Frequently Asked Questions
Medical Mission Trips
How do people who live in the area know when they can come to the clinic?
There is a health promoter that staffs the clinic. The message is passed by word of mouth, the typical method of communication in the villages. When a medical mission trip is scheduled, word goes out via the airwaves on Radio Maya, and the entire region receives the news.
How many patients come to the clinic during a medical mission trip?
This depends on how many medical providers come along. With four doctors, we see about 250 patients per day on a typical medical trip. When dentists come along, they extract 450 infected teeth in a three- or four-day period.
Does the clinic serve as a hospital for patients who need longer-term care?
At present, the clinic is not set up for inpatient care. There are beds for patients who might require an overnight stay, but for now we arrange hospital stays in the larger cities if a patient requires surgical or other follow-up care. We also offer transportation and lodging for a family member, if needed. We hope to build an addition to the clinic which would allow for short-term inpatient care.
Does the clinic have running water and electricity?
The clinic is a very modern, clean, professional facility. There are flush toilets, hot showers, and running water in the sinks. It has a large generator that powers medical equipment, overhead lights, lamps, fans, and appliances.
Do patients get fed while they are at the clinic?
Since it is not an inpatient facility, we do not offer food services. However, several of the women in the village prepare food for the patients to purchase while they are in Nuevo Edén. The clinic has a fully stocked kitchen. A designated cook usually accompanies the medical teams.
Yes! The people who receive care at the clinic are eager to show their appreciation. We have many offers of help. People who are bilingual (Spanish and Q’anjob’al) offer to serve as translators. Others help with handing out vitamins, toothbrushes, and anti-parasite medicine. Some sweep the porch and pick up debris around the clinic at the end of the day. People have brought a few eggs, onions, or limes to express their thanks. All are extremely grateful for the service they receive and for the fact that someone cares enough about them to travel a very long way to help them.
How often do U.S. and Canadian doctors and other medical professionals travel to the clinic?
Foreign volunteers travel 4-5 times a year to the clinic. Guatemalan medical teams also volunteer their services 2-3 times per year.