Today completes our first month in Honduras. We have had an opportunity to be exposed to various environments where we carry out our volunteer duties. These range from small clinics in high-risk areas of Tegucigalpa to meetings with partners in the Human Papilloma Vaccination Project (ministry of health, national vaccination program, local cancer society, etc) and teaching and some clinical duties at the teaching hospital (Hosital Escuela) which is the de-facto tertiary care referral center for the country. The medical personnel is excellent and very dedicated. The resources are very limited. There is so much to do! I have begun developing some projects with my colleagues at the hospital.
On some days of the week I walk to the hospital in the morning (<6:30am) so I can be there for meetings and rounds by 7am. There I get to work with students, interns, residents, my colleagues and the nursing staff. In the hospital a parent is always with a child and parents actively participate in the care of the children. They are truly healthcare extenders.
On other days we travel to some of the community clinics (some located in high-risk areas) and Elsa teaches diabetes care while I review some aspects of early diagnosis in children.
We fortunately are living in a quiet part of the city. Because of necessary security precautions, we limit our activity and travels to when we can be accompanied by those who know the area better. The family in whose property we are living has been very kind to us.
Over the past week Honduras been affected by some tragic happenings: a prison fire that led to the death of >350 persons and a fire that destroyed several markets in the city that led to the loss of livelihood for several thousands. However, perhaps the more severe tragedies are those of the families I encounter in the hospital. They continue to teach me faith, hope and acceptance.
On some days of the week I walk to the hospital in the morning (<6:30am) so I can be there for meetings and rounds by 7am. There I get to work with students, interns, residents, my colleagues and the nursing staff. In the hospital a parent is always with a child and parents actively participate in the care of the children. They are truly healthcare extenders.
On other days we travel to some of the community clinics (some located in high-risk areas) and Elsa teaches diabetes care while I review some aspects of early diagnosis in children.
We fortunately are living in a quiet part of the city. Because of necessary security precautions, we limit our activity and travels to when we can be accompanied by those who know the area better. The family in whose property we are living has been very kind to us.
Over the past week Honduras been affected by some tragic happenings: a prison fire that led to the death of >350 persons and a fire that destroyed several markets in the city that led to the loss of livelihood for several thousands. However, perhaps the more severe tragedies are those of the families I encounter in the hospital. They continue to teach me faith, hope and acceptance.
Sometimes children come in bunches.......like 4 at a time
