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| ...Although the hospital is basic and without the
resources normally found in centers that treat this number of patients, we are
able to provide care beyond the primary level in both the pediatric and adult sections of
the hospital. When it happens that patients need surgery or specialized treatment not
available here, our objective is to make every effort to locate a place where they can go
to receive care. This often means traveling to cities quite far from Altamirano and even
farther from their homes. In these situations not only is it important to locate a doctor
who can provide the care but also to help the family with the cost of making the journey.
For example, in cases of cancer, leukemia, or other malignancies, where there is hope of
recovery, patients are transferred to Merida Yucatan (a 12-hour journey) where they are
received and treated by Sisters from our same Community. Perhaps the most distinguishing feature of this hospital is that it operates within the indigenous culture of the people who avail themselves of the services here … incorporating native customs, culture and language into all areas of patient care. Family members of patients are welcome to stay at the bedside of the patient and it is not unusual at night to find one of them sleeping on the floor underneath the bed. The hospital operates a nearby posada, a shelter where family members can sleep and prepare food. Because so many families have no money, the husbands and fathers of patients work around the hospital grounds in exchange for meals. Most importantly, direct patient care is provided by young women who themselves come from the same communities, speak the same language and often know the patient's family. It is very important to them to make sure that patients feel at home and that their problems are taken care of. The nurse auxiliaries serve as translators between the doctor and patient from Spanish into Tzeltal or other native languages and vice versa, going beyond just the words to help the patient and the family understand the nature of their illness and how best to deal with it. Through all these ways, families participate in the care for their loved one and share a sense of identity - this is their hospital. For many years the hospital has supported the education and training of indigenous youth from remote villages. Currently forty indigenous youth live on the hospital grounds. They will spend several years here finishing their education. They come at various levels of education. First, there is the training to be nurse auxiliaries. They receive instructions in health and work in the different areas of the hospital learning basic nursing skills that will serve them later in life as health workers in their communities or simply as mothers who know how to care for the sick. Some of them remain after training to continue to work at the hospital. Presently seven of the auxiliaries have been sent on to nursing school in Mexico City and will return after four years to provide service to their communities in Chiapas as nurses. This is far beyond what the families could ever have hoped to provide for their children. Secondly, there are those who are here to complete their basic education: several are in middle school; five are in high school; and six more attend an open school to first learn to read and write in Spanish before they can begin their formal education. Briefly, another activity of the hospital is to provide milk to malnourished children whose mothers cannot breastfeed them. When children who are severely malnourished arrive at the hospital, they are not able to eat food. Specially mixed formula is given to them until they begin their recuperation. Then food supplementation is continued to assure "catch-up" growth and development. In addition, we provide food supplements to patients with tuberculosis who are under-weight as a consequence of their disease in order to assure a fuller recovery. Through the warm generosity of the benefactors of the Dominican Mission Foundation., we are able to continue our mission of providing care to those who have so little. We are deeply grateful for the assistance and support you have always shown. May the Lord fill you with strength and enthusiasm for your mission with the poor. Sr. Maite Tomasena Triduum of Saint Martin de Porres How can you help? Find out how to support the Western Dominican Missions. |
