Medical Mission Work

 When Dr. Mallahan was asked about his experiences in Guatemala, he replied, “The first time that I was able to help a 5 year child hear his mother for the very first time and the mother’s tears sold me on this mission. While serving in Guatemala I became acutely aware of how many blessings we have available to children in the United States that we take for granted.” “I have the great honor of serving with dedicated folks as part of a group of medical professionals that pay their own way and give up their vacation time to serve. Our group is part of a larger national organization called “Healing the Children” that was started by a mother from Spokane. They serve children all over the world, providing surgical care, primary medical care and health promotion to those that do not have access to services in their communities. I am grateful to have the opportunity to work with such a great organization.”

 Guatemala is a country almost 14 million people and borders Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador. Due to the consequences of a 36-year civil war ending in 1996, Guatemala has struggled to provide healthcare services to its people.  More than 50% of the population is younger than 18 and 38% of the population survives on $2 dollars per day.

The audiology teams now travel throughout the country serving the children in or near the villages where they live. Previously, families had to travel in to Guatemala City, which is very unsafe in many areas and accommodations are expensive. The team evaluates children and determines who would benefit from surgery or hearing aids. If hearing aids are needed, the team will fit them with new hearing aids that have been donated. Some of the hearing aids are solar powered. “The other good news is that we are establishing follow-up care centers locally for the families. The centers provide replacement batteries, new earmolds and repair or replacement of damaged hearing aids with loaner hearing aids” noted Dr. Mallahan.

The team is working to establish a self sufficient program that can serve the children with trained personnel from their communities. “Hopefully we can work our way out of a job in Guatemala,” Dr. Mallahan said. “Then, we can start the same type of program in other countries that need our help.”

Dr. Mallahan will be returning to Guatemala again in November with a surgical team to help the children he evaluated in February.

If you would like to help, you can contribute items such as markers, coloring books, small toys and soccer balls. Or, feel free to make a monetary donation for hearing aids in your name by going to the Healing the Children website at http://www.htcoregonwashington.org/site/portals/1/default.aspx