Information for Information for Prospective VolunteersProspective Volunteers
HondurasHondurasPopulation 7.9million
0-14 years: 38.1%0-14 years: 38.1% 15-64 years: 58.3%15-64 years: 58.3% 65 years and over: 3.6%65 years and over: 3.6% Median age: 20.3 yearsMedian age: 20.3 years 59% of population at or 59% of population at or
below poverty linebelow poverty line Infant mortality: 21.04 Infant mortality: 21.04
deaths/1,000 live births deaths/1,000 live births 6 physicians & 2 dentists 6 physicians & 2 dentists
per 10,000 population (even per 10,000 population (even less in rural areas)less in rural areas)
NicaraguaNicaragua
Population 6 million 0-14 years: 33.8% 15-64 years: 62.9% 65 years and over: 3.3% Median age: 22.5 48% of population at or 48% of population at or below below poverty linepoverty line• Infant mortality: 24.16 deaths/1,000 live births • 4 physicians & 1 dentist per 10,000 population (even less in rural areas)
Challenges for VolunteersChallenges for Volunteers
Physical, emotional & intellectual demandsPhysical, emotional & intellectual demands
Need to remain flexible & Need to remain flexible &
non-judgmentalnon-judgmental
Avoid the “ugly American” labelAvoid the “ugly American” label
Sensitivity to cultural differencesSensitivity to cultural differences
Cultural DifferencesCultural Differences
Different concept of personal spaceDifferent concept of personal space
(people tend to stand closer than (people tend to stand closer than Americans are used to)Americans are used to)
Do not assume “sameness”Do not assume “sameness” ““Familiar” behavior can have Familiar” behavior can have
different meaningsdifferent meanings Different attitude towards problemsDifferent attitude towards problems
Diet, Health & AttitudeDiet, Health & Attitude
Poor food productivity & low incomes lead to a very low standard of living in rural areas. Typical diet consists of tortillas, beans (main source of protein), rice, cassava, plantains & coffee, with only occasional supplements of meat or fish.
Although pigs & chickens are widely raised, meat is infrequent in rural diets, as are green vegetables.
Widespread malnutrition complicates the population’s fragile health.
AttitudesAttitudes
Most of the population do not relate their health Most of the population do not relate their health problems to their real causes (malnutrition, problems to their real causes (malnutrition, environmental hazards, etc.)environmental hazards, etc.)
Much of the population on a continuously Much of the population on a continuously inadequate diet, not dramatic shortage of foodinadequate diet, not dramatic shortage of food
People fail to relate disease, illness, low People fail to relate disease, illness, low productivity to poor diet & lack of sanitationproductivity to poor diet & lack of sanitation
Because these problems always existed, Because these problems always existed, they tend to be accepted as normal.they tend to be accepted as normal.
Other Cultural DifferencesOther Cultural Differences Primacy of tight, intimate emotional relationships with Primacy of tight, intimate emotional relationships with
family and close friends.family and close friends. Sense of life’s unpredictability and role of destino (fate). Sense of life’s unpredictability and role of destino (fate). Tendency toward hierarchy and stratification of social Tendency toward hierarchy and stratification of social
structure.structure. Importance attributed to physical looks, clothes, style, Importance attributed to physical looks, clothes, style,
dignity, social graces as way of indicating one’s place in dignity, social graces as way of indicating one’s place in society. society.
Less attention given to punctuality and “efficient and Less attention given to punctuality and “efficient and productive” time use than to immersing oneself into life productive” time use than to immersing oneself into life itself. itself.
Arrival – Arrival – from the airport in Honduras, we go to the from the airport in Honduras, we go to the
warehouse to get supplies & pack the truckwarehouse to get supplies & pack the truck
The First Night at the HotelThe First Night at the Hotel
Luxury Luxury accommodations accommodations you won’t likely you won’t likely see again until see again until week’s end.week’s end.
Sometimes we stay overnight in a hotel en-route to our work site.
Off to the work siteOff to the work site
Arrival & Set-upArrival & Set-up
Work SitesWork SitesOften a school or ChurchOften a school or Church
Long lines of patients usually greet usLong lines of patients usually greet us
Living & Sleeping Conditions VaryLiving & Sleeping Conditions Vary
Normally conditions are pretty basic
On rare occasions conditions are On rare occasions conditions are downright luxuriousdownright luxurious
Bathing is sometimes an adventureBathing is sometimes an adventure
Just keep your eyes & mouth shut
Chow TimeChow Time
Villagers live with their farm animalsVillagers live with their farm animalsEar plugs are helpful for sleepingEar plugs are helpful for sleeping
Roosters don’t crow at dawn; they start much Roosters don’t crow at dawn; they start much earlierearlier
Scenes from Central AmericaScenes from Central America
Medical ClinicMedical Clinic
Common Medical ConditionsCommon Medical Conditions
Gastrointestinal illnessGastrointestinal illness Parasitic infectionsParasitic infections Urinary tract infectionsUrinary tract infections Respiratory infections and asthmaRespiratory infections and asthma Work related injuriesWork related injuries Skin conditionsSkin conditions Tropical diseasesTropical diseases
CausesCauses
MalnutritionMalnutrition Impure waterImpure water Poor personal hygienePoor personal hygiene Inadequate housingInadequate housing Poor sewage disposalPoor sewage disposal Environmental hazardsEnvironmental hazards
Dental ClinicDental Clinic
Dental DiseaseDental Disease
High caries rateHigh caries rate Early childhood caries Early childhood caries Missing teeth, residual rootsMissing teeth, residual roots Minimal oral hygieneMinimal oral hygiene Rarely complaints of pain, despite Rarely complaints of pain, despite
infectioninfection Diet high in sugar and carbohydratesDiet high in sugar and carbohydrates
Eye ClinicEye Clinic
Eye ClinicEye Clinic
CataractsCataracts Corneal ExposureCorneal Exposure PtergiaPtergia HyperopiaHyperopia Refraction Refraction Dispensing glassesDispensing glasses
PharmacyPharmacy
Pharmacy ChallengesPharmacy Challenges
Set up Pharmacy in less than 3 hoursSet up Pharmacy in less than 3 hours Instruct illiterate patientsInstruct illiterate patients Adapt prescriptions to a limited Adapt prescriptions to a limited
formularyformulary Different names for familiar drugsDifferent names for familiar drugs High volume of patientsHigh volume of patients
Community PartnershipsCommunity Partnerships Working with communities, assessing their Working with communities, assessing their
needs and helping them achieve long needs and helping them achieve long lasting improvements in the health and lasting improvements in the health and well being of their citizens.well being of their citizens.
Education for community health volunteers Education for community health volunteers and in the schoolsand in the schoolsInfrastructure projectsInfrastructure projectsWorking with local physicians and hospitalsWorking with local physicians and hospitals
EducationEducation
InfrastructureInfrastructure
Maternal House in Monte Verde
Clinica Guasore in Las Aradas
Organic Vegetable Garden
Working with local physicians Working with local physicians and hospitalsand hospitals
Expansion of Galvez Hospital in Gracias
Training of hospital staff
Often the final day is free for Often the final day is free for sightseeing & shoppingsightseeing & shopping
The Mayan ruins at Copan
Despite All The Hardships, It’s Despite All The Hardships, It’s Worth ItWorth It
2921 E. 17th Street, 2921 E. 17th Street,
Bldg. D, Ste. 4Bldg. D, Ste. 4
Austin, TX 78702Austin, TX 78702Phone: (512) 930-1893Phone: (512) 930-1893Fax: (512) 869-7500 Fax: (512) 869-7500
www.medico.orgwww.medico.org
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