By Kaitlyn Nuebel

A recent shipment to Honduras included pharmaceuticals and medical equipment for rural Honduras areas. The shipment also included hand sanitizer, which was distributed to school children so they could attend school with the necessary COVID-19 precautions.

More than half of Hondurans live in poverty and struggle to afford basic necessities, including healthcare. In rural areas many local families do not have the resources to travel to public hospitals or private clinics, and they face circumstances even more dire.

Brother’s Brother Foundation in partnership with Cross Catholic Outreach shipped more than 9,000 pounds of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies to hospital facilities in Honduras. On the ground partner Asociación La Perla (ALP) distributed the supplies to 23 local hospital facilities, including 15 rural health centers.

Items in the shipment such a rollators, medical carts, and a clinical recliner, provided healthcare workers with basic equipment needed to treat patients. Pharmaceuticals like Estradiol (used to treat breast cancer, prostate cancer and to prevent osteoporosis) and Levothyroxibe (given to patients with an underactive thyroid and thyroid cancer) helped doctors give life-saving treatment to patients.

BFF’s shipment also included 288 bottles of hand sanitizer which has been instrumental in keeping children in school. After the COVID-19 pandemic began in March 2020, schools in Honduras closed for two years. Since reopening, students must attend with two masks and a bottle of hand sanitizer. For families in poverty, this has meant deciding whether to put food on the table or purchase masks and hand sanitizer to keep their kids in school. BBF’s donation has helped Honduran children of all economic backgrounds continue their education despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic.