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| CAP waiting room |
Today was a clinic day at the CAP (Centro de Atención Personal) in Santa Eulalia. In Guatemala, there are three levels of non-private medical care. The lowest level is the Puesto de Salud (health post), which you would find in smaller towns, and is staffed by nurses and only offer basic services. The next level is the CAP; some are staffed by physicians and can do deliveries, others are staffed by nurses only. The National Hospital in Huehue is the only hospital with full surgical, medical, pediatric, and OB/GYN services.
Suzy brought last year’s group to the CAP in Santa Eulalia and we returned this year. We arrived to find a waiting room fairly full and set to work. Josh and Melissa did consultas for moms and kids. Melissa had two 10 month old children whose weight was about average for a two month old. She also had a woman whose blood pressure was 240 and whom she sent by ambulance to the hospital in Huehue. She also footed the Q 200 ($27) bill for the ride.
Mariah and Rosalicia each did a half day of consultas and a half day of ultrasounds with Chris using the portable ultrasound that Sonosite lent to us. Rosalicia did an ultrasound for twins who were both head down. The mom said (via our Q’anjobal interpreter) that she was planning to deliver at home, but we advised her delivering at the CAP would be a safer option. Josh and Chris did a successful version (manually applying pressure to a baby in utero to get it to flip into a head first position. All in all a good clinic day.
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| Soloma |
We headed back to Huehue along the four hour ride dodging the many potholes, through the fog, up and over the altiplano, stopping in Soloma for lunch. Throughout the ride, we reflected on our presence here and whether we are truly helping or not in a chaotic setting. When we arrived back at Abesaida’s house, we found that Paty (Abesaida’s daughter who is 38 weeks pregnant) had severely elevated blood pressure and needed more urgent evaluation, so we sent her (after dinner of course) to the private clinic/hospital where her obstetrician works.
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| Read the sign. Or not. |
Suzy brought last year’s group to the CAP in Santa Eulalia and we returned this year. We arrived to find a waiting room fairly full and set to work. Josh and Melissa did consultas for moms and kids. Melissa had two 10 month old children whose weight was about average for a two month old. She also had a woman whose blood pressure was 240 and whom she sent by ambulance to the hospital in Huehue. She also footed the Q 200 ($27) bill for the ride.
So proud of you guys! You are making a difference because you are bringing your hearts and having them forever changed. And nice picture at the end by the way,,,,seems familiar to me for some reason!
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