Vida Medical, Dental & Veterinary Programs in Guatemala

Going in, I knew that volunteering in Guatemala would be different than my previous 2 VIDA adventures (both to Costa Rica and Panama). I was fortunate enough to be the coordinator of one of the first trips to Guatemala, and within a couple days, we could see why VIDA has reached out to these communities. We worked predominantly in rural communities where there was little access to adequate healthcare facilities and the standard of living was quite low.

Patients were coming into clinics because they were poor. Not poor in the sense that they were coming to clinics looking for money, but poor in the sense that patients were coming with diseases of the poor. We saw a lot of cases where patients had parasites, simply because the water in their area was contaminated. We had a case where a patient couldn't afford to keep her child and could not afford an abortion, so she had it illegally done. As a result, not all of the placenta was removed, and because of the tissue's aggressive nature, it turned cancerous and invaded the walls of the uterus.

Every time someone asks me about VIDA, I tell them that it's more than slapping band-aids on people's skin and more than brushing someone's teeth. On VIDA, you're dealing with patients with real and serious illnesses that need attention. But just as important as helping the communities was the impact that VIDA left on its volunteers. At the end of every trip, when I listen to feedback given to me by volunteers, I always hear people tell me that before VIDA, they weren't sure if medicine/dentistry was right for them, but after two weeks of volunteering, they knew this was their calling.

Personally, the biggest impact VIDA has left on me was a sense of how privileged I am to never have to worry about things like boiling my clothes, or worry about not having enough to eat. Sure I've heard and seen things about poorer nations around the world, but to actually experience it is a whole different matter. My experience with VIDA has really put everything into perspective. While we stress about school and exams, others in Central America and around the world are struggling to put food on the table. So whenever I'm stressed in school, I reflect on my VIDA experiences and realize that even in school I am lucky, and that many of the patients I saw would gladly switch places with me if they had the chance.

The experience I have gain from VIDA is invaluable. And what is extremely striking is how close to home these communities are to us. I can hop on a plane and within 4-5 hours, I can go from a first world to a third world nation. It truly is unfortunate how you don't have to look far to see poverty. Even within our own countries we have communities in need, and VIDA has inspired me to further my community work back home and help in any way I can.

Please feel free to read more on our experience here:
uwovida.blogspot.com

I went to Guatemala last August as part of a school group to set up and run medical and dental clinics.

The first day we landed and were taken to an amazing 5-star hotel in Guatemala city. Here we got to meet the staff and had our orientation. The next day we departed to Antigua where we met our home stay families. We stayed with them for 5 nights. I was placed in a home with a wonderful family who took us in and made us feel very welcome. Even though our home stay family spoke English, they spoke to us in Spanish forcing us to practice the language.

Our first 2 clinic days took place in a rural village 45 min from Antigua. We set up shop in a house volunteered by a local. I believe by the end of the first two days we had tended to around 200 patients. The first clinic day was frightening since I had no clue what to expect. However, as the day progressed, I began to become more and more comfortable. In these few days, I had my eyes open to the conditions in other parts of the world. And I began to understand that the world I was living in back home, is not a reality for the majority of the world's population.

Our 3rd clinic day took place up high in the mountains- another village. None of us were aware that we were heading up to the mountains so most of us were unprepared, wearing only tee-shirts under our scrubs. The cold was unbearable, but nevertheless we pushed through and got to work. I remember children walking in with their traditional clothing consisting of shirts and skirts and wondering how they endured the harsh conditions up in the mountains. I guess they were in fact acclimatized to it. You would think being from Canada, that I would have been better able to handle the conditions.

We spent one night in Antigua going out to the local bars and clubs with the entire group. The next morning, we took a tour of the clonal city and went to visit an orphanage just north of the city. I have to say I was very impressed with the quality of the orphanage. However, I was told it was because it was one of the best in the country and that the conditions of others are a lot worse.

