Programs Coordinator: Kathy Morris

Quito, Ecuador

Timmy Global Health

TEAM

DATE

Trip: TEAM - DATE

Programs Coordinator: Kathy Morris

Medical Brigade Coordinator: Valerie Matron

OVERVIEW

The TEAM medical brigade is a component of Timmy Global Health’s continuum of care in Quito, Ecuador. The organization works hard to provide continuity in the communities where we work by placing different universities/teams into our international clinics on a rotating basis—every 2-3 months throughout the year. This makes it possible to follow up with critical care patients, treat chronic conditions, and increase the overall quality, sustainability, and impact of our short-term medical clinics.

Medical professionals and volunteers will see approximately 800 patients during the brigade week, working at 8 different clinic sites. The clinic sites themselves are adopted communities chosen alongside our partner organization using information taken from the Ecuadorian census and Ministry of Health. Timmy Global Health visits these sites during every medical brigade to Quito, Ecuador. Though medical professionals will be providing patient care directly, volunteers will assist medical professionals in various support roles throughout clinic—assisting with vital signs and patient histories in TRIAGE; shadowing physicians and providers in PATIENT CONSULTATION; helping dispense medications in the PHARMACY; administering fluoride to children and adolescents; and other miscellaneous clinic duties (translating, crowd control, data entry, etc.).

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

Kathy Morris

Programs Coordinator

Timmy Global Health

Tel: (317)920-1822

Cell: (502) 639-5680

Anna Butterbaugh

Office Manager

Timmy Global Health

Tel: (317)920-1822

Cell: (574)276-4536

Matt MacGregor

Executive Director

Timmy Global Health

Tel: (317) 920-1822

Cell: (317) 501-1405

Valerie Matron
Medical Brigade Coordinator – Quito

Timmy Global Health

(Speaks Spanish and English)
Tel (Ecu): 011 593 9522 0476

Paco Vasquez

Brigades Coordinator

Quito Eterno – Ecuador

(Limited English)

Tel (Ecu): 011 (593-9)-560-2396

ACCOMODATIONS

Centro de Espiritualidad – Leonidas Proaño

Avenida Rumichaca No. 100 y Av Moro (junto al estadio del Aucas)

Telephone: 011 593 2284-0059

Timmy Global Health - University of Notre Dame

October 13th – 21st

Tentative Itinerary

Please note that this schedule will likely change prior to the brigade. An updated version will be distributed closer to the trip.

Saturday, October 13th
9:17 PM
10:00 PM / Group Arrives at Airport
Pizza at el Centro
Sunday, October 14th
7:30 AM
8:00 AM
8:30 AM / Breakfast for churchgoers
Church at La Iglesia Quito Sur Cristo Resucitado
Breakfast for non-churchgoers
9:15 AM / Brigade Orientation at Tierra Nueva Medical Institute
10:45 AM
12:00 PM
1:15 PM / Tour of Un Canto a La Vida
Lunch at Ajicero
Shopping in Mercado Artesenal
3:15 PM
4:30 PM
6:00 PM
7:00 PM / Guayasamín
Depart for Centro
Dinner
Prep for Clinic/Med Professional Mtg.
Monday, October 15th
7:00 AM / Breakfast
7:40 AM / Leave for clinic
§ Communities TBD
§ Communities TBD
4:00 PM / Leave clinics for el Centro
5:00 PM / Free time
6:00 PM
7:00 PM / Dinner
Reflection
7:30 PM
8:30 PM / Prep supplies/meds for clinic
Movie night
Tuesday, October 16th
7:00 AM / Breakfast
7:30 AM / Leave el Centro for clinic
· Communities TBD
· Communities TBD
5:30 PM
6:15 PM / Dinner
Leave Centro for tour
7:00 PM / Ruta de Leyenda with Quito Eterno
10:00 PM / Prep supplies/meds for clinic
Wednesday, October 17th
7:00 AM / Breakfast
7:30 AM / Leave el Centro for clinics
· Communities TBD
· Communities TBD
5:00 PM / Leave clinic sites
6:30 PM
8:00 PM
10:00 PM / Dinner por definir
Andean Folklore Dance “Humanizarte”
Preparation for clinic
Thursday, October 18th
7:00 AM / Breakfast
7:30 AM / Leave for clinic sites
· Communities TBD
· Communities TBD
4:00 PM / Leave Worksites for Centro
7:00 PM / Dinner
7:30 PM / Clinic prep
8:30 PM / Cuarenta tournament
Friday, October 19th
7:00 AM / Breakfast
7:30 AM / Leave for clinics
· Communities TBD
· Communities TBD
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:30 PM
7:00 PM / Leave clinics for el Centro
Shopping at Mega Maxi
Drop off remaining meds at el Instituto Médico
Merienda Especial at el Centro
8:00 PM / Reflection

