In
1994, LaRelle Catherman, cofounder of MEDRIX, traveled to Hue, Vietnam to conduct research
of Vietnamese parents' understanding of home treatment
for diarrhea, while also working alongside the Vietnamese physicians
and nurses who routinely treated children with diarrhea. In
emerging countries worldwide, diarrhea is a major cause of
death for children 5 years old and younger. According to the
World Health Organization and UNICEF, approximately 9,000
children worldwide die daily from diarrhea or
diarrhea-related
diseases, and 80% of these children live in
Southeast Asia.
During the research it quickly became evident that most children
suffer from diarrhea due to lack of safe water. Contaminated
water sources and water borne diseases are at the root of
many diseases worldwide. This is why Bob Catherman, cofounder
of MEDRIX, a meteorologist, computer specialist, and businessman,
took on the challenge to find a method of providing drinkable water. He, along with many MEDRIX volunteers, began collaborating
with United States and Southeast Asian provincial leaders
to develop an affordable, maintainable, and sustainable water treatment system.
By
1997, teams of US volunteers started traveling to Southeast
Asia providing medical resources, medical and English education, health clinic refurbishments,
and water treatment resources. In 2000, the MEDRIX Board of Directors
and Advisory committee were officially formed and in November
2002, MEDRIX received official NGO (Non-Government Organization)
Licensure to operate in Vietnam. Presently, volunteer physicians,
nurses, health educators, water
specialists, native English speakers, and others are joining
MEDRIX to make a difference in Southeast Asia .
In
1994, LaRelle Catherman, cofounder of MEDRIX, traveled to Hue, Vietnam to conduct research
of Vietnamese parents' understanding of home treatment
for diarrhea, while also working alongside the Vietnamese physicians
and nurses who routinely treated children with diarrhea. In
emerging countries worldwide, diarrhea is a major cause of
death for children 5 years old and younger. According to the
World Health Organization and UNICEF, approximately 9,000
children worldwide die daily from diarrhea or
By
1997, teams of US volunteers started traveling to Southeast
Asia providing medical resources, medical and English education, health clinic refurbishments,
and water treatment resources. In 2000, the MEDRIX Board of Directors
and Advisory committee were officially formed and in November
2002, MEDRIX received official NGO (Non-Government Organization)
Licensure to operate in Vietnam. Presently, volunteer physicians,
nurses, health educators, water
specialists, native English speakers, and others are joining
MEDRIX to make a difference in Southeast Asia .