University of Colorado- Boulder Dental/Public Health Brigade May 2015 Nicaragua

Start Date: May 16, 2015 12:00 AM
End Date: May 24, 2015 12:00 PM

Global Brigades offers 7-9 day Dental Brigades throughout the year in Honduras, Panama and Nicaragua. Dental Brigade volunteers have the opportunity to shadow licensed dentists in urgent and preventive dental services in communities with limited access to healthcare. Dental Brigades also focuses on prevention with dental hygiene workshops. Each of our partner communities receives a brigade approximately twice a year. Electronic patient records are collected for future visitations and to monitor overall community health trends. A typical brigade structure includes three clinic days and a Holistic Model Day. This unique day allows for Medical/Dental brigaders to experience one of Honduras’ other programs: Architecture, Business, Engineering, Microfinance, Public Health or Water Brigades. Through these Holistic Model Days, volunteers are able to tackle non-health related issues that are often times the root cause of common illnesses seen on Medical and Dental Brigades. The main health concerns in our communities include diarrhea, respiratory illnesses, waterborne illnesses and abdominal pain.
Global Brigades offers 7-9 day Public Health Brigades throughout the year in Honduras, Panama and Nicaragua. On Public Health Brigades, volunteers develop sustainable health solutions and establish a standard of health quality by emphasizing prevention and education. The Public Health Program achieves this goal by implementing in-home infrastructure projects, providing health education, and engaging community members. Each Public Health Brigade will work with individual families, local schools, and community leaders with a focus on holistic and preventative health measures on both an individual and community-wide scale.