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.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Sunday, March 29, 2015
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.
Saturday, March 28, 2015
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.
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.
Friday, March 27, 2015
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.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
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.
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.
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
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.
Monday, March 23, 2015
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!
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