Bringing Vision and Rehab to Those in Need: A Recap of Our Spring Medical Trip

Our spring medical trip to Honduras was a tremendous success! As part of our International Medical Program, we had a team of 31 medical and support volunteers who worked tirelessly to provide care for high-needs patients and build up the capacity of local medical personnel and social services.

Our 17-person eyecare team saw 2,227 patients, with 72% of those being women and children. They provided reading glasses to everyone who needed them and identified conditions such as cataracts, strabismus, or pterygium, creating referrals for surgeries during our upcoming medical trip in November. Witnessing the level of excitement and the vast scale of our pop-up eyecare clinics that cater to several hundred people a day is truly a sight to behold.

Changing lives through vision – one of the many heartwarming moments from our medical trip to Honduras.

Meanwhile, our team of 10 professional physiotherapy experts, provided 306 personalized consultations for 212 children and 94 adults with disabilities. Collaborating with parents and local physiotherapists, they diagnosed issues and suggested practical treatments that families could implement at home to reduce impairments, which will ultimately increase their autonomy and dignity. The consultations were so effective that many families discovered new breakthroughs in their children's communication or treatment plans, thanks to the tailored approach that was taken to meet their unique needs.

The team also led trainings for 30 physiotherapists and social workers specializing in support for persons with disabilities. Topics like stroke treatment, feeding disorders, specialized pregnancy topics, and speech therapy techniques provided new skills for even the most experienced medical professionals. Finally, several of our specialists provided a customized training course for the neonatal staff at the Santa Teresa Public Hospital, providing tailored techniques for doctors and nurses to support newborns and their mothers.

Thanks to the efforts of our volunteers, who not only donated their time but even paid for all of their expenses, this trip was an amazing success! We are proud of our team of volunteers and partners in Honduras, who worked tirelessly to make a difference in the lives of the people they served, and we look forward to continuing our efforts to support those in need.