Local teachers registering patients who arrive in bright, beautiful, vibrant colors.

Jambo (Hello in Swahili)! This year, I fulfilled a secret childhood dream by volunteering at medical camps across three countries: Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. My sister, Dr. Priya Panneerselvam, an OB-GYN, always knew she wanted to go on a service trip, and everyone who knew her knew it too. I, on the other hand, never vocalized this dream and had no background in medicine. So why did I want to go? As a child, my family and I would wake up at 5 AM every Saturday to make breakfast at the local soup kitchen. We would prepare delicious and nutritious breakfast spreads. Seeing the faces of the people we served light up brought me so much joy, and I looked forward to it every week. This weekly ritual cultivated a passion within me for serving others. Over the years, our weekly breakfasts at the local soup kitchen evolved into tutoring minorities in STEM, singing songs to seniors in the convalescent home, and even teaching professional skills to women recovering from addiction. The call to serve others, coupled with a deep yearning within me, drew me toward this dream. When my sister was invited to join an expedition involving eight medical camps in 10 days, I knew I had to seize the opportunity. Everyone I spoke to — my closest friends — could see the excitement in my eyes.

As the departure date approached, my apprehension grew. What started as a distant idea in December quickly turned into reality by March, and soon, the day of our departure arrived. We had to get all our vaccines, and I needed a total of 10, ranging from yellow fever to tetanus. We packed our suitcases to the brim with medical supplies, including band-aids, PPE, and mosquito nets, along with minimal clothing. We soaked our scrubs in permethrin and brought a few sweat-wicking long-sleeve shirts to wear under our scrubs to shield our arms from potential bug bites.

With four suitcases, two backpacks, and 24 hours of travel, we arrived in Kampala, Uganda. Our diverse team consisted of almost 65 individuals — gynecologists like my sister, infectious disease specialists, pharmacists, pediatricians, neurologists, physiotherapists, optometrists, ophthalmologists, dentists, nurses, and general volunteers like myself. Volunteers hailing from various corners of the globe — including the USA, UK, New Zealand, Australia, Sri Lanka, and beyond — came together in service.

Uganda is home to one of the world’s worst healthcare systems: there is only one doctor per 25,000 people. To put this in perspective, in the United States, there is one doctor per 100 people — a stark contrast to the situation in Uganda. The drinking water quality in Uganda is also extremely poor, causing many people to suffer from malaria, dehydration, and other illnesses. I saw children lick banana peels and look at our half full, abandoned plastic water bottles with envy. I carefully became aware of how much I wasted — water and food alike.

Uganda. Thousands waiting in lines to be seen by doctors.

Another major issue we observed was the lack of information and health education. One heartbreaking story my sister shared was about a 19-year-old girl from a rural village in Jinja, Uganda. After her general checkup, she asked my sister for advice about something another local doctor had told her a few weeks prior. She had visited him for her back pain, and he told her, “If you sleep with a man, the back pain will go away. Therefore, you should sleep with me.” There were similar cases where my sister and other doctors witnessed people in positions of power abusing the innocence of many patients and the corruption within the healthcare system itself.

Dr. Priya Panneerselvam, ob/gyn from USA, consulting patients in Uganda.

Although Uganda is one of the poorest nations in the world, they have a saying that “they are the richest in heart”. And in the same village in Jinja while my sister’s heart was breaking, I also witnessed the best of humanity. As a general volunteer, each day brought new roles and experiences. On one particularly challenging day, I worked in registration, tasked with handling over 1000 patients — the most demanding registration day yet. Most patients traveled miles to come and be seen — some had been waiting since 2:30 AM. Despite the sweltering heat and relentless rain, the patients displayed remarkable patience, even as police officers, armed with gigantic guns, patrolled the area to ensure our safety. The patients dressed in their best clothes — an array of vibrant and beautiful colors. It struck me deeply; unlike when we visit doctors, these patients made an effort to present themselves with pride. Among them was a remarkable individual — a 105-year-old man who stood tall and strong. One of the doctors remarked, if he could live to 105 here, what’s our excuse?

During lunch, I saw a young man, my age, who was an electrical engineer. I remembered checking him in early in the morning. He came to receive care but ended up translating for other patients; though English is the national language in Uganda, there are a few rural areas where many still do not speak it. I went to him, telling him that I worked in registration and that he needed to go get seen NOW before we close and that he could help translate after. He said to me, “look how many people are waiting? So many. How can I get myself checked up? I have a car…. I can drive myself to a clinic. But these people… who will help them?” He refused to leave and stayed until dark without being seen. I will never forget him. His selflessness inspired me and kept me going, even on the hardest days of camp.

