Return to Huehue

2016 marks the fourth annual trip to Guatemala for Providence Oregon Family Medicine Residency. During the previous three years, we have made annual trips to the Department and City of Huehuetenango (pronounce way-way-tenango, see map below). During each of these trips, we have met with comadronas (midwives), medical students, local doctors, and the patients and staff Casa Materna. Casa Materna (see links to the right) is a home where women with high risk pregnancies can complete their last weeks of pregnancy and deliver in the hospital next door instead of making the hours-long trip on curvy roads to the hospital in Huehuetenango. It is primarily funded by Project Concern International (PCI) a US based NGO with projects around the world. Our shared goal is to make a dent in the maternal mortality rate (number of women who die because of a pregnancy) from roughly 140 per 100,000 pregnancies (this number is 28 in the US).

Helping us get ready, the staffs of both PMG Southeast and Milwaukie helped us to pack birth kits to give to the midwives.  Each kit has gloves, soap, string (umbilical cord), a drape, a blessing card. We want to give a huge shout of thanks for all the help!

Anyone who wants to follow our trip can simply enter your e-mail address into the "follow by e-mail box" (you will receive a link to confirm) or just bookmark the page. We will try to post every other day at least. You can also leave comments or view the weblogs from previous years.

This year, our fearless leader Suzy has once again created a two week schedule of meeting with midwives, medical students, local community leaders, and seeing patients. This will be the first year where our residents (Mariah and Rosalicia) will be doing a shift in the hospital in Huehuetenango with the other interns and residents. Along with Mariah, Rosalicia, and Suzy will be Chris and Josh and....Melissa our graduate in Tillamook will be making her second trip.