October 14, 2002
Monday - 10:30 pm

PeaceHealth recently sent several local employees to volunteer in its medical mission in El Salvador. They, along with representatives from PeaceHealth in Eugene and Bellevue, will

Elizabeth Gonzalez (left), KGH Radiology Technologist

share their experiences in two free public presentations on Wednesday, October 16, 7-8 pm, and Thursday, October 17, 11:30-12:30 pm. Both presentations will be held in Ketchikan General Hospital's 3 North Conference Room. Along with the presentations, El Salvadoran crafts will be for sale, benefiting both the artisans and the mission.

Kalpna Thuraisamy, D.O., a family practice physician for Ketchikan Indian Corporation, as well as KGH employees Robyn Moulton, RN, and Elizabeth Gonzalez, Radiology Technologist, all journeyed to El Salvador this year as volunteers in the mission.

PeaceHealth and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace (CSJP) support this mission financially, and offer their employees and members the opportunity to volunteer there. The purpose of the Mission is twofold: to assist in providing health care to the people of El Salvador while offering PeaceHealth employees and staff physicians and CSJP affiliates an opportunity to serve.

Kalpna Thuraisamy, D.O., a family practice physician for Ketchikan Indian Corporation

According to a Ketchikan General Hospital news release, the Sisters first lived and worked with Salvadoran refugees in the mid-1980s -- in time of civil war -- and have continued this mission through natural disasters and reconstruction. The recently formed health care mission, established in 2001, is an extension of their relationship with the people of El Salvador. PeaceHealth offers this service opportunity in the hope that volunteers return home with experiences that will enrich their collective sense of organizational mission.

The primary focus of this mission is to serve those persons living in the rural areas of El Salvador. While the base house is located in the capital city of San Salvador, service opportunities are focused in rural communities. A few exceptions include short-term campaigns focused on surgical interventions that typically take place in hospitals in larger cities.

Volunteer opportunities take one of two forms: short-term and long-term.

• Short-term projects are based on a campaign model, where volunteers serve for one to two weeks, focusing on specific health issues. Some examples include: ophthalmologic surgery, dental care, pediatric care, cervical cancer screen, orthopedic surgery, diabetes care, and gastroenterology.
• Long-term projects involve volunteers spending three to six months in El Salvador, focusing on health education, the education of health promoters, and community health care issues. Some examples include: drinking water quality and sanitation improvement projects.

Volunteers carry with them donated supplies such as bandages, antiseptics, antibiotics, sterile gloves, sutures, gauze and splints.

Source of News Release & Digital Photos:

PeaceHealth - Ketchikan General Hospital
Web Site

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