Medical Mission
The annual medical campaign involves over 100 medical personnel from the Boulder, Denver and northern Colorado areas who donate their time, and in most cases, their expenses, to be part of the annual event. Approximately two-thirds of the volunteers have been on the campaign at least once and have developed strong personal bonds with host families and medical counterparts in Mante. At least one-third of the volunteers each year are new, injecting new vitality into the program.
During the opening ceremony for this year’s medical campaign, Dr. Silvia de la Garza, spoke of the more than 70,000 patients who have been seen by virtue of the BCH annual medical campaign since l990.
In 2008, over 5400 patients were seen by the medical team from Colorado, with 8241 total actions (including distribution of glasses, hearing aids, etc.) While treatment is often called for, education is the key to long term health in the community. In a community where Coca Colas are the norm for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it is not surprising to find a high incidence of diabetes and related issues. In many cases, physical therapists, audiologists and similar professionals will lay out a plan of action for patients and children that are to be followed for the entire year to come. Next year, it will be the time to lay out program for the following year. Several of the medical team were interviewed by the local television station and emphasized prevention.
The planning for this campaign is a year long event. Mike Moran, a vice President at BCH is the organizer of this event, ably assisted by Rocky Abbott of BCH administration. Dr. David Rodriguez in Mante, is the originator and coordinator in Mante. It is stated that it takes 300 volunteers each year in the Mante community to plan, host, serve as translators and perform the administrative functions for this medical campaign. In the fall of each year preceding the campaign, BCH organizes a 40 foot trailer with equipment and supplies that will be needed by the medical practitioners during the ten day campaign in February.
An exciting development this year was announced by Dr. Silvia de la Garza at the week-end fiesta. A mammography unit had been donated by BCH. Breast cancer is one of the two leading causes of death among women in Tamaulipas and in Mexico. This gift is valued at $260,000. Found in much younger women, this mobile unit will allow for earlier detection and appropriate treatment, resulting in improved prognosis for women.
One of the challenges this year for the campaign, was to work out of the new Hospital General which had been built over the past several years. Working out the logistics and becoming familiar with the new environment was quickly dealt with so that medical people could work effectively in the new facility.
We notice changes each year as we return to Mante. Several people noted that, “Walmart has come to Mante.”
Each year, Jean Bedell compiles a daily newsletter (called the Full Mante) of anecdotes of the medical campaign, which are relayed to BCH for posting. In one of this year’s newsletters, Jean quotes a recent Guidepost issue: “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” This succinctly, states the goal of the medical campaign to Mante each year.
A few excerpts regarding patient treatment this year include:
* In 2004, 58 year old Ofelia had a mastectomy for breast cancer. Of her 4 daughters, 2 have been faithful about mammograms and self exams. 2 believe it could never happen to them. She came with her husband to be fitted with a prosthesis. He says, “She is still beautiful…we’re married 40 years.”
* A pediatric complaint is “foot pain.” Upon close professional examination, it was noted that young girls are wearing fancy, spike heeled, pointy-toed shoes. The treatment program: buy tennis shoes.
* (Focus on long-term follow-up). Pat spoke about a 26 year old widow. Last year, her husband came with heart problems we were not able to fix. He died in November. Earlier, Lupe was told she had an abnormal pap smear. She has lived with fear that her 7 year old son would be an orphan. What a relief to be told this week that she had no serious health problem at all.
* Folks come in all ages. How sweet to see the 15 month old boy with no muscle tone: a “floppy kid syndrome.” Becky and Karen found a stroller with a brightly colored umbrella that is just right for this little guy. At the other end of life is 89 year old Augustina, with severe rheumatoid arthritis. She was fitted with comfortable shoes, but ‘shooed’ away the PT’s who wanted to help tie her shoes. “I can do that much myself,” she said energetically. |