CHISPA GLOBAL
Working to Improve Health Care in Central America through Education, Prevention and Collaboration
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Our Upcoming trip
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Scott
02:46 PM on October 11, 2009
Our upcoming trip to El Salvador is firming up in many directions. We will be going to El Salvador (ES) from Nov 6-12 on TACA airlines. Our previous relationship with Jet Blue is on hold for the time being but we're hoping to reignite the relationship. Cindy Paulus is in communication with the execs there and we hope that on future trips we will once again go with Jet Blue.
Our plan this trip is to spend two days in San Jose Villanueva. We hope to work with Dr Rossell, Mike Jenkins and the local health care system to redo our anemia and PAP smear projects. We also expect to go up into some of the hilltop towns surrounding SJN, where health care is less accessible and pockets of extreme poverty exist. We will be armed with data from Sonja Rohde, who works with a group from California that was in the SJN hill towns this summer. We'll be trying to coordinate care with them on future missions
After SJN., we'll be going to the Morazon region in northeast ES, near Honduras. We've been to this area several times before having worked in the clinic that was designed by Dave Sellers and sponsored by Patch Adams. Our plans are to meet with Briony and the Peace Corps volunteers that work in the region as well as local representatives of the Sibasi. We'll then head for the hills and go to the towns. We've been told that cervical cancer is extremely prevalent in that area and we plan to do PAP smears in coordination with SIBASI.
We'll also have two dentists with us, Clayton and Jose, on this trip. We're hoping to do some education regarding oral health. Southside High School is collecting toothpastes and toothbrushes for us and we will be distributing them to the children.
Our plan this trip is to spend two days in San Jose Villanueva. We hope to work with Dr Rossell, Mike Jenkins and the local health care system to redo our anemia and PAP smear projects. We also expect to go up into some of the hilltop towns surrounding SJN, where health care is less accessible and pockets of extreme poverty exist. We will be armed with data from Sonja Rohde, who works with a group from California that was in the SJN hill towns this summer. We'll be trying to coordinate care with them on future missions
After SJN., we'll be going to the Morazon region in northeast ES, near Honduras. We've been to this area several times before having worked in the clinic that was designed by Dave Sellers and sponsored by Patch Adams. Our plans are to meet with Briony and the Peace Corps volunteers that work in the region as well as local representatives of the Sibasi. We'll then head for the hills and go to the towns. We've been told that cervical cancer is extremely prevalent in that area and we plan to do PAP smears in coordination with SIBASI.
We'll also have two dentists with us, Clayton and Jose, on this trip. We're hoping to do some education regarding oral health. Southside High School is collecting toothpastes and toothbrushes for us and we will be distributing them to the children.
Reply
Valerie
08:01 PM on October 11, 2009
Scott, Thank you for sharing your plans.. !! I haven't heard from you and was actually just wondering if you had any upcoming trips planned. If you recall, I'm an RN at GSH Cath Lab and we had spoken about a year ago regarding my participation in PFCAC. I wanted to wish you and your crew a safe and successful outcome. Look forward to hearing from you soon! Be well...Valerie
Scott says...
Our upcoming trip to El Salvador is firming up in many directions. We will be going to El Salvador (ES) from Nov 6-12 on TACA airlines. Our previous relationship with Jet Blue is on hold for the time being but we're hoping to reignite the relationship. Cindy Paulus is in communication with the execs there and we hope that on future trips we will once again go with Jet Blue.
Our plan this trip is to spend two days in San Jose Villanueva. We hope to work with Dr Rossell, Mike Jenkins and the local health care system to redo our anemia and PAP smear projects. We also expect to go up into some of the hilltop towns surrounding SJN, where health care is less accessible and pockets of extreme poverty exist. We will be armed with data from Sonja Rohde, who works with a group from California that was in the SJN hill towns this summer. We'll be trying to coordinate care with them on future missions
After SJN., we'll be going to the Morazon region in northeast ES, near Honduras. We've been to this area several times before having worked in the clinic that was designed by Dave Sellers and sponsored by Patch Adams. Our plans are to meet with Briony and the Peace Corps volunteers that work in the region as well as local representatives of the Sibasi. We'll then head for the hills and go to the towns. We've been told that cervical cancer is extremely prevalent in that area and we plan to do PAP smears in coordination with SIBASI.
We'll also have two dentists with us, Clayton and Jose, on this trip. We're hoping to do some education regarding oral health. Southside High School is collecting toothpastes and toothbrushes for us and we will be distributing them to the children.
Reply
Scott Elberger
10:37 AM on October 21, 2009
About 2 weeks to takeoff and our meeting last night was helpful in clarifying our plans. We will be leaving for San Salvador on Nov 6, flying from JFK airport. We hope to arrive in the early afternoon
On arrival, we will be heading to the women's jail in San Salvador. Women who are under arrest or have been sentenced to jail, often live with there children who are 5 and under. We have been asked by the First Lady of El Salvador to take a look at the 80-90 children there and see what we can identify and treat. Evidently there are a lot skin diseases amongst the children and hopefully we will be equipped to handle them. Katy Burris,MD, a derm resident and PFCAC volunteer was nice enough to help augment our dermatological products.
