In April one of our regular teams from the US left Florida for a week of work in the mountains around Camotan. Dr. Mark Speake and his team were able to work with 4 Guatemalan medical students and residents for the week. For those of you who have been following our regular blogs, you will recall that Camotan Clinic has partnered with the regional medical school in Chiquimula. From this school the clinic is staffed with a medical physician each day (we do the same with the dental school in Guatemala City). When our teams arrive from the US every 6-8 weeks, we take on students from the medical school.
Two Guatemalan medical residents working with our team in a remote mountain village
Having the Guatemalan medical students alongside of us for a week is a wonderful experience. Our US physicians get to learn local diseases and practices from them. And our US physicians get to teach the Guatemalan students. The time of teaching and collaboration is enjoyable and beneficial for both parties. And in a country like Guatemala, where there are per capita very few physicians or dentists (ranking next to the lowest in the Western Hemisphere) our influence and support is greatly appreciated.
Our Guatemalan dental resident working in a makeshift dental clinic
Dr. Mark Speake caring for patients in a remote village
Deisy, one of Camotan Clinic’s nurses, holds twins that were cared for in a remote village
The week was highlighted by the discovery of a 3 week old infant who had an imperforate anus (no anal opening). This required emergent surgery and the team immediately got to action transporting the infant to a local hospital an hour and a half away in Zacapa. When the infant needed imaging and then a transfer to Guatemala City for surgery, the clinic paid for all of these expenses and arranged the transportation for baby and mom. This is a very common occurrence for our teams: we will often identify an urgent need and then act quickly to arrange care. In a country that is so poor and care is so often an hour or more from where we work this highlights how important the work we do is. And we could not do this work without the support of many of you.
Dental care is desperately needed in the remote mountains around Camotan. Few people can get to Camotan for care. Most residents sadly live with pain (and infection).
It was another wonderful week of work alongside our full time clinic staff. We continue to be grateful to all of you who continue to support us with supplies, donations and in your thoughts and prayers. It is because of all of you that this important work continues.
Our entire team after a long day of work
Thank you all so much for reading!