The University of Wyoming was a multidisciplinary group composed of nursing students, nurse practioners, a doctor, family medicine residents, pharmacy students, social workers, and engineers. They traveled to their community affiliate of Agua Salada, a community named for the spring of salty water that once emerged from the ground in the “city center”. They stayed in the local elementary school and ran clinic out of the local church. Over 400 patients were attended to in four and a half days, nursing students gave educational chats on various health topics, and many brigade members traveled to homes around the area to see patients. English classes were given to local students and several meetings took place with community leaders to learn more about the history of the community and its current needs. Several brigade members also worked alongside the local Hondurans to help build the new clinic, which is well underway! The land is now ready for the pipe installation and the goal is to have it finished by July. The community is very excited about the new clinic and will continue to work alongside the University of Wyoming in order to bring sustainable health care to Agua Salada!
“Both of my trips have been amazing and wonderful learning experiences for the future- can’t wait for the clinic to be built!”
MONTANA BRIGADE (November 5th-17th, 2011)
The Montana Brigade of 15 members was comprised of 2 instructors, an advanced nursing student and 12 undergraduate nurses in their final semester. The group was comprised of members from different satellite campuses of Montana State University College of Nursing. They brought with them enthusiasm and energy while representing the Western Shoulder to Shoulder affiliates. Over the week and a half they had 512 encounters while visiting over 10 communities. They performed greatly needed tasks such as home visits, consults in our health centers and clinic, health fairs and the painting of a mural with scholarship students. We thank each and everyone of them for their service and hard work and wish them all the best as many of them will graduate in December.
A few quotes from our brigade members about the experience:
“I am excited for the what Shoulder to Shoulder does. I am proud and thankful for an organization that facilitates cross cultural experiences that lead to providing a sustainable health improvement for the citizens of Honduras.”
“I enjoyed being in communities and providing care. I feel like I received a rural health experience.”
“Honestly. I thought I would learn a lot and have interesting experiences, but I never suspected that it would be a complete BLAST! I had so much fun and learned so much!”
Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) @ Pinares (Oct 29 – Nov 10)
The Virginia Commonwealth Brigade made its tri-annual (or ‘tranual’) journey to the frontera town of Pinares – approximately one hour from La Esperanza, Intibucá. The brigade was comprised of thirteen fourth year medical students, three third year residents and two family medicine attending physicians. In addition, we had five stellar translators (some old faces, some new ones): Josh, Alex, Daniel, Gus and Paulette.
VCU in Pinares is known for hiking out to rural villages in order to provide care, and their most recent brigade certainly embraced that tradition. The normal day entailed leaving one attending, one resident and a few medical students at the clinic to provide care, while the rest of the group trekked out to different villages in order to provide medical assistance as well as collect data for the CHI program. CHI clinics are usually set up at schools, where children progress through a variety of different stations (height/weight, hemoglobin, dental, medical, etc.).
During the weekend we spent a fantastic day at the Concepción market, as well as hiking around the clinic and, of course, a stop at the waterfall.
All in all it was a very positive brigade. The evaluations all demonstrated that each member had a unique, memorable and enriching experience with Shoulder to Shoulder (and that they loved their brigade assistant, of course).
“A great organization with welcoming, dedicated and engaged staff”
“Great trip! Would love to come back!”