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Student looking to gain insight on medical mission to Ghana by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff 5 | Thursday, March 6, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Oakville's Kaitlin Endres says she's always had a desire to help others and come May, she'll get the chance to in Ghana. The 18-year-old, first-year science student at the University of Western Ontario will be heading over to the West African country as part of the London, Ont. chapter of Global Brigades. The student-led organization is dedicated to global health and sustainable development. Having done similar missions previously in Panama and Honduras, Global Brigades will set up a mobile medical unit in Ghana and offer small free clinics to diagnose and treat patients from low-income and rural communities with limited or no access to medicine. "I've never been to Ghana, so I'm really excited to go," said Endres. "I'm looking forward to the chance to see what real patient care looks like." The Oakville Trafalgar High School graduate, and former Oakville Beaver carrier, says she's interested in heading to medical school after university and hopes to practice medicine. Endres' penchant to help was present in Grade 7, she says, when she became involved with Free the Children. "They do similar trips like this one, but I never had the chance to go. So there's always been this desire to head to another country on a mission." The 10-day trip, which starts May 4, will include four clinic days, door-to-door visits, a public health day, and a chance for the students K a r a s t a n A r e a R u g s to get to know Ghana and its communities. The clinic is expected to treat some 800 patients. According to the Global Brigades, Ghana's Mfantseman municipal district has one doctor for every 48,029 patients, with its main health concerns including malaria, waterborne illnesses, hypertension and upper respiratory tract infections. Global Brigades provides one doctor and one dentist for the mission while the London group's members, made up of 45 Western students, are responsible for finding as many more physicians as they can. "The more we have, the less crowding they'll be around the dentists and doctors and the more we'll actually get to see and do," said Endres. As vice-president of dental fundraising, Endres is tasked with finding dentists willing to join the mission, or donate medical supplies, such as tooth brushes, tooth paste, floss, gloves and surgical masks. Each student must raise more than $800 towards medical supplies, as well as their flight, accommodations and vaccines. Endres is selling bracelets for $2 to help reach her goal, which can be purchased by emailing kendres@uwo.ca. The students heading to Ghana are also fundraising as a group, with plans for a banquet dinner, pub fundraisers and a bottle drive. Donations to the cause can also be made online at www.empowered.org/Kaitlin-Endres. Kaitlin Endres is a first-year University of Western Ontario science student and a member of Global Brigades Club of London, travelling to Ghana on a medical and dental mission trip. Endres is selling bracelets for $2 to raise money for expenses and dental supplies. She is also asking local dentists if they would donate supplies or be interested in joining the trip. | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) or www.facebook.com/HaltonPhotog · M i r a g e H a r d w o o d YMCA membership Your family belongs here Peerless Carpeting · Buyers Edge Guarantee · 200 Store Buying Power Persian BEST QUALITY · BEST PRICES · BEST SERVICE TWO TONE HEAVY BERBER TWIST OR TEXTURED BERBER KARASTAN SMART STRAND SHAG WOW THANK YOU SALE $ $ $ Swim, walk, run, shoot hoops or take a class - plus gain a wider circle of friends and discover why the Y is more than a gym, its a community. Rugs · 199 INSTALLATION SQ. FT. Peerless WOW 2 99 SQ. FT. WOW 399 SQ. FT. PREMIUM UNDERPAD NO CHARGE Try the Y! March 16 - March 29, 2014 Get your FREE one-week trial pass Bring the whole family to experience the YMCA for one week, absolutely free! Take a tour and discover the benefits of YMCA membership. Valid only at the Peter Gilgan Family YMCA. Limit of one trial per person, per year. Carpeting · AREA RUGS CLEARANCE UP TO 1/2 PRICE OR LESS *LIMITED TIME ONLY 200 Store Buying SEMI-ANNUAL MIRAGE REBATE SALE* FOLLOWING LOCATIONS ONLY: 50¢ R u g s EARN A REBATE PER SQ. FT. SUPERSTORE OPEN SUNDAYS 125 Cross Ave. TRAFALGAR VILLAGE, Oakville 905.849.4472 M i r a g e H a rd w o o d · K a r a s t a n C a r p e t i n g · 228 KING ST. E. Hamilton 905-546-1921 P e r s i a n Scan to see our video overview! We're Social! YMCA of Oakville Peter Gilgan Family YMCA Power