135 Patients Today and Counting ...

The team assisted 135 patients this morning, and Dennis estimates they'll probably see another 50 by the end of the day. The patients included many elderly community members and their families.

The team treated all of the patients for parasites and gave them toothbrushes and toothpaste. Skin conditions and allergies were among the top ailments treated today.

On the travel front, the team has decided to head back to Copan Ruinas one day early due to concerns about road conditions after all of the rain they've been getting. They'll be leaving Las Mercedes tomorrow morning.

Palm Sunday

Most of the group attended Palm Sunday mass today with villagers and those from other nearby towns and villages. “The whole community goes to church on Sunday,” says Dr. Dennis Clements.

After church, as expected, the clinic staff and Duke visitors saw upwards of 120 patients, who presented with a variety of maladies. There was another machete injury, not surprising given that there is no modern machinery available to help with clearing land or paths, harvesting small crops or other chores. Respiratory illnesses and skin problems were among the other conditions that the medical staff treated today.

According to Dr. Clements, “Everyone is doing a really good job.” A couple of the Duke students have had a slight stomach bug that required a half day or so of rest, but now the group is back at full strength.

Machete injuries not often seen at Duke Hospital

Saturday brought light rain and more than 60 patients into the clinic. Two of those patients presented with machete injuries, one so severe he required hospitalization.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday and the group will go together to the village church. Dr. Clements expects the clinic will see a lot of patients tomorrow because people often stay in the village after church to visit the clinic.

The group wishes the Duke mens basketball game all the best in its game against Gonzaga tomorrow night!

All continues to go well with everyone getting a wonderful mix of clinical and cultural experiences high in the mountains of Honduras.

On the mountain

According to Dr. Dennis Clements, all is going well. The weather is warm and the group is slowly adjusting to the change in altitude. The clinic sits at 5,000 feet above sea level, so after transporting everything to the clinic site on Thursday, unpacking and organizing, the group was feeling the effects of the altitude and everyone went to bed at 7 p.m.

The staff at the clinic see a wide variety of patients and conditions. Patients range in age from six months to 72 years old. Dr. Clements reports that many of the clinic visits are what you would expect at an outpatient clinic. Clinic staff are, however, seeing a lot of upper respiratory infections and there seems to be an epidemic of rotavirus infections in the surrounding community. They work to make sure patients suffering from the latter are given sufficient fluids. If patients become dehydrated, they must be admitted to the hospital.

Attempts to send a photo from the mountain have proven unsuccessful. Stay tuned for the next update Sunday evening, technology willing.

Hello Las Mercedes Clinic!

The team arrived safely to the Las Mercedes clinic at around 5pm today. Stay tuned to see what tomorrow brings!

On the Road to Las Mercedes

Everyone's excited to be heading to the Las Mercedes clinic this morning! Safe travels to the team!

On the way to Las Mercedes, the team is touring the hospital in La Esperanza. Below is a picture of the group visiting the high-risk maternity dormitory. After the tour, they'll head up the mountain to the clinic. They hope to arrive by late afternoon today.

Lunch at Heifer International Retreat House

Dennis and the students enjoy lunch at the Heifer International Retreat House yesterday.

Hello Honduras!

The team arrived safely in Honduras and are working their way through immigration. Once they pick up their luggage (crossing fingers everything made it!), they'll head to a Heifer International retreat house to spend the night and head to the clinic in the morning.

Med and Supply packing day!

         Last Saturday morning the group met on campus to pack all of the medications and hygiene products we will use in the Las Mercedes clinic! Yes, it was early (especially for the med students who were matched on Friday) BUT it was a great time with music, friends, bagels and yes.....COFFEE (a Honduran staple if you didn't know)! One of the highlights of the day was receiving the generous gift of over $5,000 worth of lotions, shampoos, conditioners and chapsticks from Burt's Bees!!! Now the good people of Las Mercedes will have everyone's favorite brand of chapstick and the much needed medications and hygiene products  we will use to treat medical problems and promote health. Here are a few pictures from that day:

 Packing meds in ziplock bags and making inventory lists!

Sorting empty syringes while listening to Latin Pop Pandora

 

Each of these bags held close to fifty pounds of meds and supplies!

A few of the many boxes from Burt's Bees!

 

We are very blessed and excited for this trip! Texts are flying around about last minute packing details and designating who will bring the toilet paper, who will bring bug spray and who will bring wipes! Stay tuned for more updates as this will be our mode of communication over the next ten days!

thank you Dr. Keels for more toothbrushes for our families.

We are about to leave to see the wonderful people in Las Mercedes Honduras.  The bags are packed and there is excitement in the air.  WE will keep everyone posted.  Dr. C