This small nation is the 2nd poorest
nation, after El Salvador, in Central America, and the 6th poorest
nation in all of Latin America. Over 60%
of the population lives in the depths of poverty, eking out an existence on $2.50
per day.
It is also ranked 9th in the world
(WHO) for “violent death,” aka murder. When a nation is so impoverished that it
hasn’t the resources to provide sufficient protection to its citizens, especially
from those trafficking in drugs, we know that the average citizen is living
with dread every time they or the children leave home.
As you would expect, however, it isn’t just
crime and poverty that is racking this nation: they are also suffering with
diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and heart problems.
Poverty, violent crime, and disease, all scream,
Please, Come. Help. Us.
On this particular trip, we brought in millions
of dollars worth of medicines to distribute to doctors from across the nation.
The need is great, as pharmacies and even the hospitals have little or no drugs
to dispense to their patients. As one doctor told me, “I can write
prescriptions all day, but no one can fill them.”
Dr Raul presiding over distribution. Every
case, every pill, is accounted for, as is exactly what each doctor received.
The faces of physicians receiving medicines
were awesome. They looked like children on Christmas morning!
Dr Raul told me that we have touched the lives
of 35,000 people with the medicines we have been sending in.
The military here forms brigades that go out
into villages and distributes medical supplies.
It was an incredible opportunity to serve some amazing doctors and their patients.
One of the things that can be challenging to
communicate regarding distributing aid is that, for the recipients (as well as for us the donors), this is far
more than a material transaction. For them, the medicine communicates that
people see their plight and care. So. We are not merely off-loading items from
container ships: we are off-loading love. And because of support from people like you, we will continue doing so!
Monte
Copyright, Monte E Wilson, 2016
No comments:
Post a Comment