On our second day, we will be going to San Jose Villanueva, a town we have visited in the past. The plan is to visit the hill towns in the area. Access to health care there is limited by distance, lack of transportation and bad roads, especially during rainy season. Prior to going up into the hills, we hope to meet with Dr Linares who runs the small clinic in town, so that we can arrange an ongoing working relationship with the local providers. Dr Rosell, a local radiologist who helps us in SJN, is planning on speaking to the head of Zacamil hospital to arrange a similar working relationship. This will be especially important if we do PAP smears as planned.
(more to follow)
On arrival, we will be heading to the women's jail in San Salvador. Women who are under arrest or have been sentenced to jail, often live with there children who are 5 and under. We have been asked by the First Lady of El Salvador to take a look at the 80-90 children there and see what we can identify and treat. Evidently there are a lot skin diseases amongst the children and hopefully we will be equipped to handle them. Katy Burris,MD, a derm resident and PFCAC volunteer was nice enough to help augment our dermatological products.
On our second day, we will be going to San Jose Villanueva, a town we have visited in the past. The plan is to visit the hill towns in the area. Access to health care there is limited by distance, lack of transportation and bad roads, especially during rainy season. Prior to going up into the hills, we hope to meet with Dr Linares who runs the small clinic in town, so that we can arrange an ongoing working relationship with the local providers. Dr Rosell, a local radiologist who helps us in SJN, is planning on speaking to the head of Zacamil hospital to arrange a similar working relationship. This will be especially important if we do PAP smears as planned.
(more to follow)
(Continued)
We'll be doing anemia screening, especially on the young and the women of child bearing age. Both populations are at high risk for iron defiency anemia and the effects long term can be devastating. Children who are iron deficient can have long term cognitive impairment. On our last trip, we noted that ~80% of the children under 2 were significantly anemic. We'll be bringing iron supplements to give to those that we find to be anemic as well as making sure that the iron is adminsitered properly by the parents. Given improperly, iron in excess amounts can be toxic, both acutely and chronically. We'll need to teach the parents exactly what to give and have them repeat it back so we can be sure they understand. Literate parents can be provided printed information but illiteracy is a significant problem in the population at large.
Nov 9 will find us on the road to El Morazon where we will be staying at the Perkin Lenca. http://www.perkinlenca.com/. Plans are to meet with the Briony and the Peace Corps Volunteers as well as the local Sibasi representaive (http://www.mspas.gob.sv/sibasi1.asp).
We'll be doing anemia screening, especially on the young and the women of child bearing age. Both populations are at high risk for iron defiency anemia and the effects long term can be devastating. Children who are iron deficient can have long term cognitive impairment. On our last trip, we noted that ~80% of the children under 2 were significantly anemic. We'll be bringing iron supplements to give to those that we find to be anemic as well as making sure that the iron is adminsitered properly by the parents. Given improperly, iron in excess amounts can be toxic, both acutely and chronically. We'll need to teach the parents exactly what to give and have them repeat it back so we can be sure they understand. Literate parents can be provided printed information but illiteracy is a significant problem in the population at large.
Nov 9 will find us on the road to El Morazon where we will be staying at the Perkin Lenca. http://www.perkinlenca.com/. Plans are to meet with the Briony and the Peace Corps Volunteers as well as the local Sibasi representaive (http://www.mspas.gob.sv/sibasi1.asp).
Update-
There's good news and there's bad news. The bad news first..
The Junta Vigilancia has decided that we cannot bring residents down with us on this trip. See Jen Chao's email for an explanation.
Clayton cannot make the trip due to business. We will have only one dentist
Good news- Plans are proceeding along well. We'l have our tickets booked within the next 48 hours. We'll be taking the red-eye from JFK to San Salvador. Plans are still to go to the women's jail. In the evening, we'll have dinner with Mike and Sue Jenkins as well as (hopefully) Dr Rosell and one or two of the local doctors. It will be a chance for everyone to ask questions and get a feel for the problems in the region and how we can help.
We'll be going up into the hill towns. Mike tells me they had a bad storm yesterday but that the rainy season should be over. Our choice of towns could be affected by the condition of the roads. Be prepared for mud, rain and/or sun. Bring panchos, waterproof boots and sunscreen. Also DEET.
In Perquin, plans are moving forward with the Peace Corps volunteers (PCV). We will leave early on Mon to get there. Expect a 3-4 hour drive. Hopefully we will have time to meet with the PCVs at the PErkin LEnca and then go visit one of the towns.
