- In Central America and the Caribbean, millions of people are dying because they have no access to affordable healthcare. Millions more are living with very treatable illnesses because they don't have access to healthcare providers…
- Dr. David Roth, GHP Board Member
GHP Projects 2003 to Present
Pediatric Urology - Nicaragua
Since 2004, GHP surgeons have been training doctors at Nicaragua's "La Mascota" Public Hospital in the capital, Managua, to perform pediatric urological surgery to repair congenital abnormalities and train local surgeons.
Our goal of increasing the skills of the pediatric urologists in the community and actually increasing the number of capable pediatric urologists in Nicaragua is well under way: Since our inaugural medical mission, the hospital has established a unit specifically for pediatric urological surgery. GHP will continue to mentor local teams and provide other resources.
Assessment and Therapy for Developmentally Delayed Children - Nicaragua
In Nicaragua, GHP has partnered with Los Pipitos, a privately funded organization and the only Nicaraguan organization assisting children with developmental disabilities and their parents. Los Pipitos serves 75,000 patients and their families each year, addressing a wide range of neurological, congenital, cognitive and behavioral disabilities, including developmental delays, and speech and language problems.
GHP is working toward ensuring sustainable rehabilitation services for this population by helping to train and produce a more responsive, professional workforce, and by building knowledge among family members.
Cervical-Uterine Cancer Prevention and Treatment - Nicaragua
Cervical cancer has become one of the deadliest healthcare issues to emerge for women in low resource sectors. In Latin America, cervical-uterine cancer is the second leading cause of death among women ages 30-60. In this region, where a woman heads one out of every four households, the disease devastates not only families and communities, but also all resource systems.
GHP and the University of California, Irvine, in coordination with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health, have developed a new model for treatment that is practical, cost-effective and culturally sensitive.
Pediatric Craniofacial Surgery - Nicaragua and Guatemala
Craniofacial birth defects include Microtia, Cleft Lip and Palate, and Micrognathia with Infant Airway Problems. In addition, facial trauma injuries in children are common in the developing world. These injuries and deformities place an enormous stress on children, their families, and local resource systems. In Guatemala, public healthcare workers lack the training, equipment and support to treat these children.
In response to the lack of support and interdisciplinary care, GHP is working with doctors at Roosevelt Hospital in Guatemala to strengthen their reconstructive skills in cleft repair, jaw reconstruction, craniotomies, and ear reconstruction.
Pediatric Burn Treatment - Guatemala
Each year throughout Guatemala, many children are burned due to open fires commonly used for cooking and heating; house fires; or playing with firecrackers. These injuries can result in life-threatening infections as well as lifelong disability.
At the request of Guatemalan health authorities, GHP has initiated a program of medical missions to train Guatemalan surgeons in Pediatric Burn Treatment.