Clinica Evangelica Morava

The town of Ahuas is located in eastern Honduras, about 30 miles from the Atlantic coast, and up the Patuca River from the town of Brus Laguna. This region of Honduras is known as La Mosquitia. The landscape is tropical, with thick forests, few roads on the savannah, and many rivers. Miskito villages are scattered mostly along rivers, several large lagoons, and the Caribbean Coast. The rainy season lasts from June trailing off into December. The dry season is from January to May. Most of the year the temperature varies between the mid 70’s and 80’s F, and rarely below 65 degrees or above 95 degrees. A brisk ocean breeze usually moderates this tropical climate.

Become familiar with Honduran culture, history and economy by reviewing the Wikipedia Honduras Profile. Rich resources for Honduras health information include the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation IHME Honduras Country Profile and the World Health Organization Global Health Observatory Honduras Data.

Most people of this region are Miskito, rather than Hispanic. Miskito are indigenous inhabitants of Honduras who have a distinct language, though many also speak Spanish. Most make a living as subsistence farmers. They generally travel by foot or by small boat on nearby rivers. Malaria, tuberculosis, intestinal parasites, and malnutrition are common health problems. Increasingly as some take on more sedentary employment as teachers, merchants, and pastors, obesity is becoming a scourge with a secondary diagnosis of diabetes.

The native language of this region is Miskito, though many people also speak Spanish. INMED learners must be able to function independently in Spanish. Clinic staff is available to translate for Miskito-only speaking patients.

The Clinica Evangelica Morava has an active outpatient service that provides primary health care for both the local population and for those who travel to the Clinica via the River Patuca and by small aircraft. Malaria, diarrhea, pneumonia, malnutrition, skin disorders, trauma and birth complication are frequently managed. Inpatient hospital care in provided for 10-20 patients at any one time. Orthopedics, obstetrical care, and general surgery services are available with limited support from laboratory, ultrasound, and radiology. Clinica Evangelica Morava sees 5,000 outpatients and 700 inpatients each year, and attends 160-180 deliveries annually.

Clinica Evangelica Morava’s lead physician is Dr. Ovelio Lopez, Director of the Moravian Medical Program in Honduras, accompanied by a Nicaraguan surgeon. Dr. Lopez completed his medical degree from Havana, Cuba, in 2008, did further studies in Venezuela, and then obtained his full licensure with the Medical College of Honduras. Dr. Benno Marx, whose father established the Clinica in the 1950s, is also present at times. Dr. Marx completed a family medicine residency at East Carolina University in North Carolina in 1987, then did a special surgical fellowship at Bowman Gray School of Medicine.

Women of La Mosquitia typically deliver their children at home. Or, like the intermittent rains of eastern Honduras, they pour into the Clinica Evangelica Morava with delivery complications. These stem most frequently from underlying anemia, malnutrition, and misunderstanding about pregnancy, including delayed care. Among the Clinica’s public health initiatives, midwife classes, intestinal parasite control, nutrition education, and prenatal care are very high priorities. The local government Health Centers are increasingly taking an active part in this. Transportation is very challenging in this region of jungle, savannah, and swamp. Therefore another high priority public health initiative is training village health workers. In the context of eastern Honduras these individuals provide mosquito vector and malaria awareness, management of common illnesses, and innovations for safe drinking water. They also play an important role in immunization and education of essential healthcare issues.

INMED invites all participants to consider raising extra funds to financially support this facility. While such efforts are not required, they provide opportunity for INMED personnel to become involved in this important aspect of international healthcare.

Communication to Ahuas or Honduras has improved vastly, with reliable cell phone service used by many local citizens. Calls or messaging to the U.S. is very reasonable. While one can bring their own cell phone from the North American, it must be “unlocked” in advance. Some visitors find it easier simply to buy a local phone with prepaid cards as needed.