One of the activities on our agenda was to host a day-long medical clinic on base. Because the clinic was planned for a Friday, rather than the usual Saturday, we expected less than the usual numbers. There is no formal advertising here; a sign announcing that the clinic would be occurring was posted on the Fe Viva gates, and word spread the old fashioned way - by word of mouth.
Stations were set up: a registration area where families were given a number; a waiting area; two nursing stations and a physician station; a pharmacy, and a boutique blessing area where people were assisted with choosing two clothing items.
Nursing station: sheets hung on a wire with clothespins provided some privacy for the patients.
Over two hundred people attended the clinic. Frequent complaints were headaches (often associated with a lack of proper hydration), stomach problems (often associated with poor nutrition and poor hygiene practices, leading to parasites) and respiratory problems (from allergies and poor air quality from cooking over fires). De-worming medication was given to most of the attendees. Multivitamins, tylenol, advil, antihistamines, fungal crème and antibiotics were distributed for free as required and as availability permitted. Some of the prescriptions could not be filled and people were referred to the pharmacy in town; it is doubtful that any of these ever made it to the local pharmacy, as most of these people do not have money for basic necessities, let alone medication.
We saw one teenaged girl who had a very noticeable skin pigmentation condition covering her entire body. The local doctor who assisted with the clinic indicated that this condition is curable, and that it is treated for free in Guatemala City. However, this family is so poor that a trip to Guatemala City, with the associated costs, is unattainable.
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