Team Report, LaCeiba/BelAire
January, 2012
I would like to say a big THANK YOU to several people who thru a coordinated effort made this trip very rewarding, enlightening and uplifting. These folks are Dr. Tom Camp, Brent Brady, Evelyn and Jose Castellar, Patty Calderon, Bruce McFaddin, Dr. Delmer Montoya, Dr. Cezar Nunez, Bill Camp and Hugh and Mary Guffey. Our team consisted of Peggy Polhemus, RN, Sharon Bentley, RN, Delmer Montoya, MD, and Cezar Nunez, DMD. OVERVIEW OF TRIP:
1-Registered with the Honduran Consultate in Atlanta: 1-770-608-6255, emelisa.callejas@gmail.com or marymaldonado10@hotmail.com
2-Hugo- porter at SAP airport met us as we got off the plane with a large sign "PEGGY From ALABAMA". That will be the only time I will ever come close to feeling like a celebrity! Everyone in customs and baggage claim knew who I was and we got excellent assistance.
3-LaColorada- 15 minutes outside of ElProgresso on the Tela Highway. An orphanage run by Melody and John, a young couple from an Atlanta NGO. They take in children from the state system who were abused and neglected and taken away from their parents. There are 38 children from birth to age 8-10. Dr. Delmer visits them regularly. We left mebendazole, vitamins, toothbrushes and toothpaste and wound supplies.
4-CoCau Canadien Clinic- Sambo Creek- Florence Duggar is the director and they hire Honduran Doctors and Dentists to staff the clinic. Dr. Cezar Nunez, dentist, needed some instruments for his work in BelAire with us and Florence was very generous to loan us the instuments. She plans to send several patients to the Guffeys in June for eye exams.
5-Delivery of a trunk of medicines and supplies to Dr. Luther Harry for the Ciriboya Hospital.
6-On 012212, we attended 2 services at the Cruzadas Church and met with the girls at Shalom and Sister Eleanor. Patty and Yormany translated during the services to us.
7-CRILO REHABILITATION CENTER: on 012512, we toured this center in LaCeiba. It is located on the Tela Highway between the Cruzadas Compound and the Leyda Milk Factory. We met with Dr. Miquel Montoya, president of the center, and discussed networking together to service the very poor of Honduras.
The facility provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, dental care, and a psychologist. They are currently building a prosthetics center and a vocational rehabilitation center to train the disabled and their families.
They plan to address the children with specific learning disabilities and teaching their families how to teach and support their children. The center services all people from birth to the elderly.
We plan to have several amputees at the center fitted with the artificial limbs from the Calera High School in June, 2012. Two patients from BelAire were scheduled for evaluation this week and when I told Dr. Montoya that we had left some money with the mother of one, he was quick to comment "Tell the mother to use the money for diapers, food, medicines and bus fare.
We do not want any pay for our services". The center is funded by private donations, fundraisers (marathons, BBQ's, etc.), corporate sponsors, and payroll deductions in some business's. contact info:
Karina Lopez, director, 2442-3839 ,
crila2005@hotmail.com.
I mentioned to Dr. Montoya about the 2 containers sent to the Cruzadas twice a year and he has offered assistance with the unloading at any time by his maintenance staff at the center.
CRILO has satellite centers in Puertos Cortes, Tocoa, Olanchito, San Juan, and LaMasica. They are in the construction phase in Trujillo and Gracias (close to LaEsperanza).
8-ATLANTIDA GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL- LaCeiba- We took a tour to assess the needs and ways we can work together. I have always been interested in seeing for myself the conditions and resources at the only facility that 80% of Hondurans can get any kind of medical care. On 012512, all the nurses were on strike in the open veranda but we met with administration and found that the greatest need there is for baby clothes and white sheets.
The maternity ward is always full and the new mothers have no clothes to put on the newborn babies. Blankets are scarce, also. Patty Calderon's sister-in-law does volunteer work in the maternity ward 2 days a week and can personally take and distribute any donations AHMEN can send down.
9-WALMART: new supermarket located behind the KFC (across from the mall in LaCeiba). The prices are less than at the supermarket at the mall. Would be good for snacks, bottled water, etc. 10-HEDMAN ALAS: Luxury bus line service, runs 0500 and 1000 daily from LaCeiba to SAP airport. 3 hour non-stop ride, very secure, $16 for regular fare, $30 for first-class (includes lunch). Prior to boarding, they list your passport number, take your picture and inspect your luggage. Sharon and I utilized this service on our return to SAP the day prior to flight return.
It was a very enjoyable ride, exactly 3 hours, with bathroom facilities, with approx.. 1/3 to 1/2 of the passengers American. No stops at checkpoints and were given professional service. I would recommend this for teams of 10 or less.
The bus will seat 50 – 60. (504) 2441-5347, (LaCeiba) or www.hedmanalas.com. 11-SECURITY: we did not feel the least bit insecure or threatened while in Honduras. There were the usual checkpoints on all highways but with using good common sense and certain guidelines for safety, Americans should be fine.
I went to a professional soccer game with Dr. Delmer and Dr. Cezar for some much needed R+R after 3 days of clinics and felt more at ease than if I went to Legion Field in Birmingham. 12: 3 referrals made to Dr. Gordon Robinson, plastic surgeon from B'ham, for surgery 021112 in Coyoles at the Dole Fruit Hospital. 13: approximately 1100 patients treated in clinics in BelAire and house calls in the Cloud Forest above BelAire. 89 teeth pulled by Dr. Nunez. SPECIFIC NEEDS:
1: Hospital bed or rolling cot for AIDA, 17 year old in Rio Grande, BelAire, with spina bifida and hydrocephalis. Aida is w/c bound but sleeps on a small wooden bed and the ants are climbing up onto the bed nightly . This presents some real skin problems.
2: W/C's, walkers, canes, crutches, orthopedic appliances for ACRILO. They have difficulty securing enough for the patients.
3: Baby clothes, sheets, blankets for the maternity ward at Atlantida Hospital
4: Sponsor for Suyapa Turcios, housemother at Shalom.
Suyapa has no income and is trying to take college courses at night, also. Suyapa depends on sponsorship for her daily needs. The girls at Shalom love her and depend on her for emotional support and teaching.