Last June, Paul “P.J.” Sweigart, 2006 graduate of Saugus High School, had the opportunity to travel to Honduras with a group of 40 students and medical professionals volunteering with the Global Medical Brigade to provide medical help for people who have no means of obtaining medical services. Global Medical Brigade is a non-profit organization that sends students from various colleges to Honduras to provide free medical and dental services. With 70 percent of the population of Honduras living below poverty level, many families have little education and are forced to live on the streets. Many do not have electricity or a fresh supply of clean water.
P.J., now a biochemistry major at UC Santa Barbara, along with other student volunteers spent a week traveling to various rural and impoverished villages, setting up temporary clinics where people were able to come and receive medical treatment, free of charge. “After three plane flights, we were loaded on a bus which took us to the student housing location. Each day we traveled to different villages,” stated P.J., “and we shadowed doctors, worked in the pharmacy. We also helped build an indoor stove out of brick. It was our hopes that the newly designed stove would allow for better smoke removal, and thus improve the people’s respiratory health.” One of the Global Medical Brigade’s first visits was to the village of Nuevo Paraiso, which has a large population of orphaned boys and girls. The group also met up with Sister Maria Roa Leggol, one of the first to help the struggling children and families in Honduras. In 1964, she rescued her first group of children who were forced to live with their incarcerated parents in jails because there was nowhere else to house them. “It was an enlightening experience to view the lifestyles and the optimism of those living in poorer communities,” states P.J..
P.J. is very grateful for all the support he has gotten from the community. “I truly appreciate all the wonderful donations we received. It’s rewarding to know that we were able to provide services for nearly 2,200 people.”
For more information about the Global Medical Brigade, or to donate or plan a brigade, visit www.medicalbrigades.com .