Global Health Nonprofit Puts Boots to the Ground With Floating Doctors

For nearly a decade, Parasites Without Borders has worked with Floating Doctors, a global nonprofit dedicated to reducing the burden of disease in the developing world and promoting improvements in healthcare delivery worldwide. Just this year, Parasites Without Borders has raised $20,000 for Floating Doctors – donating hundreds of thousands of dollars overall. Dr. Daniel Griffin, Parasites Without Borders Co-Founder and President, recently returned from working in Panama, helping to create mobile clinics and holding seminars and training opportunities for medical staff.

“I’ve been volunteering with Floating Doctors since 2017,” says Dr. Griffin. “This year, I traveled with my daughter to local communities in Central America, including Shark Hole, Valle Escondido, and Cerro Brujo. These are remote, difficult-to-access villages, which makes accessible healthcare a challenge. The team took care of close to 100 individuals per day, treating respiratory infections, diarrheal disease, skin diseases and, unfortunately, some pregnancy complications. We also saw several instances of significant childhood malnutrition and stunting. There continues to be a high burden of disease and high childhood mortality.”

Dr. Griffin continues, “Cataracts and pterygium were common in the communities, as most work in the sun and on the water. Unfortunately, access to an ophthalmologist in the region is extremely limited. Floating Doctors is preparing to host a large group of ophthalmologists later this summer to perform an estimated 200 cataract and pterygium surgeries.”

Floating Doctors offers programs for doctors, nurses, dentists, and other healthcare workers to volunteer their time and talents to residents in communities throughout Panama. The organization’s goals include providing free acute and preventative healthcare services, facilitating community development and capacity initiatives, reducing child and maternal mortality, promoting healthcare improvement worldwide, and more. Learn more at floatingdoctors.com.