Tag Archives: Health

Mar
31
2014

Working in the “Comarca,” Panama

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Follow our progress:  https://www.hopeforahealthierhumanity.org/

Comarca map

Comarca map

The “Comarca” or traditional region (roughly translated to reservation) in Panama is where the largest population of Ngäbe-Buglé indigenous groups reside.

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Hope for a Healthier Humanity (HHH) will be working with the Ngäbe (pronounced Naw-bey) groups in various capacities, including:

  1. Educating expecting Ngäbe women on prenatal and postpartum care.
  2. Self-empowerment and self-esteem education for the women.
  3. Providing support to the practical nurses currently working with these communities.
  4. Balanced nutrition.

For anyone interested in volunteering, we would greatly appreciate the knowledge and expertise in prenatal and postpartum care, lactation, mental health and nutrition.  Feel free to contact me and fill out a volunteer application at https://www.hopeforahealthierhumanity.org/volunteer.php

Mar
20
2014

Education, the gift that keeps on giving

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https://www.hopeforahealthierhumanity.org/

Educating community leaders how to help themselves, their families and community members in need is the best gift we can give on our trips.  The participants themselves often use the phrase  “give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”  That is one of the main goals of each trip with Hope for a Healthier Humanity.

 You can help us … we have upcoming projects where we will need the expertise of the following:

  1. Mental Health – skills on coping
  2. Nutrition
  3. Basic first aid
  4. Delivering a baby and postpartum care
  5. Alternative medicine such as acupuncture and herbal medicine
  6. Agriculture and engineering

Regardless of your professional background, we can always use a helping hand.  Join us for an exciting and rewarding adventure giving back to those who need it most.  Follow this link for the volunteer application.

https://www.hopeforahealthierhumanity.org/volunteer.php

Emergency carry

Emergency carry

Choking and CPR

Choking and CPR

We love it when we see 'light bulbs' go off

We love it when we see ‘light bulbs’ go off

All participants are attentive and grateful

All participants are attentive and grateful

Learning basics

Learning basics

 

Mar
11
2014

A need for multidisciplinary healthcare

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Basic healthcare and knowledge that we may often take for granted could make a significant difference … Just take a look

Regardless of your expertise or specialty we can always use a helping hand.  These communities need education on nutrition, oral & dental hygiene, mental health, basic first aid and healthcare in addition to the prevention of communicable diseases.

Boy with vomiting x15 days and diarrhea x8 days

Boy with vomiting x15 days and diarrhea x8 days

Poor dental hygiene

Poor dental hygiene

Soft non tender mass

Soft non-tender mass

Fused fingers and toes

Fused fingers and toes

 

Mar
09
2014

The need for water

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The communities farthest from the capital, Tegucigalpa are the communities most in need as they are the communities hardest to reach.  We are hoping to help them with a water project.  Currently, the communities nearby, and by that we mean as far as a 1.5 hour walk away, travel to this lagoon at the top of the mountain to reach water.  This lagoon serves as a source of water for washing clothes and hydrating animals like horses and cows.

http://www.hopeforahealthierhumanity.org/

From this point we are at the edge of a local community hiking down to the bottom right to the lagoon

From this point we are at the edge of a local community hiking down to the bottom right to the lagoon

Took us about 30 minutes to reach the lagoon

Took us about 30 minutes to reach the lagoon

We need to preserve this valuable natural resource

We need to preserve this valuable natural resource

Bathing and washing; humans and animals

Bathing and washing; humans and animals

Mar
09
2014

Back from Valle, Honduras

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Myself and some of the school children

Hanging out with school kids

We had a very eventful and productive trip.  I am happy to be back home and happy to share some of our work with you.  Remember, you can always check on our progress at

http://www.hopeforahealthierhumanity.org/

Next time you think you have it bad … think of these children.  Young boys and girls are expected to help their families, that often means physical work/labor.

Boy at work

Young boys and girls start working at a young age

Girl carrying maiz

Girl helping her mother carry the load

What is your definition of poor? Does it involve not having things you want? Or does it mean not having basic needs?  Within some of these communities they lack basic needs like water, electricity and bathroom facilities.  The children lack schools, shoes and healthcare … just look at some of the following.

Cafeteria within a home for local children

Cafeteria within a home for local children

Homes with no electricity or running water

Homes with no electricity or running water

Called an 'ecofogón'

Called an ‘ecofogón’

Outhouse with no running water

Outhouse with no running water

Latrine with cement seat/base

Latrine with cement seat/base

Outdoor latrine

Outdoor latrine

Feb
27
2014

The adventure begins

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¡Saludos! Welcome, and thank you for visiting my monthly blog.

I have started the adventure of a new career with Hope for a Healthier Humanity as the Clinical Director of International Programs.  I will use this site to update our friends, supporters and perspective volunteers with our progress on monthly trips.  As the saying goes … “a pictures is worth a thousand words” and I hope to vividly capture our experiences with pictures and videos to share with all of you.

Our next trip is to Valle, Honduras from March 2 – 7, 2014.

In the meantime please check out our main website at
http://www.hopeforahealthierhumanity.org/
where I am officially welcomed to the HHH team.

Also check out our videos on YouTube from past trips …

2013 to La Ceiba, Honduras

2012 to Tegucigalpa, Honduras