St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission

1. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission “To share God’s healing message of love and forgiveness through the ministry of medicine” Presented by: Frances Mallow, Ph.D. W. Brad McGonagle, Ph.D.

2. Corinto

3. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • Started in 1992 in Bay City, Texas by James Humphries, DDS. • 15 people on first team to go to Honduras • Initial budget of less than $5,000 • Today: • Largest team to go was last year, 52 people from all over the United States • Budget over $100,000 • Over 12,500 lives touched through the Ministry of Medicine The Humphrie Family

4. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • 10 years of medical ministry to the people of Honduras with 9 years exclusively in the village of Corinto • Over 12,500 men, women and children treated • Over 30,000 prescriptions filled • Over 3,000 teeth filled, extracted or cleaned. • Over 4,300 dogs, cats, horses and mules vaccinated against rabies and tetanus (no gorillas) • Over 300 pairs of glasses distributed • Over 50,000 hours volunteered by team members

5. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • Contributors to 2002 Mission • Diocese of Texas missions:   $23,232 • Episcopal Med. Mission Found.:      $5,000 • Bay City Lions Club $500 • Galveston Morning Kiwanis $500 • St. Mark's Episcopal Church Bay City (fundraising)                                   $5,000 • Personal Donations                          $3,073 • Trull Foundation, Palacios, Tx $5,000 • Rotary International $3,500 

6. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Preparation • Quarterly planning meetings held to evaluate previous mission and establish goals for next mission • Registration begins immediately • Meds and Supplies are packed and sipped via container in April/May.

7. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Financing • Fun-raisers • Fajita Dinner • Sausage Suppers • Grants • Diocese of Texas • Donations • Money • Medical Supplies • Give-always/School Supplies

8. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Leadership • Sam Maglitto • “The Godfather” • Retired school principal • Registration, Travel, Fundraisers • Taffy Atkinson • “Mamasita” • Elementary school teacher • Trip director, Grant writer, World Board Representative

9. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Trip to Honduras • Advance Team/Mission Team • 8-10 people • Arrive 3 days in advance • In-country preparation for mission • Advance team duties • Meet with Diocese representative • Acquire additional medicines • Purchase food supplies • Acquire container at port • Mission team duties • Have fun upon arrival

10. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • Episcopal Diocese of Honduras • Coordinates practitioner paperwork, transportation, food supplies, general administration • Fees paid to the Diocese go towards providing the aforementioned services • Very friendly and resourceful in support of our mission

11. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Trip to Corinto • Approximately 100 kilometers from San Pedro Sula. • 4 hour bus ride through Porte Cortez into the mountains. • Lunch break at resort in Porte Cortez

12. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Village of Corinto • Located on the Honduras/Guatemalan border • Estimated population is unknown. • No formal infrastructure, government, town leadership • Limited fresh water • Episcopal Church, Pentecostal Church and Catholic Church largest organized presence in village.

13. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Clinic • Approximately 250 patients per day run under Managed Care type-system. • Number/Token system used for admission • Patients are registered, vitals taken then triaged • Vitamins, toothbrushes and general hygiene lessons are provided during wait to see physicians, dentists, optometrists • Severe cases are referred to the community hospital in Porte Cortez or Mercy Ship for eye surgery.

14. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Pharmacy • Scripts are filled according to managed care sheet provided each family. • Computer link from clinic to pharmacy expedites process • Family history and past prescriptions are maintained in the database • Families are given monthly supplies of available meds • Most meds are purchased by the medical mission with some vitamins and over-the-counter meds donated • Staffed by 3-5 people with one Pharmacist.

15. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Dental Station • Two dental stations staffed by dentist, assistant and interpreter • Emphasis is on extractions due to time constraints but fillings have become more prevalent in recent years. • Instruments are sterilized according to proper procedures • Medical mission purchases dental equipment and meds

16. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Eye Clinic • Refractions are performed with the use of a Retinoscopy to determine lenses prescription. • Glasses are then dispensed based on the prescription. • Glasses are donated by the Lion’s Club and Rotary • Patients are also screened for cataracts and other eye diseases for surgery on the Mercy Ship Caribbean.

17. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The Vet Team • Consists of 3 Veterinarians divided into 2 teams with 2 support people. • One team remains in Corinto while other team provides vet clinic in surrounding villages. • Primary emphasis is on rabies, tetanus vaccinations, worming/parasite control, tick and flee control • Some minor surgeries are performed. • Meds are donated by Pfizer and Fort Dodge Pharmaceuticals. • Last year a team worked in El Cacao, Guatemala

18. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • The People of the Mission • Average team consists of : • 3-4 physicians • 1-2 dentists • 3-4 Vegetarians • 1-2 optometrists/ophthalmologists • 1-2 pharmacists • 8-10 nurses • 2-4 computer operators • 5-7 interpreters • 12-15 non-clinicians including: • 3-4 high school aged team members • Engineers, school teachers, administrators

19. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • 5 Star Accommodations • 48 bed dormitory constructed in 2001 • Funded by grant from Dioceses of Texas • Full showers and restrooms • Large storage • Veranda for preparing evening meals by the team. Picnic atmosphere. • “The Hotel Taffy”

20. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • Healing Ministry and Service • Work performed in Corinto goes beyond just the clinical applications. • Three fresh water wells were funded by churches of the various team members. • Oversight of the wells has been the responsibility of the team while in the village.

21. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • God’s Healing Message • Foot washing Ceremony night before leaving for village • Morning passage readings • Sunday worship with local congregation • Prayer visits to houses • Worship services in English and Spanish

22. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission • Lessons Learned/Goals for Next Year • Health Education initiatives • Outreach to other villages such as Garcia/Mobile clinic • Kitchen renovation • School uniforms and supplies • Fresh drinking water to rest of village • Medicine and vitamins for local health monitor

23. St. Mark’s Episcopal Honduras Medical Mission Contact Information: Taffy Atkinson 2101 Austin St. Bay City Texas, 77414 (979) 245-9609 Tatkinsn@wcnet.net