LIGA, Flying Doctors of Mercy's mission, since its beginning in 1930, has been to provide free healthcare, including medical, dental, surgical and other specialties, and health education to medically underserved children and adults in rural areas of Mexico. Fifteen years ago kids had holes in their hearts, blue babies, valve problems, those illnesses are now treated by LIGA.
Dr. Wilner, a physician and medical teacher, who has been a member of LIGA for 20 years, and Jackie Hansen, talked about the program's three clinics in Northern Sinaloa where they've treated 686 (record) surgeries for kids. Before kids died of many treatable illnesses.
Physicians, dentists, pilots and other healthcare volunteers are needed to provide for the growing number of children and adults needing treatment. Medical personnel are usually flown by volunteer pilots in privately owned airplanes, carrying four to six passengers each. These dedicated men and women bring vital and urgent care to those most in need. For every $1,000 in donations, LIGA provides over $100,000 in medical services. Almost all surgeries are successful and kids now live a normal life. The average case costs $6,000, and they do 8-10 cases per year. Kids come from anywhere in Mexico for treatment. The medical clinic where the surgeries are provided in an outpatient clinics, is located in the City of Obregon. The kids stay a week after the surgery. On average kids will take 5-6 hours to get to their surgery. Where kids could hardly walk into the clinic, months after their surgery, they will be active and normal. Most kids that come to LIGA for treatment are triaged and treated. Their lives are saved, and says the doctors, "It's very satifying volunteer work."
A typical clinic trip will see 14 to 18 small planes departing from Southern California carrying 50 to 80 volunteers to three clinics where they will see 800 to 1,000 patients. Patients receive a wide range of free medical treatment. LIGA works closely with Mexican medical personnel and volunteers to assure cooperation, education and training.
Liga also provides an opportunity for American medical students, interns and residents to enhance their medical education by visiting the interior of Mexico and participating in clinics.
Liga clinics have been supported by Rotary donations!
