Humanitarian Healthcare Mission Trips
2008 Virginia Hospital Center Medical Brigade Completes Another Highly Successful Mission
The Virginia Hospital Medical Brigade, led by Barry Byer, MD, returned on November 8, 2008 from its 9th annual, week-long mission trip to Comayagua, Honduras. For years the Brigade has continued to expand and improve the efficiency of its health service delivery methods, and this year the 80-member team provided over 8,600 patient services. This included 76 surgeries at the Regional Hospital Santa Teresa, 225 hearing assessments at Fundacion CasAyuda, a center for the disabled in Comayagua, 370 physical therapy services at the Comayagua Rehabilitation Center, 72 amputee evaluations, 3,027 eyeglasses, and 4,865 adult/pediatric primary care services in five isolated villages.
The Brigade’s successful Remote Village Project was initiated two years ago to provide a sustainable healthcare model in isolated areas. Honduran community leaders in two villages were carefully selected and trained as Community Health Workers to treat five of the most common medical conditions in this area. In the last year, these workers provided over 2,000 medical services to their village, with over 90% diagnostic accuracy. There is virtually no access to healthcare in these areas, and the Brigade continues to provide clinical training and supplies to the Community Heath Workers. The goal is to expand this program to other underserved villages.
As an outgrowth of the Remote Village Project, in 2007 the Brigade also embarked on efforts to empower community leaders to improve water and sanitation conditions in these villages, as a direct contribution to the level of overall health. On October 22, 2008, with project management and funding provided by the Brigade, the village of Valle Bonito completed potable water and sanitation projects for their village. The 1,800 residents of this isolated community now have 136 new pour-flush latrines, and clean, drinkable water piped into every home. A similar water and sanitation project, now underway in San Antonio de la Libertad, is expected to be complete in 2009.
The Brigade members, all volunteers, donate their time and pay their own way to participate in this effort. Providing the foundation for success, however, is the exceptional generosity of the individuals and organizations that provide both funds, medical supplies, and logistical support to the Brigade’s efforts. Chief among these is the Virginia Hospital Center, which has provided generously of equipment, supplies and funding for many years. Crosslink International has been an incredible source for donated and low-cost medical supplies, acting as the “WalMart for medical missions”. Two years ago Booz Allen Hamilton joined the Brigade “family”; they have provided invaluable assistance in enabling the Brigade to build a mature infrastructure (see www.boozallen.com/news/40627138 ). The many members of the Lions Clubs, in both the U.S. and in Honduras, have played an instrumental part in the planning an d pre-mission coordination efforts. All of these elements combine to have a life-changing impact on those who lack even the most basic of health care services, enabling them to have a better life.
Update: From November 3-10, 2007, 77 volunteers provided services to over 7600 patients in Lamani, Villa de San Antonio, La Libertad, San Jeronimo, and Comayagua.
Annually since 1999 (with the sole exception of 2001, when the terrorist attacks of September 11 forced cancellation of the trip), the Virginia Hospital Center Medical Brigade has sponsored humanitarian healthcare mission trips to Honduras with teams of surgeons, doctors, nurses, ophthalmologists, and optometrists delivering healthcare to thousands. Surgery, adult and pediatric general medicine, vision, physical therapy, pharmacy, and audiology services are provided to underserved populations in communities in several different regions of the developing nation. Since 2005, the Medical Brigade has focused its efforts in and around the city of Comayagua, the Colonial Capital of Honduras.
Comayagua is located northwest of the capital city of Tegucigalpa. Many of the citizens in the outlying villages farm for a living, raising food on small plots of land to feed their families. Some sell homemade crafts on the street. Others work as unskilled laborers.
The most basic medical care is beyond the reach of the average person. The closest clinic is often 2-3 hours away by foot. It can take several hours to reach the nearest hospital. Each hour away from the home, each day of travel, translates into lost labor, lost wages, and less food on the table for those already so hungry and economically disadvantaged.
Disease is commonplace due to the lack of health education, potable water, and basic hygiene. Cramped living conditions often feature insufficient ventilation, earthen floors, and malfunctioning or non-existent latrines.
With strong support from Lions Clubs in both Northern Virginia and Comayagua, and the generous volunteers who donate funds, medical equipment and supplies, warehouse space, and time, the
Medical Brigade is providing medical care to address these conditions.
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