Our first day was in Santa Rita, where I had the opportunity to work with a health promoter, which brought its own challenges. The health promoters are doing fantastic work in these communities, but I struggled with my version of American medicine clashing with what is commonly done here (injections of vitamins and diclofenac for many ailments).
I enjoyed Tuesday, as we got to see the ailments striking the community - Helatitis A, worms, chronic lung disease (in large part due to cooking and living around wood burning fires all day), as well as UTIs, musculoskeletal pains, etc.
On Thursday, we trekked to Las Flora, an interesting community a half day's trip away and spent the night. I've never had so many people stare at me. The kids wanted to touch our skin, and surrounded us at many points. They were quickly occupied when given coloring pages and crayons.
A night under mosquito nets, and the brightest stars I've seen in quite some time, then we headed back stopping for a clinic.
Now, with a few more bug bites, and plenty more stories of patients, I can say our first week of clinics is over.
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