The treatment of chronic medical disease is clearly indicated on our medical mission trips. We frequently see many of the same illnesses in Honduras as we see and treat in the U.S. Such conditions as hypertension, diabetes and asthma are rampant in the Garifuna, Ladino and Indian populations where ever we go. Evidenced based medicine clearly supports treatment of these diseases even in Third World situations. The W.H.O. and many other enlightened groups fully support treatment of chronic disease on our type of mission trips.

Heretofore, when we held medical clinics in remote locations, there was little likelihood that there would be any medical follow-up for our patients. Some have operated on the premise that it is better not to treat hypertension or diabetes for a short time if you can not guarantee that there will be a continued supply of medications and skilled health care providers. Not to treat severe hypertension and diabetes is medically unethical if you have medications to use. Poor rural Hondurans have the same risks associated with chronic illness as we do in this country. Lowering blood pressure and blood glucose is beneficial to the patient, even if you can do so only for a relatively short time. Not to do so demeans the value of their lives. If I can prevent one person from having a stroke by treating their blood pressure, then my entire trip to Honduras was worth every dime I spent.

We are all aware that we are not the only groups going to Honduras. Limón, as an example, has better health care for the locals than just about anywhere in Honduras. I frequently hear of other groups traveling to more remote area such as Yorito or La Moskitia. There may not be close medical follow-up, but it is not totally absent. AHMEN alone will send three teams to La Moskitia this year, and I know of other groups doing the same.

New areas in Honduras are being evaluated by AHMEN teams as possible sites for continued mission trips. At most of these sites there is at least some amount of health care available, be it a Honduran nurse, Garifuna doctor, mid-wife, or even a concerned American expatriate who does what she can. More and more, groups are venturing into these areas and discovering the need for chronic disease treatment. On the trips I have been on, we always try to give at least three months of blood pressure and or diabetes medicine when needed. We have tried to connect with local care providers and support their work by donations of medications and supplies. This is an exciting effort for us. We have tried to form a relationship with the local care providers instructing them how to use American medications and supplies. This is one reason why we try to return to the same areas repeatedly.

The days of showing up with a load of Amoxicillin, Tylenol, Neosporin and antifungal cream and ignoring chronic diseases must pass by the wayside for our teams. All our medical teams include skilled health care providers who are capable of diagnosing, and more importantly, treating many deadly chronic illnesses. The cost of medications for these illnesses is much cheaper than expected, and not nearly as costly as not treating chronic disease.