Monday March 12

(The team and eleventh grade nursing class in front of the school/Overholts’s.)

Another sweltering, gratifying, and slightly chaotic day in the books!

Our morning started at 0545 as we walked to the Overholts’s for breakfast. We quickly ate, loaded the truck with our suitcases full of clinic supplies, and caravanned through downtown Choluteca to the health department. This was the first time any of the Overholts’s study abroad groups went to this particular health department, so we all went into the experience with open minds. The eleventh grade class of the nursing school joined us and utilized their growing skill set; students conducted patient intakes, took blood pressures and blood sugars, and served as pivotal conduits of communication between the team and patients.

(Basking in the sun outside the health department after a great morning.)

The health department’s facilities demanded some innovation on our behalf, and I think we delivered pretty well! After setting up the exam rooms, the entire clinic’s power went out…and stayed out for the duration of our time there. The only implication for losing power was the absence of several functioning ceiling fans that slightly improved air circulation, making the space hotter. In any case, we persevered!

Khadra and I (Jen) facilitated the two women’s health exam rooms while engaging nursing students and seeing patients. We conducted both well woman exams and prenatal visits. I deeply appreciated using the Doppler to have the expecting moms listen to the heartbeat, as many of them hadn’t had any prenatal care until today.

Terri, Kathryn, Julia, Iza, and Chiseko saw adult and pediatric patients in the other larger rooms. It was crowded. It was noisy. It was hot. (Like 100+ degrees indoors.) And everyone involved demonstrated compassion and patience. The community members present expressed gratitude and eagerness to participate in their health care, and the team ensured everyone’s self-identified needs were addressed.

Lauren and Jeff held down the pharmacy fort, per usual! “Despite the chaos, we managed to get everyone the medications they needed,” says Lauren.

Lucia, Jan, Angie, and Patty continued to precept and guide the team’s efforts.

After wrapping up clinic, we drove back to the Overholts’s for lunch, re-stocked suitcases of supplies, and taught the nursing students about CPR and first aid.

The day calmed down with a much needed siesta followed by dinner and lounging. It’s safe to say we’ll all likely be sound asleep by 2100.