Update on Monterrico and Hands for Peace Foundation

Posted by Gary O'Rielly 
on May 20, 2015
 
Barbara Knowles and Tonya Christofferson, former members of our Club, were the special program this past week, updating members and guests on the current status of the LaCurvina Clinic and Educational Center in Monterrico, Guatemala and efforts in Nepal to provide relief to that country devastated by two major earthquakes.The addition of the Clinic in Monterrico is entering a new phase with extra needs to take care of the Monterrico region and the caring for its people. Barbara commented that the LaCurvina Community Clinic and Education Center is in need of the following 13 items:
 
  1. Nutrition: need funds and sponsors. Currently spending $6,000 per month on nutrition but only feeding 2,000 kids.
  2. Parasite treatment: need funding to follow WHO parasite protocol every three months using VIVA.
  3. Fluoride Varnish: no treatments for the last year because they don't have the funds to purchase the varnish.
  4. Antibiotics to treat infections.
  5. Surgery area in the clinic has limited anesthesia equipment and there is a need for air conditioning.
  6. Sanitation with composting toilets. They have built only eight ECO composting toilets in the community where the water table is very high. It costs approximately $650 per toilet. Do not have the funds to test second chamber after six months. They can use fertilizer if tests results are okay.
  7. Stoves.
  8. Trash management.
  9. Walter filters which cost $50 per filter.
  10. Medication. Teams coming in every month. Donations can be used to purchase medications that teams will bring for use at the clinic.
  11. Send one doctor a month, bring a family, work 1/2 a day for 10 days of work a week. Also opportunity for dentists.
  12. X-ray machine for dentists and assistants who visit once a month; a digital  portable veterinary unit costs about $2,000 to $10,000.
  13. Sponsors for doctors.Cost is $800 per month for full time doctor. Have doctor and nurse, ultrasound trained but need more plus funding.
The list is long but very much needed to continue the work of the LaCurvina Community Clinic and Education Center in Monterrico, Guatamala. Tonya Christofferson showed a slide presentation of the impact of the earthquakes in Nepal and relief efforts that are underway. Contributions to Nepal can be made through the Hands for Peacemaking Foundation. Thank you Barbara and Tonya for giving us such a wonderful program.