About Medicos en Accion
Our contribution
Each member of our team must pay their own airfare, accommodation, and other expenses. Also members participate in fundraising so that we are able to purchase medicines, supplies, pay for patient support and travel, and to pay for the use of operating facilities. The hospital which we use in Antigua is run by the Obras Sociales del Hermano Pedro. These facilities are also residences for handicapped people, and homeless children. The money we pay to Obras Sociales is used to maintain these facilities, and to pay local personnel. Also, we can rent space in the Casa Fe, a residential facility run by the group Faith in Practice, in order to house out of town patients and their families.
Organization of the mission
Medicos En Accion organizes group airfare and accommodation. Team members pay their own expenses but will receive a charitable donation receipt for these expenses. Money is channelled through the group bank account. If anyone chooses not to travel with or stay with the group, they must make their own arrangements. Although we travel as a group, it is possible to arrange separate return flights to provide for a holiday. We can provide access to information for local sightseeing excursions in Guatemala
A little history of our beginnings
In 2001, Kamloops volunteers formed their own group, a charitable society known as Medicos En Accion. A Kamloops based organization we continue to draw volunteers from across Canada, USA and Internationally. Initially our base was the Hermano Pedro hospital in Antigua. Over the years we have expanded. In 2003 primary care clinics were initiated in villages near Panahachel, Lake Atitlan. The response of the villagers was positive, and the program continues. Also social projects such as the construction of a shelter for homeless people , provision of clothing, and distribution of school supplies were instituted. In 2006, a pilot surgical team was sent to Patzun. This proved to be feasible, and a larger team went to the facility in 2007 and 2008. As in 2008, we provide medical and surgical services to three areas: Antigua, Patzun and Panajachel. Panajachel provides primary care and the two cities of Patzun and Antigua provide ongoing medical and surgical treatment, including a hearing clinic.
In 2010 we sent our last team to Patzun for the foreseeable future. Dr. Rod Symes has taken the lead in organizing medical operations in Antigua and Dr. Jon Just is focused in sending a team to The Gambia in west Africa.
For a more detailed history of the organization see the Our History page.