San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Chapter: Penn State University (University Park, PA)
Partner: CURE International (CURE Honduras)
Working together since 2006
At a glance: GlobeMed at Penn State continues to work with CURE Honduras to support an “Access Granted Fund” which provides compensation to Hondurans who have difficulty accessing care and vital surgeries due to travel and lodging expenses with needed funds.
Key fact: It can cost a Honduran who lives in a remote area more than 40 dollars simply to get to a health facility and stay for one night at a lodging place nearby. This cost places care out of the hands of most rural villagers.
GlobeMed’s Impact: CURE Honduras provides highly specialized care for orthopedic problems and is one of the only facilities in the country. While CURE provides care for free, patients still have difficulty with travel and lodging costs. Orthopedic care specifically requires multiple visits for therapy and progress, and while CURE performs outreach, care at the facility is sometimes essential. GlobeMed at Penn State is thus addressing the barrier of travel and lodging expenses by raising funds. Students will continue their ongoing summer trips to San Pedro Sula to access needs, collect information, contribute to projects, and strengthen the partnership. GlobeMed at Penn State is working with CURE Honduras to explore ways of making this fund sustainable in the coming years.
Partner: CURE Honduras began providing medical care for disabled children in San Pedro Sula Honduras in 2004. Dr. Gustavo Vasquez, CURE's Medical Director, operates weekly clinics in area hospitals. CURE also regularly sends teams of American physicians, nurses, physical therapists and dentists to provide care and perform surgery, with an emphasis on pediatric orthopedic problems. Each team treats about 100 children and performs about 40 surgeries. Since the inception of its work in Honduras, CURE has provided medical care for more than 4,800 children and performed more than 600 surgeries. One of CURE’s core focus programs also includes training local medical professionals in performing needed surgeries. CURE has recently entered into an agreement to construct a new pediatric orthopedic teaching hospital in San Pedro Sula. This new hospital is expected to be operational in 2008.
