2008 Woodie Awards
Marquette medical and dental students serve Honduras
Since 2003, Global Medical Relief group has taken winter and spring service trips
By Lizzie Mytty
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Working through the Honduran humanitarian organization Sociedad Amigos de los Niños, Marquette Global Medical Relief traveled to Honduras for its fifth year as a group to provide medical aid to rural villages in Honduras.
Since 2003 Global Medical Relief has traveled to Honduras twice a year, once over winter break and once during spring break, said Toby Peters, associate vice president for administration, who has been an adviser for the group since its start and has participated in five trips.
This break's group consisted of students, faculty, medical professionals, dentists and others. The group treated about 1,700 patients, Peters said.
"We go to Honduras not only to address medical needs but also to provide an emotional lift to those we see," he said. "The people we see are so welcoming and grateful for us being there. They enjoy the fact that somebody cares enough to come from the United States to try to help them."
When the Marquette group first started organizing trips with the SAN program, it was the first university to formally offer the trip, Peters said.
"Now between 30 and 40 other universities follow our model," he said.
In 2003, medical relief treated about 5,000 patients in Honduras annually. Now about 50,000 patients are treated annually, according to Peters.
In villages, students, doctors and dentists set up medical clinics where they catalog the health information of each patient and treat them. Every patient receives parasite medication and a one to two month supply of vitamins. Every child receives a toy after his or her treatment, Peters said.
Students also check the blood pressure and blood sugar of every patient over age 35. Doctors give patients general health checks and treat them for colds, respiratory problems, pain, infections, rashes, heartburn and other ailments.
Dentists give check-ups and extract teeth. The dentists extracted more than 300 teeth on this trip. After the dental treatment, every patient receives toothpaste and a toothbrush, Peters said.
Published: 1/17/08 Section: News
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Alcohol Rehab Center
posted 12/29/08 @ 8:35 AM CST
It is a very nice initiative and if I am to be honest, I am little bit surprised to hear that in this world there are still people who care who have transformed their jobs into dedication and of course into some kind of art and well know that are demands sacrifice. (Continued…)
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