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Peru – Glenda, Good Witch of the South

December 03, 2007 - Peru

by Steve Henrichon

Ever since the school campaign, we have discussed installing a school nurse at the school who would report to Guillermo. The school has 3600 children. They deserve to have a nurse. In addition to filling a significant void at the school, we are reaching out to the families through their children. It increases our clinic’s exposure. If little Jose is ill and he needs further treatment than what the nurse is able to provide, then she refers him to the clinic.

It was Wednesday. The Director of the school love the idea and he asked when the nurse will be starting. Guillermo said “The nurse will start on Monday.” Hmmmm…okay…that gives us a couple days to advertise the position, conduct a series of interviews, make a decision, purchase equipment for the nurse to use, and create and overall gameplan. I like the way you work Guillermo! Make yourself accountable and then do what you need to do to live up to your word…that’s the Real Medicine way.

After interviewing a handful of nurses, Guillermo decided to hire Glenda. To follow the philosophies of the clinic, Guillermo made it very apparent that the responsibilities of the job included prevention and education. On the first day, Glenda, Guillermo, and I went around to several classrooms to introduce ourselves. When we would work in, I would say “Buenos Dias Ninos!!!” and all of the students would yell in unison “BUENOS DIAS!” I couldn’t get enough of that. By the second day, Glenda already had a plan to lead a series of workshops for the children on “washing your hands!” I accompanied her on a few of the workshops for the 1st and 2nd graders. She talked about why it is important to wash your hands and when you should wash your hands. “Necesitan lavar las manitos!!” We had a demonstration and then the children could come up and wash their own hands. It was really cute. Other workshops in the future may include “eating healthy” or “sexual education” for the older students.

We also set Glenda up with an infirmary. Students come in with belly aches but she also has her hands full with simple injuries from the playground. These kids play really rough and they always seem to be throwing each other on the concrete. One youngster came in with his head split open and she had to clean the wound and close it up.

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