Our team of three US physicians, one Romanian physician, two US nurses, one US pre-med student, and one spouse assistant held clinics in chapels, schools, and private homes throughout rural Tulcea County. We were supported by Mihai of Sprijin Fara Frontiere, who provided student interpreters, clinic coordination, lodging, and expert navigation through the sometimes narrow and shallow canals of the Danube Delta.
During our first three days we traveled by boat to the villages of Letea, Periprava, and Chilia Veche. Notably, just weeks before our arrival, a Russian drone shot down by Ukraine had exploded into the Danube at Chilia Veche. Residents reported that rattling windows from explosions across the river are not uncommon, though the community appeared remarkably calm.
Letea and Periprava have no resident healthcare providers. It was gratifying to hold our clinic in Letea’s newly constructed clinic building, completed since our visit last year. The population of these villages — which declined sharply after the fall of communism — continues to age and shrink. Residents were warmly grateful for medical consultations, diabetes and hypertension screening, and generously opened their homes to us for lodging, many of which lack indoor plumbing. As in prior years, Valentin, a local teacher, served as our invaluable coordinator, guide, and driver.
Returning to our base in Tulcea City, we traveled by van to the villages of Mihai Bravu, Nicolae Bălescu, and Peceneaga.
As in previous missions to Romania and elsewhere, we encountered numerous cases of undiagnosed diabetes and hypertension, as well as many patients with known but poorly controlled conditions. This year we noted a higher-than-usual number of villagers presenting with critically elevated blood pressure and glucose levels. We strongly urged these individuals to seek immediate local follow-up care, as our team’s capacity to intervene with medications and other treatments in the field is limited.
Our OTC medication supply allowed us to assist many patients with musculoskeletal pain, allergies, and dermatitis. We continued our emphasis on patient education regarding healthy diet and lifestyle modification.
As always, we encountered cases with suspected cardiovascular disease, possible malignancy, and other conditions requiring further evaluation. For each of these patients we outlined recommended next steps and stressed the importance of pursuing local follow-up care.
We are deeply grateful to our donors and supporters who make these missions possible. It is our sincere hope that through early detection, education, and compassionate care we are helping prevent premature death and disability in these underserved communities.