by Lukas Herrmann
On October 22nd we arrived in El Zapote. After leaving Ahuachapán the last time, 10 medical students spent 4-6 weeks at the 'Unidad Comunitaria de Salud Familiar in El Zapote' up to date. Many things have changed but the well known hospitality remained. We were looking forward to learn about the current challenges and realign our efforts for future collaborations. Besides realising a donation of essential medicines in cooperation with Action Medeor e.V. , we were curious to learn more about the challenge of implementing and using sonography at the Unidad Comunitaria de Salud Familiar in Cara Sucia. After the recent elections, the new minister of health minister - Ana Orellana - instructed the immediate use of the ultrasonic device.
Este equipo de ultrasonografía lo tuvieron dos años bajo llave en una bodega de la Unidad Comunitaria de Salud Familiar en Cara Sucia, Ahuachapán, equipo está nuevo.
He girado instrucciones para que se utilice de inmediato en beneficio de los usuarios. pic.twitter.com/Qj7sGaVXq9— Ana Orellana (@AnaOrellanaB) August 17, 2019
We met Dr. Caballero, head of the healthcare center in Cara Sucia to learn that recently Dra. Wendy Quiteño Quintanilla, specialized gynecologist, joined the team for daily consultation hours to offer free gynecological sonography. We were invited to visit the new treatment rooms currently under renovation, in which conization will be offered from January on.
At the end of the tour we found ourselves in a lively discussion about the most challenging health issues in the region: The maternal mortality rate and consistent high rates of infectious diseases including, Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya. We left Cara Sucia with many new impressions, lots of food for thought and the feeling of mutual benefit that future collaboration would inherit.
We are relieved about the impact of the sonography device and look forward to see that healthcare in remote areas can be improved.