2007 04 Field Team Returns

Our Nicaragua field team returns from the community of Jinotega, seeing a remarkable number of patients visited in a 5-day short-term field team effort ~ 2,724 patients served!! Unbelievable statistics of this effort. For those who track the details, here's a quick breakdown of the numbers:
Eye Clinic - 526 patients
Dental Clinic - 205 patients with 594 extractions
Medical Clinic - 1993 patients

This team, led by veteran MEDICO volunteers Alston Boyd of Texas and Kevin Brown of South Dakota worked with our in-country host, Mr. George Wheelock to provide these much needed services to this community. Jinotega sits in the northern part of the country of Nicaragua, due south of our 2007 03 field team that served Jalapa, Nicaragua. This Jinotega team was a 21-member international delegation participating from New Brunswick - Canada, Toronto, - Canda, London - England, as well as from the United States from Washington State, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, New Jersey, Texas Michigan, Colorado, New Hampshire, New York, and California. It featured 4 - M.D., 2 - D.D.S., 1 - O.D., 8 - R.N., 6 - Lay Volunteers / Interpretors. This team had the privilege of dining on the final night with the US Ambassador to Nicaragua who expressed sincerest thanks and appreciation for MEDICO's efforts in this country. There was a strong request for a repeat appearance of our humanitarian effort to Nicaragua. Be sure and click on-line soon to view pictures at www.medico.org .

Congratulations this team for their wonderful work, serving these precious people in Nicaragua!

Newsworthy

We here at the MEDICO offices have been preparing the latest edition of our Update - a bi-annual newsletter sharing articles, photos, and information about our efforts in humanitarian efforts in Central America. The assembling of the articles that make up the newsletter is wonderful yet difficult process. There are just so many worthy stories to tell and a limited amount of space available.

This next edition is going 'to press' this week and we anticipate you'll have access to it within the next several weeks. In this edition you'll find many heart-warming stories of medical miracles that have occurred through our short term field team efforts, stories about individual cases that have had a deep impact on the volunteers and donors that participate. We're sure you'll be deeply touched by this edition. A new opportunity has been made available in this next Update edition for publication sponsorship. As we are working hard to stretch each donor dollar we are aware of the increasing costs of publishing these newsletters. We've taken this opportunity to create partnerships with individuals and/or organizations that would being willing to share in the expense of print publications. The greatest benefit of publication sponsorship is in enabling MEDICO to spend these dollars on more medicines and supplies which directly benefit the people we serve. A benefit for the sponsoring person or organization is being identified to some 3,000 recipients world wide through this publication as a partner to MEDICO sharing in the same vision.

There are quite a few new things 'in the pot' for MEDICO over the coming weeks and months. We're in the midst of refreshing our website, of developing an e-newsletter, wrapping up a pharmacy protocol, completing our formulary, printing some new brochures, and quite a few other things. In addition to all the tools and information we're sharing with the world, we're continually in search of donors with a global perspective. There are many friends living in Central America who are counting on the services we provide and we can only do this through the combined efforts and interests of our friends and families. Very exciting times in the offices here as we are reaching out for others.

Virginia Tech

Our hearts go out to the students and families of loved ones lost in the Virginia Tech shootings.

This tragedy reminds us of the importance of connection with family, friends, and community. The family of MEDICO extends far and wide and although our paths don't cross with frequency, we hold dear the relationships shared through the field teams, the warehouse volunteers, through the donors sharing in the mission vision, to the host organizations and contacts helping us ensure we achieve our strategic mission plans. Thank you for your concern of others and journeying with us in humanitarian care.

Imus, Anna Nichole Smith, & Global Warming

The headlines reveal what the media thinks we want to hear about. Lyrics of music artist Don Henley's 1982 release, "Dirty Laundry" refer to our news media's compulsiveness to generate hype around the issues they believe viewers would be most interested in paying heed to. Some issues maybe truly important globally, effecting the majority of viewers while other issues seem unreasonably hyped. The viewer or reader has to ultimately decide if these issues are truly important. And then, to what degree is a response necessary?

Sadly, one of the real global constants in news is the ever-increasing need for humanitarian care for the marginalized in Third World and other impoverished countries. People left struggling and clamoring for the same rights that each and every person on this planet is entitled to when they are born - the right or gift for existence through good health. This humanitarian concern has no qualifications but an inherent right through birth. But this news is seldom the headline.

Honduras, the second poorest country in Central America and one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere is faced with burgeoning issues related to health and wellness. With a population exceeding 7,300,000 and a government that changes hands every 4 years, a continuum of government health care is dramatically missing. Life expectancy is reduced and serious health concerns are elevated through a lack of basic, preventable care. Some of the most fundamental health issues taken for granted in developed countries become insurmountable obstacles for those less fortunate. And so, without looking at the news headlines we can see truth as it exists ~ and we have opportunity to do something about it.

Consider what impact you can make in the world through partnering with MEDICO in humanitarian service. Through resources of time or money, much can be done to respond to the headlines that face all of us ~ a reasonable quality of life through preventable health issues. Call us this week and let's respond to the needs of our neighbors to our south together. (512)930-1893

To designate or not to designate

That's often the question. To designate or not to designate a donation. Here's a little insight to help with the processing of that decision.

Currently at MEDICO, designated funds are a direct tool for the donor, targeting a specific project, initiative, or program that is affiliated, coordinated or linked to our mission statement. 100% of designated funds go directly to the target and are used only on that identified project. This is an exciting way to be attached to that with which stirs your heart. It often times yields very tangible, very apparent results but, once again, only targets the area of interest.

Un-designated funds tap into the altruistic side of MEDICO, responding where there is need and keeping the vibrant fire of MEDICO alive. Un-designated funds reside in global perspective. These tools allow MEDICO to ascertain where the greatest need is and respond with urgency, underscoring the definition of our mission statement. Un-designated funds also support our strategic initiative and our operational expenses. It allows MEDICO to continually think in a broader scope and engage more help for the cause of the needy.

There are two distinct tracks for donors to consider. Both have their role in presenting a humanitarian organization in balance and both are very clearly needed to sustain our objectives. If you would like more information on how to make your philanthropic dollar go further, give us a call. We know just how you can help.