By Emily Umble
Assistant Director of Programs

Brother’s Brother Foundation Med-Surg Trip gift-in-kind donations reach some of the most remote areas of the world. BBF partners with medical groups traveling abroad to lead or partake in medical clinics, surgical procedures, and outreach, offering a variety of services from primary care to specialized treatments. Med-Surg aid can be in the form of medicines and/or surgical instruments, and careful management of these donations allows groups to hand-carry all items via suitcases on their overseas travels. BBF works with trip organizers who represent 501(c)(3) registered organizations, and Med-Surg Trips are typically led by healthcare professionals such as nurses, physicians, surgeons, dentists, optometrists, and more. BBF support starts by assessing each group’s GIK needs and continues through reviewing Med-Surg Trip reports.

One such Med-Surg Trip report was received from Power of a Nickel following one of their many trips to Guyana in 2025. This trip was being led by Dr. Robert Mahaffey with a strong establishment of partners in the village of Onderneeming in the Essequibo region of Guyana, including 2 general practice physicians, an optometrist, nurse, and pharmacist. In collaboration with the Guyanese healthcare professionals, Dr. Mahaffey was prepared to provide primary care services (with a focus on hypertension and diabetes screenings) and preventive health education for patients, as well as medical training, such as point of care ultrasound (POCUS), for local healthcare professionals.

The Power of a Nickel team completed a week-long pop-up clinic in a church within a rural area of Onderneeming, fulfilling the commitment of providing medical, dental, and vison care for 560 patients, along with public health education and medical training.

BBF was able to supply this group with several bottles of Amlodipine/Atorvastatin tablets, indicated for treatment of hypertension, coronary artery disease, and high cholesterol, allowing Dr. Mahaffey and healthcare partners to administer the necessary treatment following patient screenings.

Since 2022, BB has supported 4 Power of Nickel Med-Surg Trips to Guyana and Democratic Republic of the Congo. In 2025, BBF provided aid for 19 Med-Surg trips, covering 12 different countries.

Medical groups traveling abroad can request BBF Med-Surg aid by contacting the main office at 412.321.3160.