Hasta luego, Roatan

My trip to Roatan has come to an end. I am so grateful for this experience. I was able to live in Roatan for a month. I met great people on such a beautiful island. I got to learn more about health care and perform outreach work in the community. I was able to intern at the pediatric clinic with Dr.Cerritos at Roatan Hospital every day. During some afternoons I volunteered at Clinica Esperanza or participated in community outreach, such as visiting an orphanage. Most the work I did was triage and translating. Luckily, I also got the chance to shadow health care providers in different specialty areas.

I learned a lot about the health care system in Roatan. I met a lot of caring Honduran health care providers working in a lacking health care system. With a shortage of resources, the providers in Roatan are limited as to how far they can help their patients. In very serious conditions and emergencies, patients need to try and get to the mainland.

For example, in situations where in the United States a patient would be admitted to a hospital, the hospital and clinic sometimes does not have to resources to do so. It is very sad to see that many times treatment on the island is just superficial but the root of the issue is not always solved.

Clinica Esperanza runs on donations and often times they run out of medications. This often results in providers having to modify their plan of treatment and not using the first treatment of choice. Patients can purchase medications at pharmacies, however often times it is too costly for them to do so.  

On an island with such a rich culture and beautiful communities, it is sad to see how lack of resources and poverty limit access and availability to quality health care in Roatan.

This trip confirmed by desire to pursue a career in advanced nursing. I have always wanted to work in health care in underserved and underrepresented communities and my experience here in Roatan showed me how meaningful and impactful doing so can be for a community. I truly wish I could stay longer! I look forward to starting school soon and being on the road to becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner. I know once I complete school, I will most definitely return to Roatan, and this time as a health care provider! I cannot wait! See you soon, Roatan.

Rainbow from my balcony on my last morning in Roatan