MOOSE JAW — More than 100 individuals in some of the poorest areas of Guatemala will soon receive top-notch health-care treatment thanks to a dedicated group based in Moose Jaw.
The Moose Jaw International Medical Mission (MJIMM) will soon fly to Central America, where 32 health-care professionals — surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, family physicians and support personnel — will treat Guatemalans who lack regular care.
The group — comprised of people from across Western Canada, including many from The Friendly City — jets south on Wednesday, Jan. 29, meets the next day to outline its activities, and then visits homes in poor neighbourhoods in Guatemala City on Saturday, Feb. 1.
The team heads up the mountain to the Town of Patzún on Sunday, Feb. 2, where physicians will begin performing surgeries. Other members will begin installing indoor stoves and water filtration units in residents’ homes. After completing this work, the group returns around Feb. 11.
The team expects to treat roughly 100 people in the surrounding villages and perform almost 50 surgeries at the hospital.
The MJIMM team has been travelling to Patzún since 2014 to help residents living in extreme poverty. It also works alongside Clinica Corpus Christi, a small hospital and orphanage in the area.
Jackie Wilson, a registered nurse in Moose Jaw, expressed excitement about returning to the country.
“Oh my gosh, I love it. This is my ninth trip going and I can’t wait to get back down there,” she said.
“Over the years, we’ve gotten to know a lot of great people that work down there and with some of the people we work with,” the RN continued. “So, we’re excited about seeing our friends there again and … do some good for the people who could use a break.”
While Guatemala is beautiful, one thing Wilson appreciates is how well the team comes together. She enjoys seeing members learning more about people there and better understanding their life circumstances, which helps them realize the big effect they have on patients.
Wilson hoped that the team’s efforts instilled hope in the residents’ lives, especially with the health information they gave people that could last for generations.
The MJIMM will install 24 stoves and water filtration systems, and while the stoves are wood burning, they are more efficient and cost-effective since they require less wood, she continued. Furthermore, the stoves have chimneys to direct smoke out of the homes, which is healthier than residents’ current methods of cooking over a campfire on the floor.
“You’ll see in their homes (that they’re) just covered in soot. We call them sootsicles (because) there’s soot hanging from the ceilings in there, so you see a lot of (residents) affected with that,” said Wilson, adding that this damages residents’ lungs.
Community support
The MJIMM held several fundraising events this past year, which were successful because of how “super supportive” Moose Javians are, the RN said.
However, opportunities still exist for people to continue donating, including sponsoring items such as a stove, water filtration kit, a surgery, or an entire day in the emergency room. Afterward, the team will send sponsors either pictures of those objects in use or stories of how appreciative patients are of the treatment they received.
The MJIMM group has its supplies ordered and packed, so it’s just a matter of flying down and beginning the work.
“So say some prayers for us that we get all of our luggage down there,” Wilson laughed, “and that everyone on our team gets there healthy and ready for a big week of work.
“I hope it’s a very meaningful experience for everyone on the team and, even more so, I hope we can bring some hope and a little bit of health to the people we’ll be working with in Guatemala,” she added.
