2023 Brigade Report
We are pleased to report that, despite several challenges, HGW had another successful brigade. Due to new Honduran regulations, we were no longer allowed to carry prepackaged medicines in our luggage. All meds had to be in their original sealed containers. With the extra weight and bulk this entailed, we elected to have the medicines shipped ahead of our brigade.
We sent a team of 11 American volunteers to Honduras three days ahead with the plans of having 3 days to pack up the 1000 pounds (more than 200,000 pills) of medicine, which was scheduled to be delivered one week prior to the brigade. But due to events beyond our control, and, in spite of extensive planning, our medicines didn’t arrive until 36 hours before the main team did. Rev. Dagoberto, the local pastor we work with, bussed in 30 of our scholarship students to help with the heroic medicine packing effort, to get 3 days of work done in 1.5 days! The work couldn’t have been done without them.
The brigade was attended by 43 volunteers from the USA and 23 from Honduras. We had 4 Honduran dentists, 4 Honduran doctors, a Honduran pharmacist and 14 translators. Fourteen doctors and/or advance practice nurses from the USA, along with several RNs, pastors, translators, administrators, and general helpers made up the rest of the team. We had 4 teenagers in the group-the children or grandchildren of volunteers. One of the things that impressed our volunteers the most was how well this group from Central and North America worked so well together, to get so much work done in a short week.
Each day 4 teams would travel out to remote villages, so that 20 villages were served in the 5 clinic days. Doctors provided primary care, nurses did blood sugar checks, wound care and provided reading glasses to all who needed them. Dentists evaluated oral hygiene, pulled rotten teeth, and provided fluoride prophylaxis treatments. The Spirit team played soccer with the kids, read stories and colored with them. Our helpers aided the dentists, treatment nurses and pharmacists, restocked the provider tables, made lunches, carried boxes, drove the trucks, helped restock supplies each night, and more! 1958 medical patients were provided care, as were 201+ dental patients. As one of our volunteers said, “Yes, I had a spiritual experience, much more than I can put down here, or even fully understand yet. The trip has been profoundly impactful for my worldview and commitment to charitable labor.”
THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED MAKE THIS BRIGADE A SUCCESS. WHETHER YOU PRAYED FOR US, DONATED SUPPLIES, LABELLED BAGGIES, PACKED HYGIENE ITEMS OR FUNDED A PARTICIPANT. YOU ARE WHAT MAKES THIS POSSIBLE! We encourage all who are interested in joining our brigade next year to contact us at info@hondurasgoodworks.org. We really need more non-medical helpers! You are vital in helping get all the work done.
