When people imagine a medical mission trip, they often picture doctors in scrubs delivering babies or performing life-saving surgeries in remote clinics. But for Dr. Melvin Seid, OBHG Market Medical director, OB hospitalist and longtime volunteer with the nonprofit Kybele, the work looks a little different—and a lot more sustainable.
For nearly two decades, Dr. Seid has partnered with Kybele, a global nonprofit focused on improving maternal and neonatal health in low-resource countries. His recent trip to Ghana exemplifies the organization’s core mission: to build long-term partnerships that foster systemic change rather than temporary aid.
A different kind of mission work
Rather than providing short-term care, Kybele empowers local health systems to improve outcomes through training, quality improvement initiatives, and collaborative innovation. Dr. Seid, who also serves as Kybele’s treasurer and a board member, traveled to Ghana to support the expansion of two major initiatives in partnership with the Ghana Health Service: The Obstetric Triage Implementation Program and the Making Every Baby Count Initiative (MEBCI).
Improving triage to save mothers’ lives
One major challenge in Ghana’s maternity care system was an outdated triage system that relied on a first-come, first-served approach, often delaying care for critically ill patients. Kybele’s solution? A simple yet transformative color-coded triage system based on vital signs and chief complaints, implemented with hands-on training tools—including cloth facility diagrams and handmade African dolls.
The program’s effectiveness earned a $1 million grant to expand to regional hospitals, and it was adopted as a national standard across 73 hospitals in Ghana. Dr. Seid’s mission included visiting these hospitals, evaluating outcomes, and identifying ongoing needs for scaling the program.
Making every baby count
Kybele’s second major project, MEBCI, aims to reduce neonatal mortality by teaching birth attendants essential newborn care through modules like “Helping Babies Breathe.” While early versions of the program improved outcomes in smaller hospitals, larger facilities saw a rise in neonatal mortality—a sign that more babies were surviving long enough to need higher-level care, which those hospitals were not equipped to provide.
In response, MEBCI 2.0 was launched with over $1 million in funding from the Children’s Investment Fund Foundation to strengthen neonatal intensive care capabilities. Dr. Seid’s role was to conduct site visits, assess needs, and meet with funding partners to support this critical evolution in newborn care.
Training the trainers: The key to sustainability
Central to Kybele’s model is the “train-the-trainer” approach. Rather than relying on external providers, the organization equips local champions to train others, creating a ripple effect of knowledge and care improvement. This ensures that even after the mission team departs, the impact remains.
A broader global vision
Ghana is just one of 15 countries where Kybele has forged partnerships, with active programs currently in the Balkans and, prior to the war, in Ukraine. Each country presents unique challenges—like the lack of anesthesiologists in Mongolia that limits safe cesarean sections—but the organization adapts its model to meet local realities.
A personal calling
For Dr. Seid, the work is deeply personal. “Helping people goes beyond your immediate community,” he reflected. “This approach builds capacity and sustainability, which is far more fulfilling than a one-time intervention.”
As Kybele continues its mission, physicians like Dr. Seid are proving that sustainable change is possible—one triage band, one training session, one baby at a time.
Interested in making a difference—locally and globally?
The OBHG Medical Missions Steering Committee is always looking for passionate, service-minded individuals to join us in our work. Whether it’s coordinating outreach projects, supporting global missions, or helping us award scholarships that empower clinicians to live out their faith through service, there’s a place for you at the table.
Want to learn more or get involved? Reach out—we’d love to have you join us!