Little government support for health care and a
serious lack of adequate facilities, potable water
and sanitation services has led to a health crisis
throughout the rural regions of Honduras.
Particularly affecting women and children, high
infant mortality rates, respiratory diseases and
intestinal parasites are the most common
infections in the marginal and rural communities
countrywide.
1998's
devastating Hurricane Mitch compounded the crisis,
leaving a legacy of homelessness and unsanitary,
unsafe living conditions for hundreds of
thousands. And tragically, like so many developing
nations, AIDS is taking a terrible toll as more
than 63,000 Hondurans were living with HIV/AIDS as
of 2003, making Honduras home to 70% of Central
America's cases.
Thanks
to the support of many North American medical
professionals however, Sociedad is able to bring
free, primary medical and dental care to many
remote areas of Honduras through a program known
as Peterborough Medical Brigades.
Friends
of Honduran Children sends three Brigades a year,
each one consisting of 16-18 medical professionals
from the Peterborough area. Each team will see up
to 1,500 medical patients and 1,000 dental
patients during their visit, providing care to the
country's most vulnerable. Since its inception,
over 100,000 Hondurans have received medical
attention and medicines.
If
you are a skilled medical professional and might
be interested in joining one of our Medical
Brigades, please contact us.
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