Healthcare for Families Isolated in Appalachia.

In the coal-fields of southwest Virginia, access to healthcare is very limited. ATD Fourth World in Appalachia has worked with Remote Area Medical (RAM) since it first came to Wise County in 1999 at the initiative of Sister Bernie Kenny. RAM takes place in this remote area one weekend every summer and brings free healthcare and medical exams to over 2000 people.Scott Nobbe spent several months working with ATD Fourth World and learning about the ATD Fourth World Volunteer Corps and projects around the United States. Natalie has been an ally of ATD Fourth World for many years. She spent several weeks this summer supporting the team in Appalachia as well. She writes about some of the people she interacted with at RAM and how each person, including 8 year-old Micah, has something important to contribute. Read their discoveries and reflections on this community event!

Scott’s reflections and discoveries

RAM’s mission, as advertised on their website, is to prevent pain and alleviate suffering. ATD Fourth World holds a vision of a world without poverty, where everyone has equal opportunity to access all human rights. RAM is international as is ATD Fourth World. RAM’s founder, Stan Brock began trying to address the needless pain and suffering caused by the lack of healthcare in impoverished, underserved, and isolated areas. ATD Fourth World founder, Joseph Wresinski, began by trying to address the needless pain and suffering of 250 families placed in an emergency housing camp. And both entities are constantly on the move.This annual event is more than just a three day “pop up” medical clinic that takes place in five different Virginia counties each year. RAM’s yearly event in Wise, Virginia sees thousands of local citizens who rely on the no-cost clinic for all of their health care needs. The ATD Fourth Word Appalachia team’s involvement from setup to tear down continues to be an important aspect of its ongoing presence, primarily as an act of service to RAM and to the people they serve over the course of the clinic.Because I was present throughout the week of setting up, I was fortunate to witness the steady progression and transformation that took place at the site through the assistance of many different groups from different parts of Virginia and from across the country. I met people from as far away as New Mexico specifically here to help out in whatever capacity was necessary because they believed in what RAM was doing. I lost count of the amount of tents we put up to be used by the medical teams or just to provide shelter from the sun for those waiting to be seen. Each day, more RAM trucks, trailers and RV’s arrived and positioned themselves strategically within the county fairground setting. And peppered throughout the grounds were organizations promoting various health products, offering health seminars, providing tests for one disease or another or giving away goods such as clothing or hygiene products. There was even a spiritual revival taking place the entire time.This is what I discovered. I discovered that the need is excessive both in number and the extent of the services requested. I discovered that after all the medical services were completed RAM registered 2111 patients and provided just over $2.1 million in services. Some of those registered slept in their cars the night before as they drove several hours for the event. And I discovered just how important it was for the medical volunteers to be here to witness the need. As one dental volunteer stated, “All one needs to do is come to one of these clinics and they will see there is something seriously wrong with healthcare in America.”Throughout the clinic as I interacted with children and adults who came to our modest tent in the midst of all the hustle and bustle, I was reminded, as I am with each ATD Fourth World engagement, that we are not in the habit of judging, or making comparisons. Rather, wherever we are, we believe we are doing good because we treat all people as unique persons who have something to offer, we provide a safe place for mutual and meaningful dialogue and we find ways to promote the person within. These are the intangibles that bring dignity and respect to those whom both RAM and ATD Fourth World serve.

Natalie’s observations and lesson learned

Among the people who had slept in their cars the day before medical exams began, there was 8 year-old Micah. His great-grandmother had brought him all the way from Tennessee to get him glasses. I met Micah when he and his great-grandmother sat down with us at ATD Fourth World’s tent, apparently happy to see faces that they recognized from previous years. Young Micah asked to make a rubber band bracelet that he delicately placed around his great-grandmother’s wrist. He then offered to help another woman passing by who asked where book bags were being given out. He took the time to lead her across the entire fairground, going at her pace, which was quite slow as she was using a walker.Seeing these great family relationships and the many ways in which people support each other during the RAM event made it clear to me that, in addition to necessary healthcare, we all need to feel useful and connected to one another.