2022 Medical Brigade Newsletter #1

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER

Information for Brigadiers for 2022

This is the first of a series of newsletters intended to assist with your participation in Honduras Good Works Medical Mission Trip. Topics covered in this, and future newsletters include:

• Cost of trip, payment information and due dates
• Passport
• Immunizations and Prevention
• Documentation
• Packing parties
• Team T-shirts
• Carpooling to Houston
• Luggage information
• Lodging accommodations
• Airport information
• What to pack
• Traveling as a GROUP
• Daily activities while in Honduras

Please be on the lookout for upcoming monthly newsletters.Payments (donations)This year’s mission trip is July 10-17, 2022.The cost to our volunteers for participation in the Medical Brigade is $2100. We need a $50 deposit to hold your airline ticket, by April 10th. Your first payment of $1000 is due April 30th, and the final payment by May31st. If you wish you may pay the full balance anytime.You can send a check to HGW PO Box 201446, Austin, TX, 78720 or pay online at Payment. You can fundraise for your trip and ask your sponsors to make payments in your name to this site as well.The trip amount includes airfare, lodging, transportation in country and meals.PassportsAn important step is to check your passport expiration date. It must be good until January 17, 2023. Please renew if needed.ImmunizationsEveryone will be required to have had their initial series of vaccinations for CoVid for this trip. We also strongly recommend that you take a booster if it is indicated for your age/risk group. A copy of your vaccine card should be downloaded using the Document Upload page.Ask your personal health care provider about immunizations and prevention for mosquito borne illnesses. He/she is the best judge of any special requirements you might have. General minimum recommendations are: Diphtheria- tetanus booster (if you haven’t had one in the past five years), completion of the Polio series in childhood, Hepatitis A vaccination. (Be sure and start this at least two weeks prior to the trip. The initial injection should be followed by a booster 6-18 months later for maximum effectiveness.)All prescription medication for personal use must be in a properly labeled, currently dated prescription bottle. We will have a supply of medications specifically for mission volunteers, if anyone get sicks with diarrhea etc.Infections In HondurasCoVid is on the wane in Honduras, and we hope it stays that way. In the past, mosquito born illnesses such as Chikungunya and Zika have been more common, but currently are rarely seen. Dengue does occur. Your best protection against these illnesses is to protect yourself from mosquito bites, by wearing bug spray, using wrist bands and wearing protective clothing.Malaria is present to Honduras. It isn’t rampant, but is prevalent enough that, in the past 22 years of going to this area, there have been one or two cases among the mission workers. The risk for malaria is very small, but no one can say it is zero. The risk is higher at sea level, i.e., for those planning on going to Roatan afterwards, since that mosquito prefers the warmer climate there. For those who decide that they want prophylaxis against malaria, we recommend Chloroquine tablets. This medication is taken 2 tablets a week, starting two weeks before departure and continuing for four weeks after return. Talk it over with your physician if you have any questions. If you decide to take it, we should be able to provide it for you.Official Documentation for Medical Providers and DriversThose of you who have agreed to drive while in Honduras (you must know how to drive a standard transmission 4 wheel drive pick-up truck) must download a copy of your driver’s license using our Document Upload page.If you are a medical provider (Doctor, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner or Dentist), we will need a copy of your diploma and license to practice. These can also be downloaded using the Document Upload page.Packing party datesMedication is donated and purchased in bulk and separated into individual packages at the packing parties. Volunteers, such as yourself and friends and family, meet on several dates before the medical mission trip to prepare all medical supplies/medication for the mission trip.

• Our first packing party was not as well attended as needed to get this work done. Please try to attend our future ones and bring/invite help! This is a great way to involve folks in your mission experience without them having to travel to Honduras.
• The next packing parties are
  • May 7th at Christ Episcopal Church in Temple. 300 N. Main St. 76501, from 9am -2opm.
  • May 14th at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Austin. 8134 Mesa Dr. 78759, from 9am-2pm.
• Future packing party dates will be announced when they are scheduled.

To answer questions or for technical help, please contact us through brigade.info@hondurasgoodworks.org