News and Information about Salud Juntos
Second Annual Seattle August 5th, 2010
Come hear about Salud Juntos' latest programs and initiatives at a benefit reception in a lovely Seattle home. For more information please email rsvp@saludjuntos.com or call 206-330-5967.Spring 2010 Activities
Visit the Salud Juntos blog to get information on our Spring 2010 projects. Visit our Blog
We completed two one week brigades in January. The first brigade, a vision clinic, January 4th to 9th was led by Joseph Miller, MD an ophthalmologist from the University of Arizona. He was joined by two ophthalmology residents, Leslie Garay, MD, and Carmen Felix Tacononte, MD. They were assisted by Laura Miller. Over the course of the week they saw 225 patients, many having unusual conditions, especially useful for ophthalmology training.
During the second brigade of January Mindy Fain, MD led the general medicine brigade to Punta Ocote Jan 25-29th. She was assisted by Ana Sanguineti, MD a current fellow at the University of Arizona, and Alejandro Sanguineti, MD, a pediatrician from Tucson, AZ who conducted a children's clinic. Also participating were Sheridan Reiger, Executive Director, Becca Mandel, and Dale Reiger. Over the course of the week they worked side-by-side with the the clinic nurse and community health providers, and provided care for over 240 patients.
A mini brigade for 3 days was held simultaneously at La Guacamaya. This brigade was led by Jane Mohler, PhD, RN, MPH. She saw patients and helped to train the promotoras. Her husband Dave (official photographer for Salud Juntos), helped with translating. Jane was delighted to report that the patient health was much better than that of 2008 when we last had a brigade at La Guacamaya.
Thanks to all who participated for their hard work and help to those in Honduras.
In other news:
Punta Ocote began contruction of a new medical clinic on January 25, 2010. They hope to complete it within 90 days. Salud Juntos has provided some funding and the clinic will be large enough to more easily accomodate future brigades.
The community of La Guacamaya is on the verge of having a new water system, a new police station and a new fence built around the clinic.
Whitman College Sorority's "Mr. Whitman" Pageant raises over $28,000!!!
Dale Reiger, Salud Juntos President, accepts a check for over $28,000 from "Mr. Whitman" Pageant organizers and participants on October 30th, 2009 at Cordiner Hall on the campus of Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington.
Thanks to Kappa Kappa Gamma and Whitman University for their generous donation of over $28,000 to Salud Juntos. Salud Juntos was selected as the non-profit to benefit from the annual "Mr. Whitman" event Oct. 30 at Cordiner Hall at Whitman University. (Click Here to read more in the Whitman Pioneer) We will use this donation to help fund the building of a new clinic at Punta Ocote, Dept of Yoro, Honduras, as well as starting a new program using 6 community health workers in the small villages around Punta Ocote.
Use the link above if you would like to donate to Salud Juntos.
Seattle Benefit Reception Raises Over $20,000!!
Sheridan Reiger, Executive Director, presents information about projects, past, present and future, to the attendees at the First Annual Seattle Benefit for Salud Juntos on August 12th, 2009. From the left: Mike Spilde, Treasurer, Lynn Tienken, Board Member, Sheridan Reiger, Executive Director and Dale Reiger, President.
The First Annual Seattle Fundraiser was a huge success. Over 65 guests joined us at the beautiful McAleer residence on Lake Washington to talk about Salud Juntos' activities and accomplishments in Honduras, experiences of our volunteers, and our hopes and plans for the future. Our thanks go out to all those who helped raise over $10,000 - well over our $6,000 goal!!! And this total doesn't include the match for all donations, making the grand total over $20,000!!!
The stories, ideas, and connections that were shared, all over tacos and sangria, will go far this next year in empowering Salud Juntos so that we may continue to empower others in collaborative, effective, and innovative ways. Thank you all once again.
