April 6, 2007

Robel treats a young child.

Bringing hope and healing to Guatemala

In the Central American country of Guatemala, the health care needs of the people are profound. Many Guatemalans lack access to even basic health care services, and they often suffer from diseases and other problems that are easily prevented and treated in the United States. Mark Robel, NP, (right) nurse practitioner for the Coordinated Care Clinic at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children, is one MGHer who has experienced these heartbreaking conditions firsthand. This past February, he traveled to Central America on a medical mission to bring hope and healing to Guatemala.

Robel first became acquainted with the country in June 2005, when he participated in a two-week humanitarian mission in the small lakeside village of San Lucas Toliman. Working with a group of nursing students from the Simmons School for Health Studies in Boston, Robel visited local families in their homes to screen them for tuberculosis (TB), cared for patients at a free health clinic and educated residents about basic health care issues. The experience inspired him to do more.

When Robel returned to San Lucas Toliman in February, he was joined by Rosemary Byrne, FNP, of Atreva Healthcare, who had organized the first trip. Says

Robel, "Health care is virtually nonexistent in Guatemala, so we were ready to do whatever was needed in the community — plant trees, harvest coffee or work in the health clinic in the village." The volunteers were assigned to a local village that was home to the survivors of a devastating mudslide that had killed more than 60 people, where their main project was to complete a TB survey that had begun more than a year earlier. During these home visits, Robel and Byrne also were able to assess the general health of the children and provide medication and treatment for other conditions. On the last day of the trip, they participated in a fluoride program for elementary schoolchildren, in which they treated students' teeth with liquid fluoride to prevent cavities.

Robel is thankful for his experiences in Guatemala, which he believes have made him a better caregiver. "The warmth and kindness these people showed us was profound," he says. "Families that had nothing were willing to share their homes with us. More importantly, they allowed us to help their children heal. My experience there has helped shape me into the type of practitioner I want to be — kind, compassionate and always willing to hear what may not be said."