General Medical Fund

Assisting with medical equipment, supplies, clinics and patient care!

TIMELINE

In March 2021 we visited the community of Panimache Quinto Bajo to celebrate the ribbon-cutting for a potable water project that we funded. This project involved the trenching of land and laying pipe from the potable water source (nacimiento) to the central location in the community where families would come to retrieve the clean water for cooking and drinking, as well as an area for washing clothes at the community basin (pila).

It was during that trip that we decided to begin planning for the construction of a health clinic just up the road, adjacent to the school where we support students with a vitamins program and a library.

PURPOSE

The clinic was completed in November 2021. It has two examination rooms, a waiting area, a bodega and bathroom complete with shower. The clinic will host visiting medical teams, doctors and nurses that make scheduled monthly visits to the remote area and will be available to the local midwife for tending to the needs of pregnant women. Children will receive medical checkups there, and the overstock of children’s multivitamins and pre-natal vitamins will be stored onsite.

POTABLE WATER

HEALTH CLINIC

Please enjoy this slide show of the process in building the clinic, start to end!

Patti Stewart-Garbrecht donated an infant scale to the local midwife and the rest was history!
Prior to the clinic being built, pregnant women would be seen in makeshift tents, barely protected from the public view.
The midwife was excited to hear that she would have a place to tend to the needs of her patients in a comfortable and private setting.
Visiting doctors and nurses previously performed child checkups on the school patio, for lack of another suitable place.
These are the blueprints for the clinic that we planned!
When we came onsite for the ground-breaking ceremony, it was the same day that a semi with flatbed trailer was delivering the concrete blocks. Two tires on the semi blew so we walked down the hill to the community and all concrete blocks were offloaded, and later carried by hand the entire rest of the way.
The community pila is now on Google Maps, and the red marker is where the clinic was built.
Pre-construction planning!
Taking initial measurements and staking off the outer boundaries of the clinic.
Each family was responsible for carrying 50 blocks, multiple trips back and forth up and down the hilly path.
"Primera Piedra" (first stone) was the ground-breaking ceremony, signifying the placement of the first block and start of construction. This took place in July 2021. Present were president Jennifer Demar, Board member Mike Margolies, and project manager Diego Xirúm as well as committee members, albañil Adolfo Morales, and members of the GUATSP travel team.
The first block was placed, and then leveled.
Initial trenching...
This little man is supervising!
The boys were making sure all tasks were performed correctly.
The trenching process was met with several large rocks, including this boulder! It was lifted and displaced by hand!
President Jennifer Demar and Project Manager Diego Xirúm stopped onsite several times during the construction process to monitor the progress and celebrate milestones!
Diego and Adolfo discussing some of the finer details.
All of the trenching was done 100% with manual labor.... shovels and pickaxes.
The building supply store became a regular hangout!
The clinic was built immediately in front of the school.
It was no easy task to get all the concrete blocks onsite!
Just starting with the concrete blocks.
The beginning of the foundation!
Just like the trenching, all of the rebar columns were bent and tied by hand and manual tools.
Wood planks were used for platforms and also for concrete forms.
A dump truck had just delivered sand and gravel so that concrete could be mixed... you guessed it -- by hand.
The walls are at about half height in this photo.
Rebar wrapping and wire ties were done with a simple tool.
Some tools of the trade.
Plaster walls covered the concrete block construction.
Some families don't have plumbing or electrical in their homes, but the clinic has both!
It is unusual to see a shower at a clinic, but this will be so nice for those that need it!
Our project manager, Diego (far right) with the construction crew and the committee from the community.
There is even beautiful exterior electrical!
Taking measurements for the windows!
A local pastor was invited to the community to bless the clinic and all those that worked or received services there.
The women of the community were happy to tour the new construction after it was fully complete.
The completed clinic, November 2021.
With over 90 donors, as well as construction crew, albañil, project manager and committee members, there was not enough room on the plaque to thank everyone!

General Medical Fund

TIMELINE

PURPOSE

BUILDING ON OUR SUCCESS

Welcome back,