August 11-19 we hosted a team of medical persons who arrived in Nicaragua ready to give of their time and talents in whatever capacity they could. The team consisted of a group of health professionals from different areas of Michigan.
Drs Pete and Cheri Lauber along with Dr. James Strikwerda, Amy Strikwerda, hygienist Alana Baker, Norma Thompson, RN, Robert Hirssig and Dr. Sarah Ruff.
Partners Worldwide works in different rural areas in agriculture with land purchase and eventual ownership. Health and sustainability is an added component to these farm areas. The spirit of love and equality was felt by all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
This team’s focus was in the areas of medical, dental and vision care.
This year’s focal point was directed at empowering the Nicaragua health committees. These committees were in charge of organizing the whole community for four day clinic and hands on trainings. Helping them learn different skills associated with each profession. The community of San Buenaventura worked very hard to organize and set up a make shift clinic. It was built in a church not far from the social health post called MINSA. The last and final day of work was in a community called Mombachito where we worked towards the same strategies.
Both communities had training done in four different schools. These trainings aided approximately 500 children in total with oral health. A medical student on the team assisted by a local committee member, worked with the children by teaching how to brush their teeth and pointing out good foods and bad foods demonstrating how those affected the teeth with decay.
The rural areas of Nicaragua are not always able to get medicines or treatment for illnesses. The state of Government says “free care for everyone” but there is often no staffing at the local centers and no medicine. Those were statement coming from the local members. So equipping the local persons in the communities to be responsible for their own family’s health, especially in areas of prevention will be a continued goal by the Michigan Medical team who are working toward healthy families and healthy communities.
Drs Pete and Cheri Lauber along with Dr. James Strikwerda, Amy Strikwerda, hygienist Alana Baker, Norma Thompson, RN, Robert Hirssig and Dr. Sarah Ruff.
Partners Worldwide works in different rural areas in agriculture with land purchase and eventual ownership. Health and sustainability is an added component to these farm areas. The spirit of love and equality was felt by all our brothers and sisters in Christ.
This team’s focus was in the areas of medical, dental and vision care.
This year’s focal point was directed at empowering the Nicaragua health committees. These committees were in charge of organizing the whole community for four day clinic and hands on trainings. Helping them learn different skills associated with each profession. The community of San Buenaventura worked very hard to organize and set up a make shift clinic. It was built in a church not far from the social health post called MINSA. The last and final day of work was in a community called Mombachito where we worked towards the same strategies.
Both communities had training done in four different schools. These trainings aided approximately 500 children in total with oral health. A medical student on the team assisted by a local committee member, worked with the children by teaching how to brush their teeth and pointing out good foods and bad foods demonstrating how those affected the teeth with decay.
The rural areas of Nicaragua are not always able to get medicines or treatment for illnesses. The state of Government says “free care for everyone” but there is often no staffing at the local centers and no medicine. Those were statement coming from the local members. So equipping the local persons in the communities to be responsible for their own family’s health, especially in areas of prevention will be a continued goal by the Michigan Medical team who are working toward healthy families and healthy communities.
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