2021 Brigade Recap

Dear Friends,

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Brigade has learned to serve from afar by raising money for equipment and PPE not only for the hospitals but for the major COVID-19 triage center in Comayagua. Last year, we sent a 40-foot shipping container filled with donated and purchased COVID-19 related equipment and supplies to Comayagua.

Our work has continued in the rural villages as well. Throughout the pandemic, with regular visits from our Honduras-based Director of Operations, Nelson Martinez, we have helped maintain the water systems and supported the community health workers in 11 rural villages. In addition, this year we launched a new water project in the villages of El Tablon and Veracruz. This was accomplished in partnership with Rotary International, a water quality monitoring non-profit (EOS International), and local government.   

Also, for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, in November the Brigade surgical and physical therapy teams returned to Honduras. Our physical therapy team focused on providing training to local providers related to the care of patients debilitated from COVID-19 related illness. The surgical team worked out of San Benito Jose exclusively given the continued burden of COVID-19 infections on Santa Teresa Hospital. A total of 60 surgeries were able to be performed to correct strabismus and remove cataracts. Another objective of this year’s trip was to incorporate telemedicine into our care. Using specialized telemedicine equipment, Dr. Merrill provided both surgical and post-operative care remotely with the assistance of local Honduran ophthalmology residents.  

Our vision and strategic planning for 2022 include expanding the use of telemedicine to provide both direct patient care and training of Honduran providers. In addition, long-time volunteer Dr. Leo Alonso with the support of the Brigade and in collaboration with the American College of Emergency Medicine and the national medical school in Honduras (UNAH) will be continuing his work to establish the first-ever emergency medicine residency program in Honduras.  

We have had an enormously successful year in 2021 in so many ways which have set us up to enter  2022 delivering our vision of eliminating the health disparities experienced by the underserved. 

My heartfelt thanks to all.

Sincerely,

J.J. Sverha, MD
Board Chair
VHC Medical Brigade