Cindy Knisely of Westminster Presbyterian Church hosted a creative table and work space where children could be segregated from parents, freeing up more space for patients inside the clinic, both at the Trinidad and La Entrada locations.

Although the clinic is only a few years old, there is always more than can be done to improve the facility and the operation.

The container is loaded and will be picked up. The process took 2 1/2 days involving transporting stored equipment and supplies from 4 different locations. The logistics were organizing and coordinating people and trucks.

Thank you to the Daily Local News for their wonderful feature!

Each day presents its own unique challenges with which the clinic staff must deal. The cases may range from separating a frightened, feverish, crying child from his or her mother for a few minutes to take vital signs, monitor weights, check on the condition or progress of diabetic patients or to treat serious wounds and infections.

November is election time in Honduras too—not only for political office, but for the Board of Directors of Manos Amigas as well. Roberto Hernandez, the incumbent mayor and local businessman, is running for re-election in La Entrada. Prior to holding elective office, Roberto was the president of the Board of Directors for Manos Amigas.

The Manos Amigas Clinic joined in with other institutions around the world and marked World AIDS Day, a time to remember the critical fight against HIV and AIDS. Doing its part, clinic staff designed and erected a massive poster-board display in the patient reception area to call attention to the event on December 1, 2012.

The staff at the clinic work long hours. They start at 7:30 a.m. and work until almost sunset, six and a half days per week. By law, the physicians, however, work an abbreviated 6-hour day. This can be difficult at times because some of our patients start out from their homes at day break and walk for hours down mountain trails to come to the clinic.

SATC participated in the November conference at the Honduran Embassy with the Primera Dama, the First Lady of Honduras, Rosa Elena Bonilla de Lobo and Jorge Ramon Hernandez, Ambassador to the US leading the way in frank, open discussion sessions.

The Manos Amigas clinic is located along Honduras’ International Highway approximately three miles outside of La Entrada on the way to San Pedro Sula. It is still a rural area and security is always a consideration. And so, over the past year, a modern house was built to provide a home for our security guard and his family.

It’s that time of year, every four years when passions run high and the political season is in full swing. There is a ground swell of political optimism about what could be, but only if the “right” party is in office. Speeches are made, rallies are taking place…

If crowds are any indicator of something “afoot” in the area, then the clinic will have to be judged as a huge success.