Medicforce :: Belize

Belize

Belize - An Introduction

With a population of less than 300,000, resources are limited, particularly in the southern state of Toledo that extends from the coast, west towards the Guatemalan border. MedicForce is currently working to help train community health workers in advanced first aid and medical care.

Community health workers are responsible for the health education and well being of communities up to 300 people with limited supplies. Although the Belize ministry of health is trying to provide training for these health workers, resources are limited. It is essential that this training is provided, this first line of care is often where essential life and death decisions are made and continuing care is provided following a hospital visit.

Our Goal.

MedicForce has been asked to train 40 community health workers in the Toledo area. Our team of volunteer educators and healthcare providers travel to Belize to provided key educational training, this consists of:

	Two week intensive first aid training based on wilderness first responder curriculum.
	Specific pediatric health care program (two days).
	Five day emergency childbirth training.

To provide this training MedicForce are currently fundraising and seeking donations for essential training supplies.

	Childbirth training manikin - $1500
	Pediatric airway manikin - $800
	Adult CPR manikins - $500

Although some limited medical supplies are provided by the Belize Health department, Medicforce will provide a basic community medical kit that contains essential items for effective health care.

This includes:
BP cuff and stethoscope
Glucometer and supply of test strips and lancets
Splinting pack
Wound management kit
Emergency childbirth kit

Each of these kits will cost approximately $200 we are looking for 40 kits, that’s 40 villages.

During the rainy season malaria is endemic, especially in the communities along the Guatemalan boarder. Our research shows that each year children are dying unnecessarily from this easily preventable disease. Malaria educations is one of our goals for 2011, together with the provision of mosquito nets. Our goal is to distribute 1000 nets these cost around $5 each.

Village in Focus
:: Laguna Village ::

Laguna village is a relatively new village founded by a group of farmers in 1960. It is home to 300 Maya people, most survive through subsistence farming. In 2001 a UK based charity Trekforce started working with peace core volunteers to provide an alternative to illegal hunting and fishing by developing jungle tours and home stays for tourists. This was hugely successful and villages soon started viewing the jungle and wetlands as a sustainable resource. Medicforce partnered with Treckforce to continue the along the path of sustainable development, this time focused on health.

Director of Medicforce, Jono Bryant, was involved in one of the four Treckforce expeditions to Laguna village and now is working hard to further develop it’s healthcare and infrastructure, using the village as a launching site for healthcare training in the State of Toledo.

Phase 1 of the Belize healthcare project took place in February 2010.

Five volunteers from the US, in association with Nantahala Outdoor center (www.noc.com) rebuilt the derelict healthcare post and stocked it with basic supplies for village healthcare worker Andreas Che.

Belize 2010 – Phase 2 (8 days)

Program Itinerary:

Three small teams will be operating in the Southern State of Toledo.

Team 1 – education and support for community medical worker of Laguna Village, Andreas Che. This team will work with Andreas to educate him on common medical issues, medicines and medical treatment.

Team2 – there are forty community health workers in Toledo. Toledo is the poorest state in Belize and extends West to meet the border of Guatemala. Following a request from the Belize ministry of health, Medicforce is pioneering medical training in this region. This short trip will focus on pediatric care and childbirth training. Our two medical professionals will use a birthing manikin to train health workers in one central location.

Team 3 – this team will focus on the Laguna village clinic. We are installing solar panels and batteries to make the clinic more sustainable and reduce operating costs. This will mean more money for medical care and transportation of p[patients to larger hospital facilities that are often several hours away.


Volunteer contribution:	$350
Departure dates:	July 6th – 13th
Inclusion:	Accommodation, food, transportation and project preparation.
Four Volunteer Positions:	Two medical professionals, preferably with experience in pediatrics. One basic medical trainer with wilderness medical experience, minimum WEMT. One person with experience in electrical installation and general building skills.

Phase 2 will focus on more training for Andreas and installing solar power.

With running water, handwashing stations and a functional toilet, Laguna clinic is a model for small community health outposts throughout Toledo.

Belize 2011 – Phase 3 (three weeks)

Program Itinerary:

Two small teams will be operating in the Southern State of Toledo.

Team 1 – Based in the community of San Antonio this class will train 40 community health workers in basic first aid, patient management , emergency childbirth and pediatric care. This will be a hugely challenging project as some of the health workers are illiterate. We will base our curriculum on the wilderness first responder curriculum and modify it to the needs of the people. Through extensive training it is hoped we can get closer to reliable, sustainable healthcare.

Team2 – Roaming educators. This team will travel the state of Toledo educating villagers in basic first aid for the family. We will also target key areas such as sanitation, skin diseases, malaria prevention. The team will spend approximately two days in each village, with a goal to target 12 villages in the remotest areas of Toledo. Many places are inaccessible by vehicle and volunteers will hike to these key locations.


Volunteer contribution:	$1050
Departure dates:	February 1st – 21st 2011
Inclusion:	Accommodation, food, transportation and project preparation.
Seven Volunteer Positions: (specialist trainers may stay for all or part of the expedition)	Two medical professionals, preferably with experience in pediatrics. Four basic medical trainers with wilderness medical experience, minimum WEMT. One expedition manager / logistic co-coordinator.

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