This year, CHIMPS expanded its reach by sending 2 teams to Santiago over a 2 week period in March. We were able to increase our outreach in coordination with our partners at Hospitalito Atitlan in Santiago. Group 1 arrived on March 9 and set out to work from March 11 to 15. This group comprised of a pediatrician, an urgent care pediatrician/internist and a pediatric pulmonologist worked with children and families in outreach clinics in San Pablo, San Pedro, San Antonio Chacaya as well as a return to support our friends at ADISA (center which serves children and families with developmental differences). They met the needs of children with nutritional, developmental, dermatologic, gastrointestinal and pulmonary challenges. Thanks to the generous donations of donors, we were able to purchase and deliver high yield medications. It was especially meaningful for our pediatric pulmonologist to reach children with chronic pulmonary problems; providing specialty inhalers and teaching families proper administration. Unfortunately, one of the greatest threats to all people, but especially children, in Guatemala, is pollution. Our pediatric pulmonologist also provided a “charla” (talk) for staff at Hospitalito Atitlan on the Pediatric Respiratory Exam .
“Week 1” group with one of our local partners at Adisa
Week 2 was comprised of 2 general pediatricians, an urgent care pediatrician and 2 pediatric nurse practitioners. This group spread outreach to Aldea Cerro de Oro, Clinica de San Juan, Cooperative Atitlan, and a day in the clinic at Hospitalito Atitlan. They met children and families in a local school. They addressed concerns about general health and nutrition, growth, development, and common pediatric gastrointestinal, infectious, dermatologic and hematologic issues. One of our pediatricians provided a charla on Nutrition in Young Children and our pediatric nurse practitioners brought expertise in hematology and provided a charla on Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children to staff at Hospitalito Atitlan. Another one our pediatricians was able to meet with a group of Promodoras to review management of childhood illnesses, interpretation of symptoms and when to seek health care outside of home.
Words of wisdom on the wall at the school where we provided outreach
Part of the “Week 2” group waiting for a water taxi to San Juan (blue bags filled with supplies and medications)
All in all, it was a very enriching trip and we felt that we continued to navigate and understand the landscape and needs of the local population. We continue to appreciate our partnership with Hospitalito Atitlan and plan to continue to identify global health challenges and our role as we humbly enter into the land and lives of those we seek to know and understand and serve.