Postcards from Olintepeque
We all pose for a group shot at the start of the day. The Mayor is at center.
So here I am all alone at the residence in Quetzaltenango, while the clinical crew is doing a second day in Olintepeque. Yesterday, our first day, was a grand success, with us seeing about 100 patients – 70 general consultations and 30 complete women’s exams.
Our in-country facilitators – Hugo and Elbia – have done a fantastic job – arranging commuting services for us in an ambulance and a vehicle belonging to the Guatemala Ministry of Tourism (INGUAT). And in Olintepeque, the town council and the management of the Health Center have put the general consultations in relatively luxurious accommodations in the Municipal Palace.
Our reception yesterday was also impressive. We were received into the “Salon de Honor” – “Room of Honor” – to be welcomed by the mayor himself, along with other important officials of the town, the local Health Center, and the Area Directorate of Health Services. In the best Latin tradtion, we heard half-a-dozen speeches thanking us for coming and expressing hope for an ongoing relationship with this clinic and other clinics like it And as usual, I was asked to come to the front and give a speech. Following that, I was even interviewed by a local television station – an interview I’ll never have the chance to see, I don’t suppose.
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- Alconolism: a national problem
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- Taylor and Chelsea examine a skin problem
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- Chelsea and US Volunteer William do a medical interview
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- Elvia counsels a woman in herbal medicines
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- Hugo clarifies the schedule
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- Our advertising poster: “All services free.”
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- Municipal Palace: General Consultations on 2nd floor
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- Olintepeque Centro de Salud: Site of 2 GYN clinics
Today will be the big day – it’s market day in Olintepeque, and despite the rain that started before day break this morning, the town will be packed. It will be very surprising if a significant percentage of that crowd does not move by prearranged plan or by impulse and curiosity to one or both of the free clinics.
The team will be in Olintepeque for two more days after today. Unfortunately, however, something came up and I must attend to some business in Guatemala City. So I need to leave a couple of days early for Guatemala City tomorrow morning for a meeting that is very important to the MayaCREW and ACEBAR educational projects. Then, on Saturday, June 11, I have to return to my day job in New York. Given the competency and well-honed planning of Hugo and Elvia, I know the crew will be well taken care of. I’ll be sad to miss the last week and a half of the Rotation though, which has great experiences planned.
More on those activities in upcoming blogs …. so stay tuned.
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