The Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC) is dedicated to improving the health of families in the developing world through the implementation of innovative and self-sustainable health improvement programs. Through its network of outpatient clinics and partnerships, FIMRC asserts a multidimensional strategy that includes clinical services, extensive community outreach efforts and health education programs. As the Yale chapter of FIMRC, we are dedicated to fundraising for FIMRC project sites, spreading awareness of global health issues, and volunteering in the New Haven community.
We are currently sponsoring a diabetes and hypertension medicine program, part of FIMRC’s Project Restauración in the Dominican Republic. This program provides education regarding the management of these chronic illnesses as well as monthly consultations and prescription refills in coordination with a chronic disease specialist who visits the site once a month. We are fundraising to meet the costs of medication and transportation needed to keep the program running. Our fundraising activities include planning profit share events with restaurants, collecting donations by tabling on campus, delivering coffee during exam season, and brainstorming new ideas to raise money and awareness for the project site.
This semester, we are assembling a panel of speakers to discuss the aftermath of Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, focusing on medical relief efforts and the effects on displaced families. We hope to spread awareness on the issues surrounding the crisis and enrich discussion by bringing together the perspectives of doctors involved in relief efforts, people who have worked with refugees displaced by the disaster, and Puerto Rican students. Planning activities include contacting speakers, arranging logistics, and structuring discussion questions.
Locally, we volunteer with Project AIDS New Haven by helping with receptionist duties, assisting with HIV testing, and other projects such as increasing the capacity of the food pantry. In addition, we are partnered with the Hypertension Awareness and Prevention Program at Yale, which provides free blood pressure screening and education on hypertension to medically underserved members of the New Haven community.
Other opportunities to get involved include working with FIMRC’s publicity team on planning social media campaigns, designing posters for events, publicizing fundraisers, and brainstorming new ways to spread our message.
If you are interested in working with our chapter, please contact us at fimrcyale@gmail.com.