Mary Beth Bender is a UW Master’s student who traveled to
Honduras in the Summer of 2012. As
a nursing student, Mary visited Honduras to participate in a Faculty-LedProgram. Students in the program earned
academic credit by working at a clinic in Agua Salada, Honduras.
Reflecting on the trip, Mary said: “The entire experience was wonderful… meeting people who have so
little, but are so deeply appreciative of the healthcare we were able to
provide was incredible.” During the group’s last night in Agua Salada, the
village had a church service and party in honor of the UW volunteers. About
this Mary says, “They brought cake and
soda, and set up a stereo system to play music so we could all dance. The people of the village apologized that
they could not give more to show their appreciation, but we were all deeply
humbled and honored by all they had done for us.”
Mary’s biggest challenge during her trip was the language
barrier. She says, “Providing healthcare
to people in a remote village in Honduras, with limited medical supplies and a
language barrier, was an enormous challenge.
However, our team of a nurse midwife, physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses,
pharmacy student, dental hygienist, translators and so many other wonderful
team members worked amazingly well together, problem-solved together, and
provided the best care possible with the resources we had available.”
Overall, the program was a great experience for Mary who
says she would like to return as soon as possible.
If you’re interested in traveling to Honduras or participating
in a Faculty-Led Program, feel free to contact Mary at mfontana@uwyo.edu
Interested in finding out more about the trip? Check out the group's website.
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