Last month we participated in another week-long medical mission with Speroway. We worked in and around San Salvador, El Salvador to meet medical needs but also to give out food, clothes, toys, smiles and a few hugs. One of the questions that we're regularly asked about our medical mission trips to Central America is what happens after we leave and the medication we've given runs out, especially for people with life-long conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure?
The quick answer is that each person is left to decide whether or not to spend their limited finances on refills for these drugs - whether or not to make health care a priority in their lives.
While that situation hasn't changed for most of the communities that we've visited over the years, we are excited about now being able to make a more lasting impact on the residents of the village of San Jose Villanueva, just south of the capital.
A year or so ago, Speroway started talking about building a permanent clinic in El Salvador. The responsibility for local clinics falls to the municipal government but unfortunately none of the towns have the funds to build, let alone staff, a clinic. Speroway was connected with the energetic Mayor Pedro of this village by a local ministry called Operation Blessing and a partnership was struck. After a ground-breaking ceremony in April, the clinic was almost finished when we visited last month. We were able to participate in a dedication ceremony and then run one of our clinics out of the building for the community. Final discussions are happening now to allow the municipality to run, staff and eventually take over the clinic while Speroway looks to repeat the process in another community.
While helping to meet immediate healthcare needs is always rewarding, it’s also great to take that next step and partner with local leaders to help them make more lasting changes in the lives of their community. We feel blessed to be a part of this new endeavour and we’re excited about the future for the people of El Salvador that we've come to care about.
- Krista and Chris Ritskes
The quick answer is that each person is left to decide whether or not to spend their limited finances on refills for these drugs - whether or not to make health care a priority in their lives.
While that situation hasn't changed for most of the communities that we've visited over the years, we are excited about now being able to make a more lasting impact on the residents of the village of San Jose Villanueva, just south of the capital.
A year or so ago, Speroway started talking about building a permanent clinic in El Salvador. The responsibility for local clinics falls to the municipal government but unfortunately none of the towns have the funds to build, let alone staff, a clinic. Speroway was connected with the energetic Mayor Pedro of this village by a local ministry called Operation Blessing and a partnership was struck. After a ground-breaking ceremony in April, the clinic was almost finished when we visited last month. We were able to participate in a dedication ceremony and then run one of our clinics out of the building for the community. Final discussions are happening now to allow the municipality to run, staff and eventually take over the clinic while Speroway looks to repeat the process in another community.
While helping to meet immediate healthcare needs is always rewarding, it’s also great to take that next step and partner with local leaders to help them make more lasting changes in the lives of their community. We feel blessed to be a part of this new endeavour and we’re excited about the future for the people of El Salvador that we've come to care about.
- Krista and Chris Ritskes
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