We then packed up our bags, said goodbye to our home stay families and headed off to panajachel. This city borders one of the most beautiful lakes in the world- lake Atitlan. We stayed in a hotel together as a group this time, so it was fun as we were able to hang out and talk amongst each other. The next day we headed up north 15 min to a small city to run a clinic. We set up shop in their medical center. Now when I say medical center, I mean an open space with benches where we could attend to patients. We were only here for one day, so we needed to work quickly to ensure we saw everyone who was waiting in line.

The next two clinic days took place in another city, on the other side of the lake. It was in some sort of complex with multiple rooms- I cannot remember what the exact structure was used for. I remember the area bordering the lake with an astounding view. It was during the last clinic day, that I had an opportunity to work the Pharmacy helping one of the doctors give out the drugs prescribed to the patients.

During the trip, I encountered many emotional challenges along the way. The fact of the matter is it was heartbreaking to see these individuals lacking basic medical care. I mean here in Canada, if your sick with a bacterial infection, no big deal, go to the doctor and get antibiotics. On top of that I have insurance, so the drugs are covered for as well. However, it is not as easy for these people. Drugs cost money and most of the individuals we tended too did not have the funds to cover such costs. There were some cases, that even we could not help them- instances where the doctors suspected that they had cancer and informed them that they needed to go to the hospital ASAP. Those were the hardest cases to deal with because, you could see the happiness from their faces fade away as they were being informed of their possible condition.

Although the trip was emotionally challenging, it was also uplifting in many ways. These people have a sense of resilience, one that was passed on to me during my time there. The way they thank you after you have treated them, is truly humbling and made the trip worth it in the end.

These two weeks changed the way I view the world and have taught me to cherish and appreciate what I have been given. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who wants to embark upon a life changing journey.

I had the best time in Guatemala! I really felt like I was able to make a difference in the lives of those I helped whie I was there. The VIDA staff were all knowledgeable, patient, and great to work with. I always felt like I i good hands and safe in the cities we visited. The price seems to be a lot but with all of the experiences and work that I got to do, it was well worth and I would go back and work with VIDA again and again!

I was on the Vet Team in Guatemala. I learned soo much on the trip especially with the hands-on experience!! The scenery is breath-taking...literally. We walked around a town on one of the clinic days. It was a life-changing experience to see how other people live their lives on so little, but are completely happy. The staff is extremely nice, fun, and willing to meet the needs of their volunteers. The friends I made on the trip are friends for life. I would recommend volunteering with VIDA to any of my friends on those career paths and will definitely be going back!

Volunteering with VIDA in Guatemala was an incredible experience. You get to explore a new country, and learn a lot about local culture. The VIDA staff prepares you well for your clinic days-which are amazing. You get to interact with the locals, take medical histories, and even play with the kids. Overall I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in volunteering while discovering a new country, regardless of whether you are interested in pursuing a career in the medical field or not.

I went into this experience with a lot of expectations, and I'm happy to say that the trip was WAY beyond everything I had hoped for. I learned a lot under experienced doctors and the very fun-loving staff, and had some unforgettable moments with the patients and locals. This trip helped me realize that the medical profession is right for me and is the reason I'm so motivated towards my goal of becoming a doctor now. I would give anything to be back in Guatemala now, it was truly an amazing experience!

My trip to Guatemala was a life changing experience. I had an opportunity to directly speak with and help treat various patients in different underprivileged communities. The staff, my group, and everyone we met along he way were so nice, helpful, and caring. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. I learned about many tropical diseases as well as how to talk to a patient and make them feel comfortable. It really help put thigs into perspective for me. I love helping people and really enjoyed the opportunity to help these people but realistically I learned as much about myself through these people as I was able to help them.

I volunteered on a medical trip, and it was an invaluable experience. The patients were wonderful and so friendly. The doctors were super nice and eager to explain diagnoses and diseases. I learned a lot and I really felt like I was making a valuable contribution. All of the VIDA staff were very helpful and fun to work with. The activities were well planned, as well. They are placed in between clinics for a mini break. Our activities were a tour of Antigua, which was so interesting, and ziplining, which was just incredible. My only suggestion: bring jeans and a sweatshirt, because some areas of Guatemala are chilly!