Post on 11-Jan-2016
HondurasHonduras
Kathryn Leccese R2 http://www.carolinahondurashealth.org/
http://www.honduranmissions.com/
General Health Info
• Life expectancy:– Men:68– Women: 73
• Mortality Rate: 5/1000 • IMR: 29.65/1000 live birth
– respiratory infection & bacterial sepsis 19.3%– Diarrhoea & GI illness 6.3%– Congenital Malformations 4.15%
Common Diseases
• Prone to infectious disease: population density, swiftly varying temperatures/levels of humidity
• Medical attention sought: – # 1 reason Respiratory infections – # 2 Diarrhoea
• Parasitic infections: malaria, dengue most prevalent. Also amoebiasis, leishmaniasis
• Next most common morbidity is cancer– Women: uterine– Men: GI tract
Health Admnistration
• 9 health regions operate independently• Immunisation program: diptheria, tetanus,
pertussis, hepatitis B, pneumonia and meningitis, polio, BCG, measles, rubella and parotitis
• Eastern area much less populated– Less developed; no skilled medical workers (prefer
ressource rich cities)– Unequeal distribution of health facilities– Polical sectarianism
Limon Clinic
• 3 exam rooms, a treatment room , pharmacy and laboratory.
• The Lab is run by a local woman (Gloria):can run malaria smears, CBCs, urine analysis
• Pharmacy run by the team • One room has a pediatric scale. One room is set
up for gynecological exams. • File room organized by town/region of origin. • Must bring your own stethescope, BP cuff,
opthalmoscope (and any other tricks you have)
Limon Clinic
• The clinic is a walk in service and patients are usually waiting by 7 in the morning.
• Work from 7:45 to 12:30; then 13h to 18 - 19 untill there are no more patients.
• There are 3-4 physicians working at a time and each will see 30-40 per day
• Most patients will be speaking Spanish (doctors are provided with a local translator)
• There is an ambulance service but is unreliable. The closest hospital is about a 2 hour drive.
Pediatric Complaints seen in only 10 days…
• Well care, to diabetes, dermatological problems, respiratory infections, long standing fevers, head lice, taenia, impetigo, scabies anemia, malaria, malnutrition & sequlae, amoebiasis, dengue, sepsis, leishmaniasis and asthma.
• Severe dehydration secondary to GI illness• Dental issues (a dentist accompanies the team)• All patients are offered vitamins and mebendazole
for worms. • There is an orphanage with 50 kids in town that is
served as well.