VIM medical team ministry takes on next level

Workshop Nov. 16

An important workshop for medical Volunteers In Mission (VIM) teams will be held Nov. 16 in Oklahoma City to promote the Community-Based Primary Health Care (CBPHC) model of ministry.

This participatory workshop will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Woodworth Room at the United Methodist Ministry Center, 1501 N.W. 24th St.

"Our medical mission teams have done so much good work over the years, but we have felt that communities that rely on our presence to obtain health services are left extremely vulnerable after our teams depart," said Director Jeremy Basset in the Oklahoma Conference Office of Mission, which includes VIM ministry.

"CBPHC addresses this issue by providing a model for the community to take ownership of their health needs," he explained, "and we provide support, training, and encouragement through our teams’ presence."

The workshop will be under the leadership of Cherian Thomas, who previously worked internationally with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief). He headed the agency’s global health desk and was responsible for implementation of community-based health care systems in locations around the world.

Dr. Thomas now works with the Office of Mission. Beyond this workshop, he also is available to advise any VIM medical team wanting to make a deeper and long-lasting impact through its missions.

OKVIM also is working with a number of mission sites that use this health care model or want to develop it.

"We strongly encourage our current team leaders, and anyone wanting to explore either leading a medical team or including this as part of your team’s activities, to join us for this workshop," said Rev. Basset.

Topics will include a history of Community-Based Primary Health Care, social determinants of health, components of this model, success stories of the model, and strategies for medical VIMs to develop CBPHC initiatives.

Workshop fee, $10, includes lunch, a time for further discussion and engagement with Dr. Thomas.

Register with Kristin Terrell-Wilkes in the OKVIM office, kterrell-wilkes@okumc.org,  405-530-2029.