In the farthest reach of east Honduras lies the community of Uhi. It is a string of settlements along a narrow, sandy spit. The Atlantic Ocean is to the east. The Laguna de Caratasca, a broad, shallow bay, lies to the west. Uhi is a 20-mile open water crossing and a mile-long hike from Puerto Lempira, the nearest airstrip and hospital. More than five years ago, the residents of Uhi asked MEDICO to come help. They needed medical care and help repairing their clinic and school. People in Puerto Lempira told us that Uhi was too far away, that it was too dangerous.
MEDICO went anyway.
MEDICO found a wonderful community of people eager to pitch in and build, if only they had a hand. For more than 5 years now, MEDICO has returned annually with doctors, dentists, and nurses. We helped rebuild their clinic, their school, and most recently, a building for a kindergarten.
Thoughts shared by UHI team leader, Mike DeLeo
Arriving two days ahead of the team, I was able to secure supplies, prepare the gear, prepare the boat, and shop for provisions before the team’s arrival the next day. The team arrived and immediately got to work preparing for their ride across the lagoon in a motorized canoe to the village of Uhi.
As we approached the entrance to Uhi, a small channel marked only by a stick and large beds of lily pads, a crowd of villagers including the entire school student body, were eagerly waiting with cheers, welcome signs, and a motorcycle, all ready to help unload the boat and transport the hundreds of pounds of medical and personal gear, food and medicine, to the school which was still about 1 mile walk away from the dock.
After the gear was accounted for, team volunteers began preparing the rooms for the medical and dental clinics that would open for business early the next morning. The clinic rooms were set up for a pharmacy, a dental clinic with its suction units and sterilization area, doctor and interpreter assessment stations, and privacy area for ultrasounds. One room was arranged for a small ER/triage and treatment area complete with a wound care station.
The team was invited to the new Kindergarten center MEDICO had helped build. A ribbon had been placed across the doors and the MEDICO team was privileged to witness the official opening.
Morning comes early in Uhi, often from the roosters that don’t seem to care if it is morning or night. Their calls drift along the breeze as does the salt air and humidity. On some days the 4am alarm calling for worship is sounded and the church directly across from the clinic is filled with worship and song expressing the deep connection and conviction much the village holds in their faith. It is quite evident that this time of gathering provides continued hope for the community as it faces good and challenging times.
It was a busy week, seeing patients who walked up to 5 hours to reach the team – 368 medical patients and 203 dental patients. The patients included severe infections, fractures, anemia, respiratory and GI illness. In the middle of it all, a frantic women rushed in with a crying one-year-old child who had fallen into a fire, suffering severe burns. While the medical team treated the child, they spoke to the schoolteacher, who spoke to the villagers, who spoke to a police officer in the area and, in a short time, a Honduran Navy vessel arrived off the ocean beach.
Due to the size of the naval vessel and its inability to near the shore – we had to wade through the surf and climb into a small Uhi village fishing boat with the baby and parents while the villagers pushed us out deep enough to start the motor and push through the surf into open water where we met the boat. As we transferred the baby and parents across the gunwales of the boats into the arms of the naval crew, I gave a report of the little one’s status, our concerns and the importance of expeditious transport to the doctors at the Puerto Lempira hospital. And off they went. The medical team went back to work.
Typically, as team leader, I have found that there are one or two cases that stand out in my mind at the end of a week of serving. Ones where I truly feel there is no coincidence that the team was right where we needed to be to make a marked difference. From a small girl who amputated her thumb during clinic a few years back, to last year’s precipitous baby delivery requiring ventilation and a group of malnourished septic children.
This year was no exception, as I watched the navy boat leave with that little boy.
As a Battalion chief with over 30 years as a first responder I have worked and participated in the development of many specialty teams. The way this freshly assembled team from all corners of the US was able to work as a cohesive unit was inspiring. From those involved in direct care of the injured child to those continuing to see patients, fill prescriptions and keep the clinic going was remarkable and literally filled my heart with joy. This was why we were here. This was MEDICO in action, this was a village of engaged citizens working for each other and for their future. No politics, race, or religion … just human kindness.
