Guatemala 2009

Mark R. Hagen, MD
Guatemala 2009

We were in Guatemala from 1/24-1/31/09 for an intense week of seeing 500-600 patients a day with an organization called Faith In Practice , a non-denominational Christian organization. There were 7 physicians and about 25 support staff, including my office nurse Stephanie Eimers, LPN who is fluent in Spanish and served as my translator for the week. Each morning we were bussed to a village where there were hundreds of patients lined up already waiting. Some of these patients had walked for several hours in the dark of night to get there early in order to be seen.

It was a very intense but also a very rewarding week. The need is great and there are teams going each week to different villages throughout the country of Guatemala carrying out the mission of Faith in Practice that is: "Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me."

For more info on FIP check out : www.faithinpractice.org

Mark R. Hagen, MD, FAAFP

During the week, besides seeing a variety of medical conditions and giving out thousands of prescriptions, we made surgical referrals to the large referral hospital which Faith In Practice partners with in Antiqua, one of the larger cities in Guatemala. Later this spring and early summer other teams of surgeons and O.R. staff will come from the US and donate their time to operate on the cases that we found in the villages. Family members who accompany the patients will also be sheltered and fed at the" Casa de Fe' " or "House of Faith" which is run by Faith in Practice.