Caring During Covid-19
Thanks to our staff and volunteers on the ground in Honduras, the Brigade continues caring across borders even in the midst of a pandemic. COVID-19’s got nothing on our team!
Over the past week, we were able to deliver food donated Pack Away Hunger, sterile gloves and oxygen cannulas to our partner hospital Santa Teresa; medications like acetaminophen, zinc, prenatal vitamins and more, donated by the Brigade and Vitamin Angels, to our three mountain clinics; and install a new vaporizer on the anesthesia machine at Santa Teresa.
Gloves for Caring Hands
Not even a week had gone by after our team returned safely to the United States from conducting inventory at our Honduras medical supply warehouse. Thanks to that hard work, we were able to distribute much needed sterile gloves from our warehouse to our partner hospital nearby, Regional Hospital Santa Teresa de Comayagua.
Food for Hungry Families
A few days later, our faithful operations director, Nelson Martinez, took food, donated to the Brigade by Pack Away Hunger, to the villages of Veracruz and San Antonio de la Libertád. Our families enjoyed cooking and the children enjoyed the hot meal on a beautiful mountain day. These meals are important, healthy supplements to what little food the families normally have access to in the mountains.
Medications and Vitamins
Soon after the food delivery, Nelson traveled tirelessly up the steep mountain roads to restock our three mountain clinics with acetaminophen, prenatal vitamins, zinc supplements and more. Local community health workers (CHWs) in these villages are trained by the Brigade to assess symptoms and administer the medications and vitamins accordingly. In fact, we recently facilitated a leadership workshop for CHWs, during which they identified a vision and action plan for each community they represented.
“Our mission is to secure a prettier, healthier and united community. And to have families gain a sense of trust and protection with us, the community health workers.”
Breathe In…
There is no rest for the weary, but at least there will be oxygen for 55 more adults who need it at Santa Teresa. Last week, we were able to deliver adult oxygen cannulas necessary to deliver a steady stream of oxygen to those in need. Without these, the oxygen tanks are useless.
And Breathe Out…
As if that were not enough, Nelson worked with Fernando, a local volunteer, to install a new vaporizer on the anesthesia machine at Santa Teresa, which now makes it available for surgery.
All in a Week’s Work
Not only are the supplies that the Brigade donates crucial year-round, but especially during times like these, when Honduras is still working to recover from the 2019 dengue fever outbreak, even as they address the coronavirus pandemic.
Will you Help Us to Help Them?