Honduras 2016 KUMC SOM International Health Elective John LeCluyse
Horconcitos, Santa Barbara, Honduras
This clinic and mission were originally begun by Dr and Marian Blumenschein in 1957 Two full-time Honduran nurses at the clinic see patients daily year round. Medicines are supplied for many patients with chronic illnesses, like diabetes and high blood pressure as well as acute problems. The Blumenschein Clinic
A view inside the Blumenschein Clinic Eliot wearing a fetoscope
A few views from within the Blumenschein Clinic s main patient exam room / procedure room
Preventative Health Measures in Rural Honduras In September 2015 a water purification plant was built by American and Canadian volunteers just a few minute walk from the clinic
Another view outside of the water purification center and a written message within the building from the original builders
A water cooler used in a local s home to store and dispense purified water collected at the local plant
A redesigned outdoor stove with a chimney designed to keep smoke away from the inside of the home I chose penetrative health measures in rural Honduras as my topic of interest to see what practical low-cost things were being done to improve health outcomes
The water purification system provides a convenient hub for people in town to use refillable water containers to get clean water to drink, cook with, brush their teeth with, etc. This decreases the risk for certain waterborne infections that can be caused by tap water. Jose, a Honduran medical student working at the clinic, explained that many rural Hondurans have respiratory issues related to inhaling smoke from wood burning stoves in their homes. However, education and instruction on how to reduce the amount of smoke in the home has allowed safer living environments that will help prevent long term respiratory complications. Thirdly, education is a crucial component of the aforementioned purified water and stove smoke reduction initiatives. However, the clinic has begun hosting more formal education for long term diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Led by Jose himself, there are now monthly club meetings for certain diseases where patients are highly encouraged to attend to learn in groups about lifestyle changes, complications, and other useful information pertaining to their diseases. In a village in which the vast majority of the people are uneducated and have little access to health information, these club meetings are of vital importance in improving long term health outcomes.
One of my most profound clinical experiences that I have not yet mentioned was treating an ankle laceration on a 5 year old boy. A boy presented to Eliot and I on a busy clinic day because he had ankle pain and could not walk. After his dad carried the boy back to the exam room we saw a severe laceration of his left heel that had been present for the past 4 days. One of our first questions to the father was why he did not bring his son to the clinic when it first happened. The father explained that he did not present earlier because he did not think that he would be able to afford care. We explained to him that the clinic was mostly free and the only costs were on a give what you can policy.
Torsolo parasites that our team removed from a young girl s scalp
I had a couple of profound cultural experiences. One of these experiences was visiting the homes of patients who were unable to come to the clinic. A patient who we visited at his home
Another profound cultural experience I had during my international trip was visiting an orphanage. At this orphanage, a couple hour drive from the clinic at which we normally worked, my classmate Eliot and I were able to medically help a few children. A child at the orphanage who had previously had an eye surgically removed due to a tumor
However, the more valuable experience at the orphanage for me was being able to spend a couple of days talking with some of the 72 children about nonmedically related things. It was fascinating to hear the perspectives on life, school, and the future from kids who had grown up in poor conditions often with abuse and neglect. Two girls at the orphanage
A hospital entrance and nursing station in Comayagua, Honduras which we visited one day
Photos from within the Comayagua Hospital