Central American Medical Outreach Inc

CAMO'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PEOPLE IN CENTRAL AMERICA BY STRENGTHENING HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT.

MEDICAL SERVICES: CAMO'S MEDICAL PROGRAMS IN HONDURAS PROVIDE SERVICES THAT OTHERWISE WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR PATIENTS TO RECEIVE IN A DEVELOPING COUNTRY. INSTEAD OF USING A BAND-AID APPROACH TO CARE, CAMO TREATS THE WHOLE INDIVIDUAL WITH DIGNITY, RESPECT, AND FOLLOW-THROUGH. THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS IN THE USA AND HONDURAS, LIFE-SAVING SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT ARE INTEGRATED INTO OUR 25 MEDICAL PROGRAMS IN WOMEN'S HEALTH (ULTRASOUND, CERVICAL CANCER, MAMMOGRAPHY); SERVICES FOR DISABILITIES (AUDIOLOGY LAB, ORTHOTIC/ PROSTHETIC LAB, WHEELCHAIR REPAIR) GENERAL MEDICAL (NEUROLOGY, DENTISTRY, OPHTHALMOLOGY, PSYCHOLOGY, DERMATOLOGY) SURGICAL PROGRAMS (NEUROSURGERY, ENDOSCOPY, UROLOGY, PLASTIC SURGERY), AND MEDICAL EQUIPMENT/BIOMEDICINE.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION: WHEN CAMO ESTABLISHES A SERVICE, IMPROVES A FACILITY OR INSTALLS NEW EQUIPMENT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING ARE ALWAYS PROVIDED. CAMO IS THE SOLE NATIONAL TRAINING CENTER FOR THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION IN HONDURAS, TRAINING 1500 PHYSICIANS, NURSES AND PARAMEDICS ANNUALLY IN CPR AND NEONATAL, PEDIATRIC, AND ADULT ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT. TO ADDRESS THE LACK OF STANDARDIZED NURSING CARE, CAMO'S KATHRYN TSCHIEGG WROTE, PUBLISHED AND DISSEMINATED 1,100 NURSING PROTOCOL MANUALS THAT COVER 140 COMMON STANDARDIZED PROCEDURES. COMMONPLACE IN THE U.S., THESE MANUALS ARE NOW BEING USED IN HONDURAN UNIVERSITIES/HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE. DURING THE PANDEMIC, CAMO HONDURAS WAS CHOSEN TO ADMINISTER A $1.6 MILLION CONTRACT WITH THE U.S. INTER-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK (USAID) AND THE MINISTER OF HEALTH TO COORDINATE THE COVID-19 RESPONSE, ADMINISTER HEALTH CARE AND TRIAGE CENTERS, HIRE PANDEMIC PERSONNEL IN THREE STATES OF HONDURAS, PURCHASE PPE AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR CLINICS/HOSPITALS, AND EDUCATE PATIENTS/STAFF IN COVID. IN ADDITION, CAMO PROVIDED FIVE HOSPITALS WITH VENTILATORS, C-PAP MACHINES AND RESPIRATORY SUPPLIES SAVING THOUSANDS OF LIVES. SINCE RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS DO NOT EXIST IN HONDURAS, CAMO USA RESPIRATORY VOLUNTEERS REMOTELY TRAINED HONDURAN MEDICAL STAFF IN VENTILATOR USE. CAMO COLLABORATES WITH THE TECHNICAL SCHOOL OF ARTS AND TRADES SERVING WESTERN HONDURAS IN PROVIDING TECHNICAL TRAINING TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE LABOR FORCE. ANNUALLY, 600 TEENAGERS AGES 13-18 YEARS OLD COMPLETE PROGRAMS IN AREAS SUCH AS WELDING, CARPENTRY, COMPUTER, AND CULINARY.CAMO'S HEALTH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TEXTBOOKS TO 13 RURAL VILLAGES. LAST YEAR, CAMO PROVIDED 2,130 DENTAL, NUTRITIONAL, OPHTHALMOLOGICAL, AND AUDIOMETRY SERVICES IN REMOTE SCHOOLS.

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT: CAMO BELIEVES THAT HOLISTIC HEALTH INCLUDES LIVING IN A HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT. SINCE 2004, CAMO HAS PARTNERED WITH HONDURAN CITY LEADERS TO FILL GAPS IN THE COMMUNITY AND IMPROVE QUALITY OF LIFE. CAMO PROVIDES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES TO THE REGION TO DEVELOP GOOD CITIZENS, COMBAT CRIME AND FEAR, AND PROMOTE SECURITY AND WELL-BEING THROUGH: PUBLIC DAYCARE FOR 90 LOW-INCOME, AT-RISK CHILDREN RECOGNIZED BY THE GOVERNMENT FOR BEST PRACTICES IN PREPARING KINDERGARTENERS AND INSTILLING POSITIVE BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES. DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTER CAN HOUSE 100 WOMEN/CHILDREN WITH COMPREHENSIVE HOLISTIC PROGRAMMING (COOKING, NUTRITION, PARENTING AND ACCESS TO EDUCATION/JOB PLACEMENT, MEDICAL CARE, AND LEGAL ADVICE). COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER SERVING 600/DAY AND 1000/WEEKEND (ONLY GYM FOR 1 MILLION PEOPLE) WITH TRANSPORTATION FROM SCHOOLS, INTRAMURALS, WEIGHT ROOM AND AEROBIC CLASSES. YOUTH MENTORING CENTER WITH BOYS/GIRLS CLUB AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, A CAFETERIA WITH MICROBUSINESS, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH PROGRAMS.AS A RESULT OF THESE SUCCESSFUL CAMO INITIATIVES, SANTA ROSA DE COPAN HAS BEEN NAMED THE "SAFEST CITY" IN HONDURAS A COUNTRY THAT IS DEEMED VERY VIOLENT BASED ON ITS MURDER RATE.