At VHC Medical Brigade, we understand that delivering aid to hard-to-reach areas requires more than just goodwill; it requires a deep understanding of the actual needs and the impact of our efforts.

We're making strides in building local medical capacity in Honduras, particularly in the Comayagua region. With the collaboration of first responders, local hospital staff, and doctors from the National University, we've pinpointed critical areas of need in specialized training and equipment.

In early 2023, the VHC Medical Brigade team welcomed a valuable new member, Ivett Ramírez, as our Monitoring and Evaluation Program Officer. Ivett hit the ground running with an ambitious inaugural project – conducting our first annual rural needs assessment in the regions of Comayagua and La Paz.

In the heart of mountainous towns like Los Planes de Esperanza, where hospitals are a daunting four-hour hike away, the concept of immediate medical assistance might seem out of reach. Families facing sickness or injury, particularly those with children or elderly members, find themselves grappling with immense challenges in seeking help.

As word of a "tripledemic" continues to spread, hospitals in the Americas and Europe are already feeling the strain of increased cases of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and COVID-19 infections. Pediatric hospitals, in particular, are already at or near capacity.

There's nothing more essential than clean water. Access to safe water reduces illnesses and death from diseases, leading to improved health, poverty reduction, and socio-economic development.

In May, Brigade members, Carrie Alexander, Betty Martin, and Mary Ellen Gannon traveled to Honduras to spend time in the remote villages. After a physical absence since February 2020 due to COVID, the goal was to visit the communities sponsored by the Brigade and provide education to the Community Health Workers.