In September of 2024, a MEDICO brigade of medical, dental, and vision professionals, local staff and interpreters crossed the open waters of the Caratasca Lagoon extending out from Puerto Lempira on the northeast coast of Honduras. Our US team had assembled without incident, arriving from all parts of the US to meet up with Honduran counterparts, and then we all headed to the indigenous village of Laka Tabila. Forty-five minutes later, we entered the quiet, winding river mangroves that would eventually lead us to our destination. We finally glimpsed the local Catholic church, set out on a vast savannah in the center of the village. A dozen school-age uniformed children were waiting to help us unload all our gear and take us to the village. An advance MEDICO team had already brought much of the medical gear and provisions a few days earlier, so we spent the rest of the day setting up our “clinic” within the church itself.
Laka Tabila, like most villages in this region of Honduras, rarely have the chance to see a doctor or a dentist. As in previous years, hundreds of inhabitants of Laka Tabila and other villages within a 4-6 hour walk began to show up for medical, dental and vision needs the next day. Over the next three days we would attend to nearly 800 patients seeking care.
While medical complaints often centered on parasitic and digestive system issues, others required diagnosis of infections, chronic pain, fevers, severe dehydration and significant diseases and deformities. Urgent care treatment was provided as needed, and our makeshift pharmacy dispensed needed medications and vitamins.
Those with dental complaints were largely not interested in a filling or other restorative work, and our Honduran dentist worked long hours to extract well over a hundred painful and diseased teeth. Reading and distance-vision glasses were also most welcome, as our experienced optometrist brought quick smiles to those able again to see clearly and sew, read and tie fishing knots.
We were so thankful to our Honduran volunteers that translated Miskito into Spanish or English as needed, and we were blessed that a surprising number of US professionals also spoke fluent Spanish.
As in past years, the pastor’s wife cooked our meals three times a day. We also enjoyed what one can only call “refreshing” showers from rain-collected reserves. The team slept in tents in the church and outside amid a sky of brilliant stars. Wednesday night saw everyone back in the shelter of the church, as what can only described as a prehistoric thunderstorm lit up the sky for several hours and absolutely drenched the savannah.
The team also offered preventative healthcare, including presentations for young women on menstrual, birth control and prenatal care and fluoride dental treatment for children. Donated hand-made dresses and dolls for young girls were also distributed.
As we wrapped up the trip and headed back across the lagoon Friday afternoon, as soon as we had gotten in our boat to navigate back down the mangroves a sudden squall drenched us for the next 45 minutes. At some point, we gave up trying to stay dry and just enjoyed the feeling of being young kids again dancing in the rain. As soon as we entered the giant lagoon, however, the sun came out and we enjoyed a calm final leg back to Puerta Lempira.
Story as shared by team leader, Bob Lacy
