AHMEN Headed to New Locations in Honduras
Planning and preparation proceed for AHMEN's mission to Belaire in February.  This is a new location for AHMEN.  The Alabama portion of the team will be comprised of Mary and "Guf" Guffey, Gregg Rushton, Peggy Polhemus, RN, Sharon Bentley, RN, Wayne Benson, RN and Bruce McFadden, PA-C.  The Brady's from Utila and Gloria Lacayo from Limón will be meeting us in Honduras.  The Guffey's will be bringing their Eye Clinic for vision screening and eyeglass fitting.  We are still hoping for a pharmacist and doctor to join us on this mission, in addition to others who may feel called to join.
We have been is close contact with Evelyn Castellar who has been running the private clinic in Belaire for several years.  She cares for well over a hundred patients daily several days each week.  On days when the clinic is closed, she travels into the nearby mountains by ATV to visit isolated villages and cares for patients there.  Evelyn was trained many years ago as an EMT, but has worked in financial services for years.  She had planned to retire to Honduras with her husband Jose.  She saw the need for medical care among the the local people and did what she could.  Her role in their health care has grown rapidly over the years.
Evelyn describes the area as extremely poor, with little if any health care beyond what she can offer.  Sanitation and clean water are severely lacking.   The mountain people mistrust for doctors in the larger towns nearby, and have no money to buy care anyway.  Evelyn has gained their confidence.  Diabetes, Hypertension and respiratory illnesses are common.  Fungal and bacterial skin infections are present in frightening levels as are parasites of all types.  Malaria is omnipresent and Leishmaniasis or "Mountain Leprosy" is not uncommon.  She has learned how to treat these people from the occasional mission doctor that comes to Belaire, and from Honduras doctors who help when they can.  She has also simply learned what works from experience.
Travel plans are completed and our list of needed medication and supplies is almost complete.  We hope to have delivery of major portions in time to ship with the Christmas container.  We anticipate donations from Direct Relief International, Kingsway Charities during October.  Additional medications and supplies will be purchased from Blessings International and MAP international as well as with donations from our churches and foundation. 
Contact Mary or "Guf" Guffey for more information at  hjguffey@earthlink.net