By Beatriz Coningham | President
In order to identify patients in need or surgical care, Partner for Surgery (PfS) has a network of Health Promoters who are actively engaged in the various rural communities we serve in Guatemala.
Health Promoters help publicize triage and surgical missions. They escort patients to the hospital and stay with them until they are ready to go home.
If problems develop, patients know they can count on Health Promoters for reassurance and assistance.
The example of Marta and Felisa
Like many older women in rural Guatemala, Felisa lives alone. Her husband died 25 years ago and her children have all left the small village where they were raised. Felisa gets along by walking into the mountains every morning, looking for herbs, fruits and vegetables to sell in the local market.
Six years ago Felisa came to a PfS rural triage mission with an inguinal hernia, the result of her heavy labor.
Our Health Promoter in that area, Marta, made sure Felisa received an hernia repair with a PfS surgical team.
One year later, Marta met Felisa in the market and learned she had another hernia. Felisa had another surgical repair. Recently, Marta learned Felisa was in great pain with a prolapsed uterus so she again took charge, and Felisa had her third surgery with a PfS surgical team.
Felisa is now healthy and has a wonderful smile. Any time a PfS team is in her village she stops by to say hello.
Your donations help us restore dignity and health for people like Felisa. Thank you for your support!
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