Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Patient photos

This is one of my favorite patients, Valentino.  He is 89 and has had 9 children, two which have died.  He was very talkative and told me all about his life in rural Honduras and work as a farmer.  Valentino is one of many patients who come to our clinic with diabetes and high blood pressure.  The typical Honduran diet (rice, beans, tortillas, plantains, yucca, coffee, fruit, etc.) in conjunction with influences from North American culture has affected the health of many people in Honduras.  Just today, half of our adult patients had high blood pressure and diabetes.  
On the contrary, children commonly suffer from malnutrition in Honduras and are underweight.  This young girl is 28 months old and weighs 20.5 lbs -- a gain of only 2 lbs since her last visit 6 months ago.  She, like many of the children we see, has an upper respiratory infection and required a series of breathing treatments to clear her lungs and ease her breathing.  We also provided powered formula, antibiotics, etc. which are included in the 50 Limpira (about $2.65) fee to see the doctor at our clinic.  If patients can't pay, they either bring bags of dried beans or a chicken, etc.  When they don't have a way to pay or live too far to bring anything, we still see them for free.

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