Orla Murphy a nurse from Co. Galway, travelled to Guatemala to volunteeer at a hospital providing services to people who cannot afford healthcare.
Orla Murphy a nurse from Co. Galway, travelled to Guatemala to volunteeer with the "Hospitalito" in Santiago Atitlan. She worked with the hospital in providing services to people who cannot afford healthcare.
I am volunteering in Hospitalito in Santiago Atitlan in Guatemala. The Hospitalito is based on the shores of one of the most beautiful lakes in the world- Lago de Atitlan.
My schedule includes working days and nights with the local nurses. Duties include treating both adults and children with minor complaints to more serious problems, delivering newborn babies and emergency caeseraen sections, even in the middle of the night. I also have lots of teaching sessions with the nurses, as they have only had a few weeks training in college.
On a personal level it's a humbling experience for me, treating the local 40,000 Tzutujil population who cannot afford health care and very much appreciate our help. Its great to work with highly skilled professional doctors using the little resources that we have and still save lives. On a professional level, I am learning a lot. Overall, it has been a great experience, giving a service to these people in their local community.
Orla Murphy