UK Shoulder to Shoulder Global May Brigade Help Relief Efforts in Ecuador
LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 13, 2016) — Shoulder to Shoulder Global (STSG) is leading 41 University of Kentucky students, faculty and community members on a 10-day interdisciplinary health brigade experience. Participants will arrive in Ecuador today and will work in conjunction with the Ecuador Ministry of Health and the Centro de Salud Hombro a Hombro (CSHH) to assist earthquake refugees in addition to providing health services and health education in Santo Domingo, Ecuador.
The May 2016 brigade will continue STSG’s tradition of incorporating academic and community partners to improve the health and well-being of impoverished and underserved communities, while offering students and health professionals the opportunity to work in a multicultural and interdisciplinary setting.
The CSHH clinic, the primary worksite for UK’s STSG brigades, has been supporting local efforts and assisting earthquake victims since the 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Ecuador April 16. In the aftermath, CSHH staff visited Pedernales, a canton devastated by the earthquake in the province of Manabi.
The CSHH, which recently celebrated its ninth anniversary, provides medical care, prevention services, oral health and school-based services in the community. The CSHH operates year-round and employs a local staff, including a physician, a nurse, a dentist and support personnel who work as a team to improve the health of patients and the community.
Although there were no confirmed casualties in Santo Domingo, where the CSHH is located, approximately 45 houses were damaged, and local hospitals have been experiencing an increase in the number of patients, as victims from surrounding vicinities seek treatment.
“The earthquake may have passed, but there is still a long way to go to recover from the disaster,” said Craig Borie, STSG program coordinator. “The Centro de Salud Hombro a Hombro is doing everything they can to help earthquake victims and the May brigade will assist in these efforts”, states Craig Borie, STSG program coordinator.”
Ecuador’s Ministry of Health has requested that the May UK team help with patient care in two communities closer to the Earthquake affected area. The brigade will be working in these communities for two days to provide needed health care.
These relief efforts have been possible thanks to a funding relief campaign initiated along with STSG partners Timmy Global Health (TGH) and the Ecuadorian foundation Hombro a Hombro.
To support this effort in Santo Domingo, visit https://timmyglobalhealth.org/online-donation-form/. Indicate in comment section that this is for STSG and select "Ecuador Earthquake Relief 2016" from the dropdown under "Please use my donation."
To learn more about STSG and the brigades to Ecuador, please visit STSG’s website at http://www.uky.edu/international/shoulder_to_shoulder.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Gail Hairston, 859-257-3302, gail.hairston@uky.edu