Submitted by: Adriana Farquharson, International Program Coordinator
National Grateful Patient Day on September 7 provides an opportunity to show appreciation for the hard-working professionals in the medical industry and gratitude toward the families and caregivers of anyone receiving life-giving medical care. It also honors the plight of many patients who are grateful to be alive.
In the last 12 months, Advance has provided significant patient care via surgical trips and primary care brigades:
- Primary care: 2,814
- Dental: 1,105
- Pediatric care: 1,134
- Surgical consultations: 1,062
- Surgeries: 660
TOTAL: 6,775 patients
Alicia, mother of 2-month-old Marco, took her son to see Advance’s primary care brigade team which was visiting her rural Nicaraguan village that week. Marco had developed a fever and had not eaten in four days.
“My biggest challenge is finding home remedies because the health post is far away, and when we do go there, medicines aren’t available or we can’t buy any because we don’t have enough money. I am very grateful and happy because thanks to this service we were able to receive free medical attention and especially medication, since we are poor and cannot afford it. Thank you to Advance for coming to us.”
Alicia is one of thousands that Advance impacts around the world each year through the generosity of our volunteer medical teams, and we can’t thank them enough.
How You Can Observe National Grateful Patient Day
- Show appreciation for a healthcare worker. Call, text, write a note to or visit any of the healthcare workers you know, and let them know how much they are valued. If you’re a patient, say some words of gratitude to your caretaker. Everyone likes to be appreciated so show your appreciation for a healthcare worker today.
- Donate to a healthcare organization. There are several medical and healthcare organizations that are geared toward different causes. Find a cause that resonates with you and donate or volunteer.
- Share a post on social media. Express yourself while educating others about National Grateful Patient Day by sharing appreciation posts or relevant information on your social media. Use the hashtag #GratefulPatient to spread the word.
Read more stories of Advance’s grateful patients on our blog!
