Pan American Health Service's Blog

Alica, 7 years-old, has been in recovery from malnutrition for two months. When she came to the Nutrition Rehabilitation Program she was ill, tired and sad. Little did she imagine anything like Christmas on October 28. That day she was merely fighting to survive her hunger and the sickness it had brought her. Food was probably all she could dream of. Toys, Santa Claus and angels singing songs were not even a possibility.

Now imagine her delight at the sounds, smells and sights of Christmas! Read the rest of this entry »

On September 15^th Honduras celebrates their independence day with a parade. From the beginning of the school year, the independence day celebration is one of the most anticipated dates in the year for our children. The anticipation begins to build in August when, with much excitement and practice, they prepare for the big day. They prepare by wear colorful and stylish costumes and practicing their marching and folk dance skills. Those who play instruments practice for the marching band which performs in the parade.

The big event comes and goes but festive activities do not stop after the parade. The rest of the week is enjoyed by spending time celebrating with family and friends. Some relax and enjoy an orange from one of the many trees that grow around the campus. Other take a walk to the river and enjoy an icy plunge. And last but certainly not least there is always a big football game to be enjoyed by all.

A coup took place two years ago and left our country politically divided and threatened the precious gift of freedom. We are blessed that our area has not been directly affected by these political issues. Because of this we are even more thankful to God for providing our freedom for yet another year. Along with our other patriotic Hondurans, we are happy and proud to celebrate 189 years of independence.

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The  Honduras government is on alert due to the dengue epidemic that has been driving down the country in recent months.

The numbers of people infected with this disease surged in recent weeks due to constant rains that have hit these days have helped to increase the deadly mosquito breeding sites.

Hospitals are overcrowded, and many have no quota to meet sick people who come from various parts of the country. In the department of Colón, one of the most affected, 60% of the population is suspected of having dengue, and this means that six of every ten people have symptoms of dengue. So far 43 Hondurans have lost their lives due to dengue hemorrhagic fever, deadly variation of the disease. In addition, the Hospital Escuela, in the capital reported 1025 suspected cases of dengue hemorrhagic weekly. Meanwhile, the number of people infected by common dengue is 33, 628 throughout the country.

In PAHS, we have taken steps to prevent the spread of the vector, keeping clean our gardens and monitor the campus to prevent the formation of breeding of these mosquitoes. Community authorities were also part of the campaign against dengue and went to spray the town and surrounding communities. We hope in God not being affected by this epidemic.

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“Mommy, where’s my dad?” It’s the question that day by day five-year-old Max asks his mother Lola, one of the 15 single mothers who seeks refuge at PAHS. Lola simply evades her son’s question and changes the subject. Just like she did, her children are growing up without knowing their father. Four decades ago, at the age of two, Lola came to our children’s home. She was not malnourished or sick, but her mother did not have the resources to sustain her. Lola was always characterized as a devout and responsible lady. She finished her high school and received the opportunity to study at Unadeca, the Adventist University of Central America located in Costa Rica. She spent a year studying nursing; however, the “bad decisions” that she made occasioned that she abandon college. Years later, she bore her first son, Elden, who is now 14 years of age, and then she had Max. Both children have different fathers whom they do not know. The bad decisions that Lola made when she left the university has made her carry the responsibility of raising two young children, without work and without financial resources.

Lola sees the need to seek assistance for her children from the same institution that she grew up at and that gave her many chances. “When you have the responsibility of raising children alone it is difficult because you have to play the role of mom and dad, and you had to work hard to provide education. I prayed to God, and He enlightened me to return to this place,” says Lola. Elden, her eldest son, is now in seventh grade and is happy to be able to receive education, and Max will start school next year. Lola is considering a sewing course at the Technical School. Along with her son Elden, Lola was re-baptized, and they are now active members of our church.

