Trip to El Salvador June 20 to 24th, Women´s Health Seminar in an LDS Stake Center with instructors from the USNS Comfort

On Sunday June 21st, we traveled to Acajutla, El Salvador where the USNS was docked for its Medical Service in El Salvador.

Our work there was to make sure that an Area Church offical got on board the ship, which he did. Another activity that we looked over was the Women´s Health Seminar to be attended by church members in one of our buildings there and for anyone else that wanted to come.   It was free to anyone who wanted to attend.

There was a disconnect however on the arranging of translators and we managed to get the Mission President of El Salvador to send a couple of his missionaries to translate.  A couple of doctors on board could speak Spanish and English so that was helpful.

There were 33 members that attended and they all felt rewarded for the information they received.  All the information was regarding womens health issues topics covering menstration, menopause, sexually transmitted diseases, abuse and how to prevent all of the topics and what could be treated.

I spoke with the women doctors that were instructing the semanar to see what the feedback was.  The response was that they needed more information on breast cancer, prostate cancer and adolescent pregnancy.  Those topics were not covered. Also there was requested better advance notice of the seminar.  That was to be done by the Humanitarian Department and we felt there was a disconnect. We will write a report stating what was learned and what could be done better.  But for those that attended it was very worthwhile with intelligent questions asked.

This is an important seminar for women as they don´t always know what their issues are and what can be done about them.

A special message for doctors, nurses, dentists and other medical professionals.  You are needed !!!
Whether or not you are LDS or not, the United States Navy Ship needs volunteers.  If you can speak Spanish....all the better.  Translators in the areas where the ship visits are invaluable.

The women who could attend through to the 4 pm hour received a certificate of completions.  So many of the women wanted their picture taken with the Navy Health Professionals that conducted the Women´s Health Seminar.  What a wonderful service this is to the people of Central America.