The next day, we woke up around 3:30 AM to ensure we would get to our next camp on time. After spending three challenging but rewarding days in Uganda, our team prepared to move on to our next destination: Vihiga, Kenya. Kenya’s healthcare system, though ranked second in Africa, faces significant challenges, with only 10% of public hospitals adequately equipped to deliver basic services. Many public hospitals are also unable to perform critical care services. When we arrived in early April, all the doctors in Kenya were on strike due to low wages. In the hospital where we set up camp, the nurses were the heart and soul of the facility, keeping the patients alive. Our camp that day was outdoors: we were in the hospital courtyard, and each tent housed a different department. Initially, we faced intense heat; I served as a runner and was tasked with supervising female patients receiving PID treatment from another doctor. Suddenly, the heat gave way to a torrential downpour, trapping us under the tents. The camp flooded, with water reaching knee-deep levels in some areas. Despite these conditions, we continued working, driven by the calm resilience of our patients.

Since I was trapped under the tent with the physiotherapy and dental teams, I witnessed firsthand the overwhelming demand for dental care. The dental and eye department were constantly inundated every camp. Dr. Keaton Daya, an optometrist from Australia, shared that several people, many of whom have never had their eyes checked before, just simply needed an exam. There was a young boy who was short sighted in both eyes and was overjoyed when he received a pair of glasses so that he could finally see the chalkboard in school.

Due to the lack of access to toothbrushes, toothpaste, and oral hygiene basics, many patients who arrived suffered from severe toothaches and tooth decay. The medical camp’s services were severely limited; there were only three dentists and no nurses available. Unable to perform cleanings or fillings, our dentists could only offer extractions. I quickly integrated into the dental team’s efforts and became one of their two permanent helpers.

At the hospital where we operated, supplies were scarce, and despite having three available beds, the dental team had no access to them. For many patients, this was their first dental visit in years, and they expressed immense gratitude for the opportunity to receive care, even if it meant lying on hard tables for over half an hour instead of the comfortable beds we were accustomed to. Though we faced challenges in preparing for each camp, we learned from our mistakes and sought help from the communities we served. What struck me most was the resourcefulness of each community. In one of the other camps, they had ingeniously fused the metal frame of a chair with a car seat to create a makeshift dental chair, ensuring a more comfortable experience for patients.

One of the patients my sister had seen dislocated his shoulder; it was far beyond what our camp and the hospital we were at were capable of handling, but she and Dr. Rajesh Ramaswamy, an orthopedic surgeon from the UK, did what they could: they fashioned a hospital gown into a sling. The ambulance, a public facility, only responded after we provided a bribe to transport the patient. After an exhausting day of working in harsh conditions, we finally wrapped up camp. And though we were hungry, wet, and tired, as we piled onto our bus and headed back to our hotel, we saw the last of our patients walking home in the darkness.

As our camp continued, I experienced the beauty and resilience of each community we served. I learned that kindness, regardless of wherever you are from, is a universal language. As I helped with crowd control for the dental team, I quickly realized that if you gave an inch of kindness to the patients, they would give you a mile. I, along with the other volunteers, passed out stickers, while the patients taught me Swahili as they waited in line. These patients also helped me keep track of the order of new patients and served as translators as well. One of the patients even helped calm one of the children down. Another woman, who was terrified of an extraction, held my hand during the entire procedure and confided in me that she had lost her five year old son earlier that year from malnutrition. I wish I could’ve been able to take away her pain, but all I could do was hold her hand.

As I reflect back on my time in East Africa, I realize that people like this young electrical engineer and the other patients who volunteered to help as translators, will be the ones to change their community — not us. They are the ones who will make a lasting difference. They are the ones that will inspire future doctors, nurses, and leaders to return and serve.

Despite these challenges, the experience was incredibly humbling and fulfilling. I met some of the most beautiful people in the world. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve and learn from such an indomitable community. My journey volunteering at medical camps across Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania has been profoundly transformative. I’ve witnessed the strength and grace of communities facing immense healthcare challenges as well as the enduring impact of compassionate care. This experience has underscored the importance of global solidarity in addressing healthcare disparities and promoting human dignity across the world.

As I look back on the dusty roads, the crowded tents, and the faces of gratitude, I am reminded that small acts of kindness can create significant change. Whether it’s donating to local health initiatives, volunteering time, or simply spreading awareness, we all have a role to play in creating a healthier, more equitable world. I invite you to join me in taking action. Explore volunteer opportunities in your community or consider supporting organizations that work tirelessly to improve healthcare access worldwide. Together, we can make a difference — one patient, one community, at a time.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Let’s continue to strive for a world where everyone has access to the healthcare they deserve. Asante Sana (Thank you in Swahili).

A special thanks to Dr. Keaton Daya, Krishna Samy, and Dr. Priya Panneerselvam for sharing their stories and experiences from this medical camp. I am deeply grateful to all the patients and volunteers I met, who have inspired me with their courage and love. Additionally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to Haran Balaram, Dr. Gopal Panneerselvam, & Dr. Nirupa Shah for their invaluable feedback and support in shaping this piece.