History

Community Health International Medical Projects for Sustainability (CHIMPS) was founded by University of Washington (Seattle) pediatric residents and their mentors in 2002.

Health worker volunteers from the US and Canada travel to rural areas of developing countries. There, we partner with local communities and NGOs to focus on public health education and sustainable medical assistance. We use the principles of listening to draw on the life experiences and strengths of the local people in order to assist and empower communities to address their own health needs.

Direct medical care can be part of this experience. Participants have treated patients with parasitic diseases, malnutrition, upper respiratory infections, skin diseases, and other illnesses. But the core of the program has always been working with local health committees to implement long-term public health interventions in the community.

Previous work aimed at reducing the impact of intestinal parasites through the use of antihelminthic medication and education on parasite transmission and prevention. Another focus was decreasing dental caries in children through the use of fluoride varnish for teeth and education on dental hygiene.

Some trips have included a research component, responsive to local needs. We have studied the prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia and its relationship to health interventions. We have also done informal lead testing and community health interventions around this issue.

Initially, our work was focused in Los Abelines, El Salvador, but successes there have led us to work in new countries and communities.

We welcome health worker trainees and are especially eager to provide opportunities in community health for medical residents and medical students, working with low health literacy populations.

 

Principles

The principles that inform our ethical approach to short term ethical medical trips include:

  • Purpose: having common and specific goals for each visit.

  • Empowerment: working with communities to identify and advocate for their own needs.

  • Respect: maintaining awareness of the community, culture, and existing infrastructure.

  • Partnership: collaborating over time with local NGOs to do work that the community needs and wants.

  • Teamwork: identifying, valuing, and utilizing community and team member skills and experiences.

  • Sustainability: building capacity to meet challenges within communities and our organization.

  • Feedback: measuring and sharing progress toward team and community goals.

 

Awards

  • 2004 American Academy of Pediatrics Resident Section Anne E. Dyson Award for Child Advocacy

  • 2005 Dyson Community Pediatrics Training Initiative Award

  • 2006 American Academy of Pediatrics Invited Lecturer