Peacework is a secular organization and bears no political agenda. We exist simply to bring help and hope to those in need. 

Our strength and success is based in these tenets:

1. Emphasize health education.  We raise money all year prior to our trips for medicine and supplies that we bring to the people we serve.  We use our medications as an adjunct to our treatment plans. Over time we have learned that health education is more effective than short term medications.

2.  Actively participate and foster community partnership. Peacework engages and endorses local and regional host country medical resources and individual host country volunteers as colleagues as part of our broader services in the countries where we serve.  Often we are able to directly engage in teaching local community health professionals.
We are successful because of the support, assistance, and guidance of our host country colleagues.

3. Empower our patients through dignity and respect.  To foster this, we work and camp in the community that is hosting us. Before we begin work, time is spent consulting with and listening to the needs of the community we are seeking to serve. Situated centrally in the community, our team operates daily clinics loosely modeled on a hybrid of the process seen in emergency department and mass casualty services - it works! 

The villagers visit us by a ticketing system arranged by our host country counterparts. All patient services, including registration of patients, triage, health education, medical screening by our clinicians, treatment, and pharmacy services take place at this single work site.  Our host country colleagues work side by side with our volunteer medical team and the rapport and trust built through this shared community service is fundamental. The return on this investment has been tremendous.

While we see well over 300 patients daily during a clinical project, the unique attention to the individual is a credit to the dedication of our volunteers. They come to this team with a spirit of humanitarian service that is as understated as it is remarkable. The work speaks for itself. 

4. Commitment demonstrated through action.  Most importantly, our patients recognize our commitment to them and to the region we are serving. The intention of Peacework is to become a part of the health system of a region, no matter how minimal that system may seem at first study. We do this by integrating as much as possible into the services and medical personnel working in the region.  For example, in northern Honduras we conducted pap smears and pelvic exams for women. Women with suspect medical history or conditions were referred to host country labs for further testing and follow up. As a result, cervical cancer morbidity and mortality has been positively affected in a part of the country where previously this had been an untreated condition.

Where we are currently in 2011 -

Haiti: With the urgent needs created by the devastating earthquake in January 2010, followed by the cholera epidemic of late 2010/early 2011, Peacework Medical Projects has had teams working in Marygot and Jacmel, then in Ranquitte. We plan to be in Phaeton as well in 2012. 

Honduras:  Our commitment to Honduras includes a remodeling of our southern project in the town of Nacaome. In the north, we have completed our work, in our beloved Santa Lucia after eight years there! With happiness and more than a little sadness, it is time for us to move on.

This region of 13 villages now has a visiting Honduran physician and nurse. The people we have worked alongside since shortly after Hurricane Mitch are no longer the neediest. Success there is measured by many different markers!

Our history.....

In late 1998, Hurricane Mitch changed the country of Honduras forever. For those of us who had a history of service to the area, we needed to rethink our goals and efforts. For one Phoenix based volunteer, the creation of Peacework Medical Projects was the result. 

In January 2001, after a year of administrative efforts, a group of nine Phoenix based medical professionals established the inaugural two week primary care clinic in the mountains of Honduras.  1200 needy patients were treated, many of whom would have never received medical attention otherwise.  On the second day, a healthy baby girl was delivered, and Peacework Medical has been growing and committed ever since!

This clinic was then held annually in this same location. A typical U.S. team of 12 persons consisting of MDs, PAs, RNs, paramedics, and Spanish interpreters returned each January. Our Honduran counterparts included dentists, optometrists, logistics coordinators, cooks, drivers, and interpreters.  
Typical medical care encompassed a medical screening exam and health education for everyone instructed by a local community leader.  For others, there was treatment for internal parasites, blood sugar and blood pressure screening, Pap smears and pelvic exams for women. Cervical cancer morbidity and mortality has been positively influenced by the introduction of Pap smears in a part of the country where there had previously been none.

Dental and eye care was added in 2001 and in 2005, two veterinarians accompanied the team to provide vaccinations, spay and neutering, and to teach animal husbandry.  They returned in 2006, and plan to incorporate this important service into the ongoing Peacework plans. A team of five veterinarians will come and treat the livestock in 2007.

Who can join us?

U.S. medical and PA students whose school has an affiliation with Peacework Medical are carefully selected to join us for clinical rotation credit. Unfortunately, without this affiliation, other students may not volunteer for a medical team.

What does it cost to produce a volunteer medical project?

The cost of the clinic and all personal and travel costs are borne by the volunteer team.  Individuals raise their own funds- approximately $1800.00 per person including airfare, all in country costs, credentialing, and insurance for the Honduras projects, $1850.00 for Haiti, and $2800.00 for the Cambodia project. These fees are eligible for tax deduction.

What these costs actually provide:

Peacework is able to treat each patient for only 2-3 US dollars -- a value that is kept low by accepting donations of medicine and materials in the US, and by buying medicine in the host country. Collecting clean unused materials and disposable recyclables from area hospitals helps our goals as well.  The volunteers are tremendously resourceful: every year, they do a lot with a little!

How you can help, you ask? 

Your support is welcome and needed: Volunteer in Phoenix at our packing event, or come to the November fundraiser. Or, simply send a check to "Peacework" and we will stretch your donation dollars to meet the needs of as many patients as possible. 

Many thanks!
Peacework Medical