Health Talents International

Note: The organization did not respond to this question.

Note: The organization did not respond to this question.

Our Guatemala nurses and physicians attended and hosted a training program conducted by Faith in Practice in early August. The training included certification, recertification and extension classes for our staff that have been previously trained on VIA. GYN, Dr. Patti Baiza, FIP IVAA director and another GYN from Guatemala City provided the in-person training at Clinica Ezell and we scheduled more than three hundred patients, allowing an average of sixty patients per healthcare professional being certified, or recertified.

In addition to the VIA training conducted by Faith in Practice, we host wheel chair clinics at Clinica Ezell and schedule appropriate patients. The care is not limited to wheel chairs as some patients are fitted for prosthetics and others receive customized crutches or walkers. In 2021, we have hosted two wheel chair clinics.

2020/2021 Adaption Activities: Health Talents adapted to the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic at several levels. Financially, one team member took early retirement, one an unpaid leave of absence and one senior team member in leadership took a volunteer pay cut, resulting in salary reductions of $77,564. Several Guatemala team members were unable to continue working due to comorbidities and those positions were not filled, saving an additional $20,000+. Our mobile medical and dental team care to rural communities was suspended for much of 2021 and we transitioned to providing care from fixed locations, Clinica Caris and Clinica Ezell. Though this required many patients to travel further for care and limited our activities in most communities, we were able to reach 40-50% of our patients. Furthermore, by limiting care to these central locations, we were able to avoid large gatherings of patients who typically travel with their families, thus avoiding virus spreader events. Procedure were put in place that allowed us to triage patients, maintain safe social distancing and the necessary PPE precautions. Traditional evangelism in homes, i.e. one on one teaching, was not allowed at the onset of 2021 and our evangelists used Facebook Live to encourage and share the gospel. Some of those restrictions have abated and our evangelists, with masks and social distance care, are once again visiting patients in their home. Childcare ministries, such as our ABC Program and scholarship programs were enhanced by providing additional food supplies to help offset the loss of income with so many unable to work. Those food deliveries, in the past involving large gatherings were limited to smaller gatherings over a longer period time. As a result of local transportation options being reduced, and for a period not allowed, we provided transportation for employees to come to work using our four-wheel drive vehicles.