It was a great feeling for MEDICO to be able to take its first full team back to Honduras, post-COVID. The team of 12 from the states, in addition to 7 in-country volunteer medical professionals and interpreters, picked up where they left off almost 2 years ago, spending 5 days serving the community of Auka, Gracias a Dios, located along the eastern Mosquito Coast. An extra overnight and plane flight, the long truck ride to our work location, the crossing of several precarious makeshift bridges, the supply truck getting stuck in the mud, sleeping in mosquito tents on the floor of a church, having no electricity, and the continual heavy rains to contend with, didn’t stop the enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers to “give all they had” to provide necessary medical and dental care.
In addition, 100 people can now read more clearly, see better to sew, or fix their fishing nets because of the 100 pairs of reading glasses that were distributed. Nearly 200 young women received hygiene kits including factual and important information about a healthy perception of menstrual health. To the delight of the volunteers, 50 handmade dresses and shorts were provided to needy young girls and boys. Over 680 patients were assessed in the medical clinic and 235 patients in the dental clinic received fluoride treatments, necessary extractions, and fillings.
Our team’s purpose was more than providing medical care to a remote community; it was being there with the people, spending time learning about and experiencing their challenges of daily living, showing that we care, and giving them hope that they are not a forgotten people. MEDICO is grateful for the team’s service and share many kudos to a super wonderful group of volunteers!!!
It was a great feeling for MEDICO to be able to take its first full team back to Honduras, post-COVID. The team of 12 from the states, in addition to 7 in-country volunteer medical professionals and interpreters, picked up where they left off almost 2 years ago, spending 5 days serving the community of Auka, Gracias a Dios, located along the eastern Mosquito Coast. An extra overnight and plane flight, the long truck ride to our work location, the crossing of several precarious makeshift bridges, the supply truck getting stuck in the mud, sleeping in mosquito tents on the floor of a church, having no electricity, and the continual heavy rains to contend with, didn’t stop the enthusiasm and commitment of the volunteers to “give all they had” to provide necessary medical and dental care.
In addition, 100 people can now read more clearly, see better to sew, or fix their fishing nets because of the 100 pairs of reading glasses that were distributed. Nearly 200 young women received hygiene kits including factual and important information about a healthy perception of menstrual health. To the delight of the volunteers, 50 handmade dresses and shorts were provided to needy young girls and boys. Over 680 patients were assessed in the medical clinic and 235 patients in the dental clinic received fluoride treatments, necessary extractions, and fillings.
Our team’s purpose was more than providing medical care to a remote community; it was being there with the people, spending time learning about and experiencing their challenges of daily living, showing that we care, and giving them hope that they are not a forgotten people. MEDICO is grateful for the team’s service and share many kudos to a super wonderful group of volunteers!!!
If you’re interested in joining a future team or donating to support the work of our volunteers, we invite you to visit the MEDICO website at www.medico.org.