Saturday, October 20th
Daytime Activities TBD
Sunday, October 21st
3:30 AM / Depart for Airport
6:35 AM / Team flight departs

Ecuador Travel Information

WHAT TO EXPECT

The first requirements for any volunteer experience are a positive and flexible attitude, a sense of adventure, and a sense of humor. If you are on your first trip to a developing nation you must keep in mind that things do not always work as we are accustomed to, nor as we expect them to. Should inconveniences occur, understanding is always greatly appreciated. The Quito Eterno, Tierra Nueva and Timmy Global Health volunteerswill do everything within their capability to remedy the situation as soon as possible.

FLIGHTS

Timmy will be reserving space on a group flight for students and other interested volunteers. It is assumed that all students will be on the group flight unless students communicate otherwise. All other volunteers should notify the student trip leader and the Programs Coordinator if they wish to join the group flight.

Group Flight: United Airlines

10/13 UA 5252 IND-IAH 9:33A/10:55A
10/13 UA1035 IAH-UIO 4:00P/9:17P
10/21 UA 1036 UIO-IAH 6:35A/11:59A
10/21 UA 4186 IAH-IND 3:25/6:43P

Participants who opt to book their own flight should aim to meet the group on their connecting flight to and from Ecuador, or arrive and depart at a time as close as possible to the time of the group flight. Any trip participant who chooses to extend their stay beyond the dates of the brigade is responsible for the additional cost of those extra days (including all hotel and meal costs). These costs are beyond the budgeted amounts for the trip.

LUGGAGE

Baggage allowance on the airlines is limited to two (2) pieces of checked luggage, one (1) carry-on and one (1) personal item. While a second checked bag is permitted, there typically is a fee. Please check your airline’s baggage page online for more details at

Please carry essentials (eyeglasses, medicine, camera, passport, and other valuables) in your carry-on bag rather than in your checked luggage. Remember to pack a change of clothes and your toiletries in your carry-on in case of lost luggage.

RECOMMENDED DONATIONS

Timmy Global Health believes in responsible gift giving. Please only distribute medicine and hygiene supplies via the pharmacy while on the brigade.

STAYING HEALTHY

No vaccinations are currently required for entry to Ecuador. However,we strongly suggest that you consult your physician for advice on any recommended vaccines or special precautions whenever traveling outside the United States. To have the most benefit, visit a health care provider 4-6 weeks prior to your trip so the vaccines will have time to take effect. It is always recommended to be up to date on your tetanus vaccine as well as to consider Hepatitis A & B vaccines when traveling to foreign lands where you will be in close contact with local citizens. This is especially true when working with a medical team. Please do not go barefoot at any time in Quito so as to avoid parasites. In case of skin irritation or stomach trouble, please alert one of the Timmy doctors right away. Travelers can also check the latest health information with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta www.cdc.gov/travel/tropsam.htm.

