Medical Missions UnlimitedTrip to Chiapas, Mexico (9/6-13/08)
Chiapas, Mexico
DemographicsThe People• Economically Challenged –
primarily poor, rural farmers• 25% are predominantly of
Mayan decent and do not speak Spanish
• Approximately 40% of the population is malnourished
• 89% earn less than $3,500/yr
• Less than 50% of the households have running water
The Land• Humid, Tropical (the
highlands can average 120 inches of rain/ year
• Many areas have no roads• There are 32 Zapatista
Municipalities in Chiapas• Conquered by Spain in the
early 16th century• Focal Point of the Zapatista
Rebellion in 1994
San Cristobal de Las Casas
Built in the 1500’s, primarily a tourist destination for Europeans and Australians, Approx. 200,000 residents
Hotel Jardein and The Shawver’s
L-R: BARBARA BENTLEY, DR. RICHARD YOUNG, MELISSA FRIEDRICH, DAVID ROBERTS, CATHY MOORE, RN
The MMU Team
Triage
Our First Stop in Occosingo
How Did We Travel? (video)
AccessibilityRoads Communications
Our Second Stop – Zapata3 Generations Live Here (9 People– apprx. 450 sq ft)Kitchen and Bath Facilities
Esteban’s HouseClinic, Dinner, Church and Hotel
The Faces of Zapata
Currency
Gracious Hosts
The People of La Ceyba (video)
What Did We Find?• Our first Stop – TB, Typhoid and Scabies in one
house – 3 generations (very common)
• Kids = Intestinal Parasites, Scabies, Seizures, Dental Issues
• Adults = Joint Pain, Headaches, Parasites, Hernias, Cancer, Diabetes, Hypertension
• Treated over 140 patients in 8 Villages
Jose Luis and Eloy Martines
The Children of Tacuba – Live Like a Rock Star
Why Go?