C9 Guatemala Medical Mission Trip 2019

1. C9 Guatemala Medical Mission Trip 2019

3. Poverty in Guatemala • 74% of population lives in poverty • 54% of population lives in extreme poverty • Average income is around $5,200/year • Live off of $3-4/day • Guatemalan currency is a Quetzal • 100, 50, 20, 10, 1, and ½ Quetzals • Coins: 25,10, 5, and 1 Centavos • Exchange Rate: $1 USD = 7.5 Quetzals • Cost of living is 40% less expensive compared to U.S. • Rent is 65% less expensive compared to U.S.

4. “Poverty is punishment for a crime the innocent did not commit.” -Eli Khamarov

5. Eliza Martinez Children's Hospital  • The first 2 days were spent at the Eliza Martinez Children’s Hospital located in the city of Puerto Barrios • The hospital services are government funded • Poverty was seen first seen within the patients • 2 biggest challenges the hospital faces: • Understaffing • Not having proper/sufficient resources

6. The Emergency Department at the Eliza Martinez Children’s Hospital in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala

7. Inside the NICU at the Eliza Martinez Children’s Hospital. Mothers will come nurse their babies while in the NICU. Newborn babies have 15 days for their mother to come back for them. If the mother does not come after 15 days, they are sent to the Puerto Barrios Orphanage.

8. Staffing Shortages • The hospital treats hundreds of patients a day with minimal amount of nurses, doctors, and radiologic technologists to give them all the care they need  • The hospital is divided into different wards based on medical needs • Each ward has 12-15 children for every 1-2 nursing staff • Nurses are assigned to multiple wards within the hospital  • Staff shortage leads to patients being in the hospital for long periods of time with no answers and minimal care  • Parents provide much of the basic care for children in the hospital such as comfort, feeding, restroom duties, etc.  because staff is just too busy

9. Limited Resources: Radiology Department  • The radiology department has outdated equipment • The x-ray machine was given to them after sitting for a while so many things such as proper techniques were not possible • Utilizes film imaging • “Updated” film processing – step up from dip tanks • Only exposes to 75 kVp • Most images underexposed • Have to figure out other ways to create acceptable images…end up increasing mAs • These problems can only be solved with the help of a physicist or a new x-ray machine 

11. Variable sizes of film sheets are stored in boxes located in the dark room until ready for use • Film is put in the cassette when the lights are off • When imaging extremities, they will place multiple views/images on one film • The processor takes about 1 minute to process one film • Techs are extra cautious to not expose the film to light

12. Fracture of the distal third metatarsal Osgood Schlatter’s Greenstick Fracture

14. Limited Resources: Breast Milk Bank  • The hospital has a breast milk donating center due to limited access to formula and the amount of babies that do not have mothers to breast feed them • Women can come at any time to pump and donate • The milk is then tested by the nurses with various labs to deem it is safe for consumption

15. Limited Resources: Daily Supplies • The entire hospital is equipped with the original beds and carts from when the hospital was opened in the 1950’s  • Hospital personal protection equipment is drastically different from United States • PPE Gowns are re-worn patient cotton gowns • PPE Gloves…not always existent, so hospital personnel utilize handwashing • In the US, these are considered one-time use items and often have unlimited access to these resources, but because of limited resources and little budgets in Guatemala, the hospitals have to create alternate resources

16. PPE Gowns used at the hospital used various wards Original hospital beds from the 1950’s when the hospital was built

17. "Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much."  - Erich Fromm

18. One of the most inspiring moments on the trip was the patient care seen throughout the entire hospital • Each nurse had a very limited amount to give but gave it all to their patients • The staff was very eager to participate in the CPR class we taught on their day off, so we could educate on how to save more lives • It is amazing knowing what we taught is going to save more lives and inspiring to see the dedication that the staff had when they came in the class

19. Jaime, an EMT, participated in the CPR class last year  • This year, he shared his story about a patient he was able to save in the ambulance because of the CPR training he had received from Bellin College • Jaime reenacted the scene to show his peers how he performed CPR • After this year’s training, Jaime reached out to our group on Facebook to thank us for teaching CPR and how much of an impact it has made on his life CPR Training at Eliza Martinez Children’s Hospital

20. Clinic Day 1: Baltimore • Village spoke K’iche • Ancient Mayan language that is sparsely spoken • Documented in patient charts • Measured heights and weights • Vision exams • Fluoride station • Lice removal station • Every villager saw a provider and received 90-day supply of vitamins and medications, if needed • Received new shoes • Shared a universal first-aid book with the pastor of the village

23. Clinic Day 2: Rio Salado • Village spoke Spanish • Documented in patient charts • Measured heights and weights • Vision exams • Fluoride station • Lice removal station • Every villager saw a provider and received 90-day supply of vitamins and medications, if needed • Received new shoes • Shared a universal first-aid book with the pastor of the village • Distributed 50 water filters to families • Water filters provide clean water for approximately 4-5 years

24. “Welcome to Mt. Olive Church”

28. Home of the Assumption Orphanage • First time this group has visited this orphanage • Assessed the future need of supplies • Donated shoes, reusable diapers, kid giveaways, formula • Played with the children • Held babies in the nursery • 1 caretaker in the nursery to approximately 7-8 infants • Met with the Sisters of the orphanage

30. Puerto Barrios Dump • Many people LIVE and work in the dump • No running water • No electricity • About a mile leading up to the dump, the sides of the roads are filled with trash • High risk of malaria and dengue with sitting water • Vultures everywhere • Some people bring their cattle in to the dump to graze • Toughest day of the three clinic days

34. Clinic Day 3: The Dump • Community members spoke Spanish • Documented in patient charts • Measured heights and weights • Vision exams • Fluoride station • Lice removal station • Every villager saw a provider and received 90-day supply of vitamins and medications, if needed • Received new shoes

40. “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Ghandi

41. References  • Murphy, L. Modern Government and Practices [Word document]. Retrieved from https://bellincollege.instructure.com/courses/1646/pages/unit-4-modern-government-and-practices?module_item_id=99975 • Murphy, L. Guatemala Mission Preparation [Word document]. Retrieved from https://bellincollege.instructure.com/courses/1646/pages/unit-1-guatemala-mission-preparation-introduction-and-instructions?module_item_id=99972