A firefighter and emergency medical technician is preparing for a mission trip to Rwanda where he and a team of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals will provide medical care to the people living in impoverished communities.
Josh Collins, a firefighter with the Franklin Fire Department who previously worked as an emergency medical technician for Seals Ambulance, is raising money for the 10-day mission trip at the end of May through the nonprofit International Medical Relief.
The team will spend their time visiting several communities where they will provide basic medical treatment. Primary medical needs in the area are infectious disease, wound treatment and mosquito and waterborne illnesses, he said. They will also be training local health care workers and educating communities on topics, such as first aid, clean water and treating simple ailments.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryCollins is seeking to raise $5,000, which will cover his transportation, lodging, medical equipment and supplies for the trip.
If he doesn’t meet the goal by a May 10 deadline, he wouldn’t be able to go, but the funds will still be given to International Medical Relief, he said.
Collins said his desire to help people and better his community is what initially drew him into public service and also inspired him to want to help others abroad.
“I never saw myself doing anything else but public service,” he said. “Ten years ago, I fell in love with the EMS and fire side.”
Collins began college by studying criminal justice with the intent of becoming a police officer, but a year-and-a-half later, he joined the Marines Corps. After an injury cut his military career short and he received a medical discharge, Collins started studying to become an emergency medical technician.
Collins worked as an EMT for about eight years, first working in Hendricks County before Franklin. He joined the Franklin Fire Department after completing firefighter training about two-and-a-half years ago.
The idea of going on a mission trip where he could put his medical skills to use had been on Collins’ mind for a while, but finding time off for it proved challenging. About a week ago, while researching various trips, he found one sponsored by International Medical Relief to Rwanda which coincided with vacation time he would have with the fire department.
The nonprofit sponsors trips of medical professionals to countries and communities in dire need of basic medical services.
Training before the trip will include learning about Rwanda’s culture, as well as weekly calls with the rest of the team to get to know each other prior to the trip. Once in Rwanda, translators will be on hand to help with any language barriers, Collins said.
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Want to help?
Josh Collins has set up a website to collect donations. He is seeking to raise $5,000 by May 10 to cover transportation, lodging and medical supply costs.
Visit <a href="http://www.gofundme.com/rwanda-medical-relief-trip">www.gofundme.com/rwanda-medical-relief-trip</a>
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