The principal goals of our work in El Salvador include the following:

1. To establish an effective system for delivering acute and preventative healthcare to members of this underserved Salvadorian community;
2. Transition from a system of triage healthcare to one of preventive healthcare by implementing biannual well-child visits, and monitoring key health indicators for the entire community;
3. Decrease pediatric malnutrition and the number of underweight children in the community;
4. Curb the devastating spread of common endemic disease caused by preventable microbial infections; and
5. Promote and sustain health education programs, focusing on pediatric and maternal health.

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FIMRC is working to establish a new medical facility in San Salvador in 2007. Volunteers will work with coordinators from FIMRC project staff, our partner organization and other local NGOs to begin community health initiatives. Volunteers will typically spend half the day at the clinic site, working with the clinic doctor and staff to see patients. After lunch, volunteers will run health education lessons and perform house calls throughout the community. Volunteers can help select themes for health lessons such as hygeine, nutrition or emotions. FIMRC is also working on collecting basic statistics from the community such as family size, previous healthcare and treatment and nutrition. Volunteers can participate in collecting this information and developing an initial assessment of pressing healthcare needs.

Volunteers may also have the opportunity to visit the local healthcare facilities such as the malnourished center and the public hospital.

	MONDAY	TUESDAY	WEDNESDAY	THURSDAY	FRIDAY
8:15 AM	depart from volunteer housing	depart from volunteer housing	depart from volunteer housing	depart from volunteer housing	depart from volunteer housing
9 AM-12 PM	Orientation; tour of Las Delicias	shadowing physician in clinic	Community mapping and house calls	shadowing physicians in clinic	Final games with children
12 PM-1:30 PM	lunch in Las Delicias	lunch in Las Delicias	lunch in Las Delicias	lunch in Las Delicias	lunch in Las Delicias
1:30 PM-4 PM	dental hygiene project with children	discussion with young mothers on nutrition	Visit to local malnourished center	aid with food distribution and play in community	Visit to local crafts store or historical site

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Housing options in El Salvador differ depending on the time of year and the group size. Large groups will stay in Casa Voluntariado Santa Rafaela Maria in a safe part of San Salvador.  The housing quarters have running water, plumbing and electricity.  Smaller groups will stay in a local hotel where there is also running water, electricity, and telephone access.

    

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Both housing facilities have a gate keeper 24 hours a day.  Volunteers do not use any public transportation.  Vans are rented for daily transportation needs. Additionally volunteers travel as a group between the project site and the housing quarters.  Unlike other projects, no volunteers will be allowed to go outside the protected area alone or without a FIMRC representative. 

Volunteers drink only bottled water and all fruits and vegetables are washed with a safe solution of iodine and bottled water. We recommend that volunteers refrain from purchasing food or drink on the street as it may cause sickness.

In case of a medical emergency FIMRC refers to the US Embassy list of recommended doctors at http://sansalvador.usembassy.gov/consular/english/acs/doctorslist.html The Hospital Diagnostico Escalon is considered to be among the best medical centers in the country.

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The vaccination requirements change from year to year, based on the health situation of the country.  Please refer to the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for updates on outbreaks and vaccination suggestions via www.cdc.gov.

Each participant needs to have health insurance that covers travel overseas.  If present coverage does not extend to outside the country of origin, participants must purchase health insurance for the time spent in El Salvador. InterMedical provides reasonably priced medical coverage and MedEvac services.

Please remember to bring sufficient personal medications, if needed, for the entirety of your time away from home.

US citizens can enter the country by purchasing a tourist visa in the airport. Volunteers who do not hold a US passport must check with the embassy for current regulations. Please see www.elsalvador.org and look up visa requirements.

 

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 The costs for a one-week trip are as follows:

• Airfare approx: $500 to $700 (variable, dependant upon travel dates)
• Housing/food/ transportation in country: $400
• Program donation: $525 per week ($75 for each additional day)
• Miscellaneous/ Spending money: $150

 

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The Project San Salvador Team

The following staff members have been essential in establishing the 2006-2007 El Salvador initiative.   Feel free to contact them directly with further questions:

Stacy Wallick
Director of Operations, Central & South America
Member, Board of Directors
stacy.wallick@fimrc.org

Stacy is responsible for implementing all aspects of the Costa Rica volunteer program and managing the San Felipe clinic. She is also taking a leadership role in establishing the new clinic in El Salvador.

Dr. Christian Elizondo
Medical Director, Project Alajuelita, Costa Rica

Dr. Elizondo manages Project Alajuelita, outside of San Jose, Costa Rica.  He serves as the primary physician of the clinic in Alajuelita.  He is also working in conjunction with Stacy Wallick to implement clinic operations.

Sara Schoenleber
VP for Volunteer Programs, Global Health Volunteer Program
sara.schoenleber@fimrc.org

Sara is presently the main coordinator for the Global Health Volunteer Program, handling all stateside logistical issues.  Sara’s worked with volunteer groups in El Salvador in the winter of 2006 and the spring of 2007, and would be happy to answer any specific questions about the site or the community.

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