The plans in this area include using the clinic at Rancho Camado (Patch Adams clinic) to see dental and PAP smear patients. We will use our transport to bring some of the people to the clinic as well as having some come on their own. Those not involved in these activities will go to the towns in Morazan, probably Torola, Yamabal, El MOzote and Masala We may split into two small groups to do this. The PCVs have been asked to try to have the patients in the town come to see us on a semi-scheduled basis, rather than having everyone come at once and sit in the heat. They will find us areas to work in the towns.
The EWB folks will meet with Mike in SJN to look for projects and with the PCVs in Morazan.
We should try to do all sorting of meds and packaging prior to going as the biggest complaint I've heard over time is that people hate counting and sorting meds and vitamins and we should try to reduce loading and unloading of boxes. Any ideas on how to do this and to improve the trip as whole are welcomed.
Anyone who has been on a trip before, whether you're going on this trip or not, please comment on the plans so far and your experiences in the past on a trip. This is your chance to impact how the trip will be run and what we and our patients will get out of it. Hope to hear from a lot of you
There's good news and there's bad news. The bad news first..
The Junta Vigilancia has decided that we cannot bring residents down with us on this trip. See Jen Chao's email for an explanation.
Clayton cannot make the trip due to business. We will have only one dentist
Good news- Plans are proceeding along well. We'l have our tickets booked within the next 48 hours. We'll be taking the red-eye from JFK to San Salvador. Plans are still to go to the women's jail. In the evening, we'll have dinner with Mike and Sue Jenkins as well as (hopefully) Dr Rosell and one or two of the local doctors. It will be a chance for everyone to ask questions and get a feel for the problems in the region and how we can help.
We'll be going up into the hill towns. Mike tells me they had a bad storm yesterday but that the rainy season should be over. Our choice of towns could be affected by the condition of the roads. Be prepared for mud, rain and/or sun. Bring panchos, waterproof boots and sunscreen. Also DEET.
In Perquin, plans are moving forward with the Peace Corps volunteers (PCV). We will leave early on Mon to get there. Expect a 3-4 hour drive. Hopefully we will have time to meet with the PCVs at the PErkin LEnca and then go visit one of the towns.
The plans in this area include using the clinic at Rancho Camado (Patch Adams clinic) to see dental and PAP smear patients. We will use our transport to bring some of the people to the clinic as well as having some come on their own. Those not involved in these activities will go to the towns in Morazan, probably Torola, Yamabal, El MOzote and Masala We may split into two small groups to do this. The PCVs have been asked to try to have the patients in the town come to see us on a semi-scheduled basis, rather than having everyone come at once and sit in the heat. They will find us areas to work in the towns.
The EWB folks will meet with Mike in SJN to look for projects and with the PCVs in Morazan.
We should try to do all sorting of meds and packaging prior to going as the biggest complaint I've heard over time is that people hate counting and sorting meds and vitamins and we should try to reduce loading and unloading of boxes. Any ideas on how to do this and to improve the trip as whole are welcomed.
Anyone who has been on a trip before, whether you're going on this trip or not, please comment on the plans so far and your experiences in the past on a trip. This is your chance to impact how the trip will be run and what we and our patients will get out of it. Hope to hear from a lot of you
Hello all! I think rainy season is officially over, but dengue fever is through the roof due to stagnant water. Please bring repellant with LOTS of deet. Note that there is alot of construction going on on the highway to San Jose Villanueva and rush hour should be avoided as there are often 45 min-hour back ups which will really cut in to patient time.
Here in stormy San Salvador. Its been off and on Monsoon like her for 3 days. The skies today we finally partly sunny. While we have not been affected by the rain directly, our trip has changed as we cannot get to El Mozote. Teh roads are closed by mudslides and downed bridges. Instead we will be heading to a refugee camp near San Salvador to provide care for those displaced by flooding and mudslide's. This was at the behest of the First Lady of EL SalvadorWe have no idea what to expect. We have some supplies but not enough and are waiting to see if USAID may provide assistance regarding medications and supplies.
Our Peace Corps friends, Ari, Tyler and Dean have been told to stand-in-place and are therefore still in San Salvador and we hope to have them joinus in the AM. We do not know what to expect
On trip to Perquin is presently on hold until we get word that the roads are passable. This is a bit of a dilemma for the EWB team but they are handling themselves well. We all have no choice but to go with the flow.
MOre to report later
Our Peace Corps friends, Ari, Tyler and Dean have been told to stand-in-place and are therefore still in San Salvador and we hope to have them joinus in the AM. We do not know what to expect
On trip to Perquin is presently on hold until we get word that the roads are passable. This is a bit of a dilemma for the EWB team but they are handling themselves well. We all have no choice but to go with the flow.
MOre to report later
Reply
inhrhrliclin
09:14 AM on January 14, 2010
The pharmacy store I liked most I was impressed with friendly interface, which is quite rare for online drugstores.
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