Global First Responder

Global Dr. Adam Beckett, Attending Physician and Director of International Medicine, University of Missouri Hospital and Clinics, Attending Physician, Harry S. Truman VMS, consults with a Resident Physician from U of Missiouri Hospital in the Philippines, 2024.
 
First Responder advocates for healthcare delivery and equity globally, community health education, disaster relief efforts and sustainability projects. Welcoming volunteers of all skill sets, Global First Responder has teams of more than just medical professionals. We often have construction teams that work on the ground to provide sustainable projects such as building schools, creating clean water infrastructure and clinic design and we build water treatment facilities capable of cleaning 10,000 gallons of water per day.  We use local engineers and labor for the water treatment installations improving the local economy and building local skills.  Solar panels used for the project contribute electricity to the entire village.   The bleach makers bring micro-businesses to women's groups, adding to the benefits of the greatest benefit of all, clean water and better health. 

Our volunteers include medical professionals, home builders, dentists, published authors, medical students, nursing students, medical residents, mental health professionals, public health professionals, paramedics, tradesmen, teachers, parents, grandparents, US military heroes, firefighters, police officers, office workers, and more!  We strive to In 2023, GFR undertook construction of a 2000sf community center in the Peruvian Amazon.  the building is dedicated to the memories of Chuck Graham, State Senator and staunch advocate for patients with disabilities, and Jason Cook, Humanitarian and Entrepreneurkeep the cost to our team volunteers under $1000 (just their room, board, transportation, and other small expenses) and we raise funds separately to cover the medicine, supplies, laboratory testing, and dental equipment that we need on each trip.  Our volunteers find joy, new expertise, and a renewed love for their own profession and we want to keep that going.  

To date, Global First Responder has worked in a total of 36 countries to provide positive community-endorsed sustainable infrastructure and healthcare solutions. In the last 5 years we've worked in Moldova with Ukrainian refugees, Senegal with street children, Zambia with children in juvenile facilities and incarcerated men and women, and Turkey for post-earthquake relief in refugee camps.  In Turkey, we provided nPart of a permanent water treatment facility at a school in Zambia, installed in 2023ot only healthcare for their pop-up communities but refrigerators to keep food from spoiling in their food kitchens (where we also helped clean up after meals for 1500 people, 3 times per day).  In Zambia, Senegal, the Philippines, and Peru we've developed on-going, hands-on training programs for midwives and community health workers to decrease maternal and infant mortality.  As you can see, our services are focused yet broad and when we see a need, our organization is empowered to make a difference in people's lives.

GFR believes that everyone has the right to have access to quality healthcare and quality of life and we Special needs children are often seen in clinic by our physicians and dentists, Zambia, 2023choose to live together as One Global World, One Global Family.  We believe that volunteering makes a difference - which is why everyone at GFR is a volunteer and 100% of your donations go directly to the people and the communities where it is most needed.  Don't just donate - VOLUNTEER!!Patients in the Philippines (2024) waiting for the dentists, optician, lab, pharmacy and medical care.  The average patient saw 3 different departments.  Children and adults received health education, were able to draw and learn about the local animals of the Philippines, and received flip flops and thermometers to help their family stay healhy.  More than 90 patients received prescription glasses, made to order, at no charge, and delivered directly to the patient after the trip.  300 more patients received reading glasses and an eye checkup.  Dental extracted more than 500 teeth over 5 days.