The PazSalud Medical Brigade included doctors and PeaceHealth staffers from Bellevue, Bellingham, Eugene and Longview, optometrists and an optician from VOSH, and Salvadoran doctors, translators and volunteers. Sister Eleanor is second from the left in the second row; Sister Susan is third from the right in the back row.

Dr. Dale Heisinger checks a small patient's heartbeat in the pediatric clinic.

Think you've had to wait too long to see your doctor? Imagine standing in line in hot tropical sunshine for five hours or more to get your consultation! While the wait was long for many of the residents of Tamanique, El Salvador who came to our PazSalud Medical Brigade in January, no one complained or pushed into the line.

All of us in the Brigade - about 28 folk from PeaceHealth, the CSJPs (Sr. Susan Dewitt) and El Salvador - were impressed with the courtesy and community spirit of the 2100 Salvadorans who visited us during our 4 1/2 days in Taminique. We offered clinics in eyes (patients received glasses and, when needed, appointments for a coming surgical brigade that will replace cataracts), general medicine, women's medicine and pediatrics. The consultas were completed by a visit to the pharmacy, where prescriptions were filled and vitamins given to all.

The Tamanique brigade took place in the town's parochial school, founded and run by Sister Barbara, who also offered us her home for breaks and lunch. Tamanique, about 15 miles inland and uphill from the Pacific coast, is a rural community in an area with many coffee plantations.

We hope the people of Tamanique benefitted from our work - we know we all learned and grew, practiced Spanish, delighted in getting to know one another and rejoiced at being part of this fine program.

PazSalud, a joint project of PeaceHealth and the Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, is beautifully organized by Sister Eleanor Gilmore (in San Salvador) and Kathy Garcia (in Eugene, OR)

Susan Dewitt, CSJP

Dr. Daniel Pérez, from the Lion's Club Clinic in San Salvador, gives medications to one of our patients.

This young girl put on her Sunday best dress for her visit to the clinic.