Feria de Salud

Would you come to see this doctor?

Our days are rapidly winding down in Guatemala. Wednesday and Thursday were prescheduled at Casa Materna as a "Feria de Salud" (Health Fair). For the last several weeks, Casa Materna had a billboard with a seductive female doctor announcing the feria. We really weren't sure what to expect when we arrived but we quickly found out.

one more ultrasound?

There were about forty! women who wanted ultrasounds, both nonpregnant women with pelvic discomfort, and pregnant women wanting to have an ultrasound. Bob and Suzy managed to do 28 ultrasounds at a patient cost of $6 each (that's a net $170 for the day). Melissa was once again the queen of pap smears, and did about 20 paps. Chris did "consultas generales" and worked with a couple of nursing students from the University Rafael Landivar, which has a nursing school here in HueHue and a med school in Guatemala City. We are going to meet with the director of the school tomorrow. 

Rosio and Suzy

Back to the "Feria" which did not include any corn dogs, coin tosses or thrill rides, In fact we are not sure why it was called a "Feria", it was more of a "Clinic Cluster" and an opportunity for the poorest of HueHue to get some care they otherwise could not afford. We did get pretty tired and even a wee bit grumpy, as the lights dimmed in our exam rooms, the air became heavy and more patients kept showing up. The "Fair" was broadcast all day on the radio and tales of the Dra. Caliente (we know as La Flaminga Negra) spread. Still, we did not have to deal with EPIC, so we realized it could have been much worse!  It was worthwhile to be of service and we were again touched by so many!

our mark at the shop

We met with Bal Maria, the director of PCI in Huehuetenango, her husband Ariel, and daughter Elisa after "office hours" in an amazing coffee bar in HueHue that had the most amazing cup of the bean we had ever savored. After leaving our mark at this fine place, we did manage to aquire some of this gold as well as some Sal Negra (black salt) that will be coming back with us if La Aduana (customs) allows. Finally we dined with la familia Lopez (Abesida's family) and were treated with the most delicious Chile Relleno Guatemateca ever: Abecida's son Manuel confided to us that she had labored all day to prepare this delicacy by hand for us as a special gift. It does not get any better!

La Familia Lopez
Edward, Evelyn, Abesaida, Pati, Noeli
Arnoldo, David, Samuel, Manuel

Tomorrow will be a bittersweet day as it is our last full one in Huehuetenango. We will start with "La Feria day 2" and then after some meetings with the directors of the national hospital, will be celebrating with the staff and patients at Casa Materna.

Hasta Pronto: El Loro y El Gallo