We like to think about sustainable development at the grassroots level. We tailored our own 'non-toxic' approach to addressing local community health by working with our partners on-the-ground. These addressed local needs identified to be most important by community leaders, including infectious diseases like fungal and bacterial infections and chronic conditions like lung disease (e.g., COPD). Our teams built 'pilas' (i.e., sources for clean water), community sanitation stations, eco-stoves, bathrooms with septic tanks, and concrete floors. Each of these revolved around a key health indicator, that we measured over time in our community patient health record database.
Overall, we saw over a 30% decline in infectious disease over the course of our five-year commitment!
From its inception, we have worked with policy and service leaders in the Honduran community. Sister Maria Rose, a Nobel peace prize nominee known as the 'Mother Theresa' of Honduras, was one of our biggest proponents. In 2012, she personally asked us to make the five-year commitment that we did to Nuevo Paraiso in Southwest Honduras. The Consulate General of Honduras in Atlanta was one of our most invaluable advisors. For our unique approach and impact, we were even recognized by the Honduran Presidency! The First Lady of Honduras personally hosted us at the Presidential Palace in the Tegucigalpa.
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MDJunior believes that high school youth are at a unique age to drive significant community change. High-schoolers are passionate, motivated, driven and truly care about equipping themselves with unique experiences in global health. That's why we stepped up in the international development community and created the first medical brigades model for high school students.
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