Maleny medic is taking medicine to Mongolia
Next month Mr Brown will take part in a humanitarian medical project, swapping his clinic for a traditional Mongolian yurt, to provide medical care for those who can not afford to pay.
With no idea what is in store, Mr Brown said he was excited about the overseas mission.
"In Mongolia, only those who can pay are eligible for hospital care, so a huge proportion of disadvantaged people have nowhere to turn for medical assistance," he said.
"Because a lot of the people are nomads, they don't have much money - they have a big herd of goats and make do.
"People put up with their illnesses."
During the volunteer project, organised by the Gaden Relief Foundation, Mr Brown will live in a traditional yurt and work from a Russian-built army truck that has been converted into a mobile medical clinic.
Mr Brown will work with his Canadian colleague, physician and acupuncturist Dr Candace Cole to provide western and Chinese medicine to locals and nomads in the remote northern village of Umnudelger.
The people of Umnudelger are very poor and living conditions are extremely harsh with temperatures dropping to more than 40°C below zero.
There are few roads and food is scarce, especially for the nomads.
In the past decade there have been a number of winters during which the temperatures have dropped to almost 50°C below zero, leading to massive stock losses and taking a terrible toll on the locals.
"There will be very limited resources and we expect to have to make do and improvise a lot," Mr Brown said.
The project is 100% voluntary and Mr Brown is calling for donations from the local community to help with costs, including airfares and equipment.
To donate visit http://www.heart7.com.au/ mongolia-2013 or call Anthony on 5435 2555.
You can also follow the project on Facebook athttp://www.facebook.com/sunshinecoasttomongolia.
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