Community Health Workers’ Dedication Shines in the Success of Community Health Clinics

In May, Brigade members, Carrie Alexander, Betty Martin, and Mary Ellen Gannon traveled to Honduras to spend time in the remote villages. After a physical absence since February 2020 due to COVID, the goal was to visit the communities sponsored by the Brigade and provide education to the Community Health Workers.

Our first day was spent with community health leaders, Olga, Esmeralda, and Elder, inquiring about the needs of clinics, followed by a review of the material for education. The planning and input from this team were crucial to the success of the program.

Visiting the village of San Antonio de Libertad the next day, we met with the Health Committee and members of the Water Board. Touring the clinic, we were impressed with the welcoming environment, the cleanliness of the health clinic, and the dedication of the health workers. Clearly, their commitment to the community makes a difference in the health of its people.

Next, we traveled to Veracruz, where all the community health workers from San Antonio, Veracruz, and Planes gathered for a day of education. Some traveled hours to attend.  

With the assistance of Nelson Martinez, Elder, and Nelson Joaquin, the education began with a film in Spanish reviewing the respiratory system followed by a discussion of patient scenarios. After a shared luncheon, the day continued with teaching stations including wound care, blood pressure measurement, pulse oximetry, and nebulization.  All participants rotated through the stations and practiced skills.

While the community workers left with a renewal of skills and shared friendships, we, Carrie, Betty, and Mary Ellen, experienced an overwhelming sense of gratitude to the Brigade's Community Health Workers for their dedication and commitment to the project. It is clear that the Brigade's model for community health clinics that began over ten years ago has thrived and continues to make a difference in the health of the rural areas.