ADJUSTING TO THE ALTITUDE

Some people will find that they need 2-3 days toadjust to the higher elevations found in Quito. Our advice to help you acclimate better includes:

§ Take it easy your first days. Walk slowly and use your free time to relax. Take a nap in the afternoon (it is normal to feel sleepy or tired at this elevation).

§ Drink as much water and non-alcoholic fluids as possible.

§ Eat lightly. Higher altitudes slow down your digestion so soups, salads, rice and similar items are recommended in the beginning.

§ Common symptoms indicating mild altitude illness include: headaches, dizziness, lack of appetite, general malaise and shortness of breath. In and of themselves, these signs are not cause for concern, but they should be noted.

ACCOMMODATIONS

While in Ecuador, we will be staying at the Centro de Espiritualidad. Thisretreat facility run by Tierra Nueva can house up to 60 people. It is located in South Quito near the TN Instituto Medico. The sleeping quarters aresituated in a group of buildings in a small, urban, walled in campus. Each building has 4 bedrooms, each with three twin beds, an armoire and a nightstand. Bedding is provided (sheets, pillow cases and 1 heavy blanket). There are two bathrooms per building, with a shower in each. Bring your own towel. Hot water is unpredictable. Please take short showers, out of respect to those in the group who must shower after you.

Meals are provided at the facility. They are prepared by the caretaker and his staff. Expect the meals to be hearty but additional snacks are a great idea if you are a picky eater or like to eat frequently throughout the day. Almost always rice and soup will be served with the main meal. Meals are served in the dining room in the main building, which also contains a conference room and a chapel.We can accommodate most dietary restrictions if we are notified in advance. Please include these on your pretrip Volunteer Information Form.

PHONING HOME

You will most likely not be able to call home on the night you arrive in Ecuador. You will be able to call home at some point but prepare your family in advance that you will not have many opportunities to call home. There is also wireless internet at the Centro that works best when only a few people at a time log on. This will allow you to email home at some point during your trip as well.

Timmy staff will send notification via email to your emergency contact (as indicated on your Online Volunteer Form) within 24 hours of the last trip participant’s flight arrival to inform them of your safe arrival. A permanent link to these updates is available on the Timmy website at http://www.timmyglobalhealth.org/index.php/news-events/trip-notifications/.

WATER

Don’t drink the tap water in Ecuador! Bottled water is readily available and inexpensive. Avoid ice in all of your drinks and usebottled water for brushing your teeth. Eat only well cooked foods that are served hot to the touch and vegetables or fruits that have been pre-cooked or that you can peel yourself. Also, make certain that your fruit juices are made with boiled or bottled water or that no water is added. At the Centro, the meals will be prepared especially for our ‘delicate’ stomachs, so everything will be safe to eat. Water is available in culligan-type coolers. Please bring a nalgene or similar water bottle to refill each morning.

MEALS

All meals are included.Breakfasts and dinners will be served in the Centro. Lunches will be packed by Quito Eterno each morning before we leave. Bringing some snacks (power bars, nuts, dried fruit, chocolate, etc) daily to your work site is highly recommended, in order to maintain energy throughout the long work days. Meals during airport layovers are the responsibility of individual trip participants.

CLOTHING

Although Quito is located at the Equator, due to the high altitude, days could range from quite warm to quite cool. By dressing in layers, you can be prepared for both. It is recommended that you bring a heavy sweater or medium to heavy weight jacket for cool evenings. The sun is very, very strong in Ecuador, so protective, lightweight, comfortableclothing is recommended for the daytime. Pants, longer skirts or scrubs are recommended for daily clinic wear. (Please do not bring shorts or tank tops to work in.) You may wear shorts outside of the clinic, though you will see no local adults wearing shorts. It is recommended that you bring a nicer outfit or two for a special dinner and the trip to the folkloric ballet. Bring/wear as little jewelry as possible, and please leave any unnecessary technology at home.(If you would be very upset if the item were lost or broken on the trip, then better not to bring it.)