, heal thyself!”. Part of the mobile clinic experience involves visiting unseen areas of Kenya, where drought forces people to live a nomadic lifestyle without a stable source of income. This work also brings students to areas where animals walk freely alongside the mobiles, and people are still colourful in their regalia as they walk for miles in search of water. Volunteering with FIMAFRICA is a unique experience that challenges each practitioner to allow themselves to fully surrender to practice and avail themselves to the people they are treating. FIMAFRICA, encourages your ability to practice in a way that fosters self involvement and growth. Using your skills in the field, and being guided by the other practitioners' input, we encourage you to reach a point of self expression that embodies your internal intention to heal. These trips are more than just the administration of therapies - they are the chance to include yourself in your practice and allow you to work with people at a very human level while you deliver your services to people in need - it is a chance to give a part of yourself in the world. Human contact is very important, it reawakens the spirit.
Notes from Volunteers about FIMAFRICA
I found the experience to be "life changing". I use quotes because it's what everyone expects from a trip like that, and it's kind of cheesy but there really is no other way to describe the trip.
"Until practicing in Kenya and the Gestalt counselling sessions, I wasn't sure how great of a practitioner I could be, but I felt that the experience has helped me to become more confident in my skills as a practitioner, and as a person who is able to help others in a significant way. With the Gestalt sessions, I feel as though I have come to a point where I can appreciate myself fully and command respect from others. Just learning to give other people feedback was an incredible experience, because I had to learn to tell people what was on my mind - not an easy thing to do! Thank you for facilitating that, out of all the things I have learned while in Kenya, my Gestalt situations with you and the girls will last longer than any pictures I have taken while in Kenya" - Sherri Anne, CCNM Student.
Dr. Kamilla E. Kerstenetsky, ND CPM
If you look after the land – it will look after you
Love of the Land, a book by a traveling Naturopathic physician, Kamilla Kerstenetsky, and a long-time Kenyan farmer, Richard Robinson, is now available for purchase.It is the story of one man’s journey and growth through the many years of change in Kenya and his commentary of what it means to live a fulfilling life in concert with the land. This book is a biographical story and a guide to sustainable agriculture and farming. Richard Robinson’s words and his philosophy of living are conveyed in a direct, charming and easily assimilated language, which inspire us to treasure each day of existence. It tells of Richard’s experiences as he transforms his career from a copper miner in Uganda to an extremely successful farmer who learns through his mistakes.“What I’ve learned, I’ve learned through the lessons of Mother Nature. If you have the heart for it, the land pays back generously. If you plant nicely, the growth is assured. If you love the cows, they will bring a lot of milk.” It is a fun and educational read. To obtain your own copy just follow the link www.xlibris.com/LoveoftheLand.html or call 888-795-4274 ext. 7876. International orders: orders@xlibris.com. Purchase online, directly through the publisher, Xlibris.
"Being in Kenya, I learned the value of the 'word of mouth.' The number of my clinic patients grew from one boy to hundreds in what seemed a manner of minutes. I trust that the popularity of this book can perhaps grow in the same manner. Please pass on the word of this book to your family, friends and acquaintances. With regards, from the author" - Kamilla E. Kerstenetsky, ND CPM
Dr. Leslie E. Korn, Ph.D., M.P.H., R.P.P., LMHC, Mexico, Organization: Center for Traditional Medicine
Since 1977, under the direction of founder Dr. Leslie Korn, CTM has provided innovative educational opportunities to study traditional medicine, natural medicine and complementary and alternative medicine including seminars, accredited MA and PHD-level studies, field work and internships in the US and Mexico.
www.centerfortraditionalmedicine.org
(Note - stories listed here are independent of NDI - they are not sponsored by NDI nor are official NDI sites)
