When: January 18 - 26, 2014

Where: Cubulco, Guatemala

Video: Click here to view a GHO video relevant to surgical teams

Who: 3 General Providers (MD's, NP's, PA's), 1 PACU Nurse, 1 Pharmacist, 1 Dentist (to do extractions), 1 Dental Assistant; 2 General Surgeons & 2 OB/GYN Surgeons, Anesthesia Providers, 2 Scrub Techs, 2 OR Nurses / Circulators, a limited number of logistics and a team pastor as well. We will do an eye clinic offering reading glasses.

Status: Accepting Applications

Special Travel Announcement: Unless you are instructed by GHO or your team leader, do not book your own travel. Please email ghotravel@cmda.org prior to the ticket purchase if you want to use frequent flyer miles and/or want your number added to the ticket.

Project Fee:  $1,420 plus International Airfare and $15 per hour for up to 14 hours CME/CDE (if applicable)  Click here for more information on CME/CDE

Team Leaders: Mark (MD) and Joy (RN) Moores

To read the Moores' biography Click Here

Trip Details: Guatemala is the most populous & largest economy in Central America, but its rural population still lives in great deprivation – excluded socially, economically, and politically due to language and geographical barriers & to a lack of education and economic opportunities. As a result, Guatemala has among the worst “health outcomes” & “health indicators” in Latin America.

Guatemala stands out with an inordinately high poverty rate – with 56% of families below the poverty line & 16% in extreme poverty – with higher indigenous figures.

Diarrhea, acute respiratory infection, & malnutrition are the primary causes of child mortality in Latin America. Guatemala has the highest prevalence of chronically malnourished children at 44%.

Despite 20% of the population lives in Guatemala City, Guatemala is the least urbanized country in Central America. In most villages, there are no health services, and the costs of traveling to access services are often prohibitive.
Only 11% of Guatemala’s population has access to health services, based on the World Health Organization definition. 50% of children with respiratory infection or diarrhea are treated in their homes rather than in any health facility. In rural areas, only 25% of the population sees a doctor, while 50% rely on self-medication.

We will be serving the people of Cubulco. It is a small mountain town 5 hours, by bus, north of Guatemala City. At an elevation of 3200 feet, the weather is mild & pleasant. The people are warm, friendly & welcoming. Our missionary hosts are Julio & Veronica Cárdenas. A majority of the citizens speak Spanish although some speak the native dialect of Achi. We will have interpreters available to assist us.

GHO has partnered with AMG (Advancing the Ministry of the Gospel) http://www.amginternational.org for many years. We will provide a full complement of medical & surgical services at Senorita Elena Medical Center. Surgical cases will include hernias, gallbladders, prolapsed uterus, retroceles, cystoceles, etc.  Medical problems such as malnutrition and parasites are prevalent in this area. The hospital provides ongoing medical support but only offers surgery 1-2 times a year with visiting medical teams. Over 15,000 patients each year are given the gospel message as they receive medical and dental treatment.

The team needs 3 General Providers (MD's, NP's, PA's), 1 PACU Nurse, 1 Pharmacist, 1 Dentist (to do extractions), 1 Dental Assistant; 2 General Surgeons & 2 OB/GYN Surgeons, Anesthesia Providers, 2 Scrub Techs, 2 OR Nurses / Circulators, a limited number of logistics and a team pastor as well. We will do an eye clinic offering reading glasses.
We will see patients Monday through Thursday. The rest will be travel days except for a sight-seeing day the Saturday prior to departing.

Please contact Mark & Joy Moores at mooresgho@hurontel.on.ca  with further questions & information.

We will all travel into Guatemala City & and stay overnight. Sunday morning we will drive 5-6 hours by bus to Cubulco through the beautiful, winding mountains. Once situated, we'll start setting up for clinic, dental, pharmacy & screening OR patients. We will see patients Monday through Thursday & travel back to Guatemala City on Friday. Saturday is reserved for sight-seeing. Throughout the week there will be good fellowship, devotions & worship. Sunday, January 20th we fly back home.

This is a trip you don't want to miss...you will be blessed as well as a blessing to others!