Rotarians' Pediatric Orthopedic Center in Honduras
Posted by Tony Gilmore
- Two members of the Hershey Rotary Club are establishing a permanent
pediatric orthopedic center in San Pedro Sula, Honduras.
Two members of the Hershey Rotary Club, Dr. Edwards Schwentker and his
wife, Bunny, are establishing a permanent pediatric orthopedic center
in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, with the help of the Hershey Rotary Club,
Rotary International and CURE International. During August and
September 2007, with a matching grant from Rotary International, the
couple completed Ponseti clubfoot training workshops in four Honduras
cities, training over 60 general medical doctors and orthopedic
surgeons in a technique that, with casting and minimal surgery,
effectively corrects clubfoot deformity in infants. While clubfoot is
routinely corrected in the United States, it is a severe health problem
for children in underdeveloped countries, leaving them crippled for
life and creating a lifelong burden on their families.
"The Hershey Rotary is very proud to have contributed to the grant
which was over $20,000 as a result of a 3 to 1 match from Rotary
International.
It's a great example of how Rotary helps people in underdeveloped countries to significantly improve their lives." says Frank Paris, President of the Hershey Rotary. Since June 1995, the Schwentkers have visited Honduras each year on short-term orthopedic projects. They currently work in the Leonardo Martinez Hospital, where they have a full-time Honduran orthopedic surgeon, Gustavo Vasquez, who operates weekly and holds two clinics per week.
Volunteer groups continue to provide short-term assistance in the clinic. "This is the first time in the history of Honduras that poor children have had year-round access to elective orthopedic care," says Dr. Schwentker, "and with this Rotary sponsored clubfoot treatment program we can now effectively treat the most common congenital deformity that causes locomotor disability." In January 2004, the Schwentkers joined CURE International, a charitable organization that has children's hospitals and treatment programs in 12 developing countries. CURE is presently building its own 20-bed pediatric orthopaedic hospital in San Pedro Sula. When this is completed, the Schwentkers will move to Honduras to work there full-time, to expand their treatment of poor children and to continue to monitor the clubfoot program. "And that will be the fulfillment of a dream that we have had since we first went to Honduras," says Dr. Schwentker Dr. Schwentker is a Professor of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and he and his wife, Bunny, are residents of Hershey.
It's a great example of how Rotary helps people in underdeveloped countries to significantly improve their lives." says Frank Paris, President of the Hershey Rotary. Since June 1995, the Schwentkers have visited Honduras each year on short-term orthopedic projects. They currently work in the Leonardo Martinez Hospital, where they have a full-time Honduran orthopedic surgeon, Gustavo Vasquez, who operates weekly and holds two clinics per week.
Volunteer groups continue to provide short-term assistance in the clinic. "This is the first time in the history of Honduras that poor children have had year-round access to elective orthopedic care," says Dr. Schwentker, "and with this Rotary sponsored clubfoot treatment program we can now effectively treat the most common congenital deformity that causes locomotor disability." In January 2004, the Schwentkers joined CURE International, a charitable organization that has children's hospitals and treatment programs in 12 developing countries. CURE is presently building its own 20-bed pediatric orthopaedic hospital in San Pedro Sula. When this is completed, the Schwentkers will move to Honduras to work there full-time, to expand their treatment of poor children and to continue to monitor the clubfoot program. "And that will be the fulfillment of a dream that we have had since we first went to Honduras," says Dr. Schwentker Dr. Schwentker is a Professor of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and he and his wife, Bunny, are residents of Hershey.