CatherineBartlettMD

Summary

• I retired from primary care pediatrics in 2010 and volunteered with Operation Smile as a team pediatrician through 2017. In 2011, I met Bette Palovchik, the President of Shuarhands, a small foundation that supports health and educational programs in Ecuador and Guatemala. I initially traveled to Guatemala to provide medical clinics in the rural villages of the San Marcos district, and to teach health care workers basic medical care. However, realizing that extreme malnutrition was the most pressing issue, with widespread stunting of the children, Bette and I turned our efforts toward supporting agricultural and irrigation projects. Abundant food production is now in place in several villages, and a protein project began last year. Last year, hearing screenings and hearing aid distribution began, and a long awaited eye mission is finally underway. The first 8 patients had cataract and pterygium surgery this week with 24 more scheduled in the next month. A total of 146 patients are "in the queue." It's' now January 2024 and ShuarHands, in cooperation with Luis Fuentes of Policlínica Niños Shecanos in San Marcos, Guatemala and The Cuban Brigade Ophthalmology group in Guatemala City continues to provide cataract and ptygerium surgery for people from several villages in the Western Highlands of Guatemala. Over 200 patients have had vision restored with one man giving us our motto, "Volver a ver es Volver a Vivir" - to return to seeing is to return to living. We continue with our support of the hearing aid, irrigation and agricultural projects as well, relying on small grants, fund-raisers and occasional generous donors.