Brigades for Summer 2009
We had a successful brigade at Punta Ocote for four weeks in June. We had both a rheumatology clinic (headed by Jeff Lisse, MD and Catharine Quiroz, OTL/L) and the regular clinic (lead by Mindy Fain, MD and Jane Mohler, PhD, RN). Together they saw over 350 patients in a week. Students from the Cornell University group, Partners for Honduran Health, presented an educational program about dental care and provided toothbrushes and toothpastes to over 1,400 students in the schools in Punta Ocote and the surrounding area. There was also follow up from our previous brigade with eye patients taken to El Progreso for surgery and other treatments. Participants in the brigade included: Emma Tall, Kelly Wagner, Jessica Wagner, Sheridan Reiger, Catherine Quiroz, OTL/L, Marion Robine, Jeff Lisse, MD, Greg Lisse, Patrick Butler, Mindy Fain, MD, Jane Mohler, PhD, and Dale Reiger
Art and Treasure Silent Auction a Big Success!!
A successful Art and Treasure Silent Auction to benefit Salud Juntos projects was held on Saturday March 14th in Tucson, Arizona. This was our first fundraiser. Special thanks to our hosts Pat and Debbie Butler, and sponsors Mindy Fain, MD, Rick Mandel, MD, Jane Mohler, Phd and Dave Moyer.
Brigades for January 2009
We had a successful brigade at Punta de Ocote, near Yoro in the Dept of Yoro the first week of January. There was a vision and a medical clinic and we saw over 600 patients in a week. The following week, we supported a Honduran dentist at La Guacamaya. Those participating included: Joseph Miller, MD, Laura Miller, Mary Kay O'Neill, MD, Jane Mohler, PhD, RN, Dave Moyer, Sheridan Reiger, Lindsay McAleer, Steve Cooper and Dale Reiger. Salud Juntos has now directly or indirectly been responsible for over 6,000 patient visits!
Brigade for Summer 2008
From June 3 until July 10, the clinic at La Guacamaya was open.
We accomplished many things including:
We saw over 1,000 patients. The vision clinic had about 400 patients. In one day we treated 99 patients (28 medical and 71 vision). With the help of undergraduate students from Cornell University under the guidance of Jane Mohler, Phd, University of Arizona, we finished a comprehensive health survey of La Guacamaya with over 301 household surveys conducted. The results are being tabulated. 38 People participated in the Brigade, including 13 faculty from the University of Arizona. We had specialists in pediatrics, obstetrics, optometry, cardiology, family practice and internal medicine. We gave away more than 1,000 toothbrushes and toothpastes to all the school children in La Guacamaya as well as La Victoria. Many of these children had never used a toothbrush before.
We signed three contracts.
1. With the Ministry of Health for Honduras, the Health Committee of Centro de Salud La Guacamaya and Salud Juntos...this calls for a full time nurse, a full time office administrator, and at first a part time doctor which should lead soon to a full time physician. We will continue to have brigades and the Ministry of Health as well as Salud Juntos will supply medications. This contract is being financed through a joint effort of the Ministry of Health and Salud Juntos.
2. With the two new Promotoras (Community Health Workers), the Health Committee of Centro de Salud La Guacamaya, and Salud Juntos....this contract spells out the responsibilities of the Promatoras, their training schedule and their salary. This is being financed by the Health Committee of Centro de Salud La Guacamaya and Salud Juntos.
3. With the Health Committee of Centro de Salud La Guacamaya and Salud Juntos....this contract spells out the payment of the parties to the Promotoras. It also establishes a family relief fund for families in distress or those patients who need bus or taxi fare for referrals in El Progreso or San Pedro Sulu and cannot otherwise afford it. This fund is being financed by the Health Committee of Centro de Salud La Guacamaya and Salud Juntos.
We had numerous educational forums and set up programs for women´s health. We toured the hospital in El Progreso 3 times under the guidance of Roberto Castellano MD, head of pediatrics at the hospital.
Brigade in January 2008
The clinic was open for 15 days and served over 400 patients. We established contacts with the local residents and the health committee of La Guacamaya. Those participating included: Mindy Fain MD, Mary Kay O'Neill, MD, Lynn Tienken, Jane Mohler, RN, MPH, Phd, Sheridan Reiger, Terry Weiss, NP, Chris Goettl, Robin Bigelow, Sangini Shah, Derek MacKenzie, Daniel Butler, Steve Cooper and Dale Reiger.
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