However, there is one more factor added to the complication of becoming a single mother. Although Lola was 27 when she had her first child, there are many young girls that become single mothers at as young as fourteen years old. The statistics show that of every 1,000 pregnant women in the country, 140 are teenagers. Such is the case with *Maria, who at age 16 became pregnant. This was the same year that she was to graduate from high school. She hid her pregnancy for four months and managed to finish school. She is an intelligent young woman who was highly likely to achieve her dreams and is much appreciated by everyone at our institution, but the birth of her son changed her plans. Three years have passed and in this time she has had to overcome many obstacles; Maria lost her scholarship to study and now she has to work to provide support for her son. She is aware that the bad decisions that she made as a teenager are affecting her life. Unfortunately, this is the reality of many young girls in Honduras. Despite having the opportunity to be successful in life, many continue making bad decisions.

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Our beloved Papi

Stephen A. Youngberg, born in South Dakota, was the son of Norwegian immigrant parents who took him to the mission field in India when he was one year old. Stephen grew up in India observing as his parents served the poorest of the poor, thus was born his love for the less privileged.

After marrying Verlene DeWitt in 1942, he attended Loma Linda University Medical School graduating in 1946. He was commissioned as a Captain in the United States Army and received an honorable discharge in 1954. During the 1950′s Dr. Youngberg worked in Southern Mexico helping to establish a medical mission there, he later owned succesful medical practices in South Texas.

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“I like to walk ´chuña´ (barefoot), that´s why I don´t use my shoes”, says Cristian, while a shy smile is shown in his face, but the true reason by which he prefers to be barefoot, is because his shoes are uncomfortable to him. This is the third time that Christian is received in Pan American Health Service. The first of them was exactly six years ago, when he was only nine months old. Severely undernourished, he spent three months in rehabilitation, during that time he recovered successfully. At the end of the treatment, his parents decided to take him back home. However, about six months of leaving PAHS, Cristian returned again undernourished, the causes were unknown. His parents simply did not have an explanation for the relapse of the boy, he was admitted back into the institution, and spent a few months in which managed to regain his health again.

Although he managed to overcome malnutrition, maintaining a normal weight, we noticed a serious problem for Cristian, who was about to turn two years old and still could not walk. He suffered a small distortion on his feet. Some physiotherapists, who visited us from the United States, gave him some therapies that helped him to take more strength in his feet, and with the use of orthopedic shoes Cristian finally gave his first steps. Finally, we received help from an orthopedist, who diagnosed a condition called ´talo verticalizado´, which is a malformation in his heels. Now, for the third time, Christian is back in PAHS, as in the desire to help the child we are taking the necessary steps in order that he could take part in a surgery to correct his problem. He walks with difficulty, but thanks to God because he no remains prostrate, he is a hyperactive child, who despite his problem knows how to enjoy life. Cristian has a big family, with nine brothers, his family has to work very hard to put the bread on their table. The youngest sister is just a three months old baby, that just like Cristian when he was a baby, is suffering from malnutrition.

Unfortunately, this is the state of many babies who reach the world directly to face the jaws of death, and the famine that plagues our country, Honduras, especially in southern area is one of the roots of the disease. Meanwhile, we pray to God that every one of our children can recover his health soon, and do not miss the food at their table, and also pray for Cristian´s, hoping that he could soon be able to walk normally. Read the rest of this entry »

Ramoncito

Even when he is three years old, little Ramon had to be taken part of a surgery attach to parasitism. He had abdominal surgery a month ago in a publical hospital, parasites (amoeba,) were causing an obstruction, nevertheless Ramoncito could not remain in the hospital for his recovery, and his father, desperate, went in search of aid for the recovery of his son, who besides suffering parasitism was severely undernourished. The boy came to PAHS three weeks ago, with a second degree malnutrition. Ramon can not speak or walk, because of his undernourishment, but he just start to eat by himself, and repeat words.
His father comes to visit him every once in a while. Let´s pray for Ramoncito´s recovery and for all the children in PAHS. Thanks.

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