Day 4

I accompanied the Ohio medical students to their clinic in a different squatter community called Mante. It was every bit like Siete, but poorer. The homes were smaller, dirtier, and without land. The kindness of the people overshadowed the depressing conditions. They always acted with respect, appreciation, and patience. Due to the limited clinical staff, many villagers waited several hours in the sweltering sun to be seen. A variety of illness were witnessed including diabetes (one women had a blood glucose of 514… normal levels are around 100!), hypertension, gastritis, and numerous other afflictions.
In a country were people can hardly afford to eat, seeking medical care is not a priority. Unfortunately, simple sickness can progress to severe problems, and leave the individual more susceptible to other complications. The cycle is vicious and leaves me wondering what the best intervention is, and were to begin when so many problems exist.
Later that day, I joined our group in conducting camp for some of the kids of Siete who were on winter break. All the kids were eager and enthusiastic. The sight of them brought me much joy.