My name is Josué Álvarez Osorio, student of Medical career of the Medical Faculty of San Carlos University of Guatemala. With the support of Health Talents International, I started this adventure of studying medicine in 2013. Thanks to God, to Health Talents International and my family support I am in the final stage of my academic studies, I am currently in the second semester of the sixth year of medical school, which consists of the participation in professional supervised rural program (EPSR) that provides health services in the rural area of Guatemala.
My experience in this new stage of my university career I would describe as impressive. This is because it represents a change, a challenge and a new way to see the health care situation of Guatemala. I started on August 1
st
. of this year, in a place called La Primavera.. This Health office belongs to the network of health centers that provides health in the first level of care of the Ministry of Health and Social Assistance of Guatemala (MSPAS).
I began my activities as an EPSR doctor. That day, I participated in the health programs that are managed in the Health office, My activities included collecting the height and weight of children, from 8 families in the community of La Primavera, which is part of the MSPAS nutrition program. During the afternoon, I participated in 9 medical consultations as an EPSR physician. The first day represents for me the beginning of a new stage of expectations, emotions and joys. However, it also represents the stage where I have full responsibility with the patient.
This new stage requires the use of skills that we learned in the first 3 years in the university and what has been learned and practiced in the last 2 and a half years in the hospital environment. This represents to start walking alone, it represents the establishment an own medical criterion, it represents facing a patient alone with no one else just me and what I learned in college.
So far my ESPR has been a great personal satisfaction with the help of God and the books I have obtained great benefit from this experience and I think that also to the more than 250 patients that I have assisted during these 2 months. With the help of God I hope to learn as much as I can about the pathologies that afflict the population in Guatemala to be able to perform an effective and efficient work in Health Talents international when it is time to be part of HTI as a doctor.
Thank you very much to you, the sponsors of the scholarship program for young people of the Church of Christ who study medicine. For me it has been vital importance because otherwise my dream of being a doctor would not have been possible. God bless you and your families.
Dear Sponsors:
I send to you a fraternal greeting, wishing you many successes in your daily activities.
I write a few lines to publicize how I feel now. It is amazing how time has passed during these years, there were times when it seemed too far to reach the goal. But now that I am in contact with patients and I remember that it was worthwhile to study.
These last years of the career have taught me that there is still much to learn and that as soon as I can I must perform with quality the work I do.
This year, being at the hospital I could appreciate love more closely, learning that life can change immediately, and one can have too painful experiences watching a family member suffer or saying good bye to a loved one, or the fortune of healing and continuing living. I have learned to value the precious things that I have.
I feel very happy and fortunate to be working in one of the communities of El Quiche. I have the satisfaction that I am in the place where one day I dreamed to be, providing health care to many people. When I see patients who have healed or recovered, I realize that God’s grace is wonderful. Definitely, being in the rural area has allowed me to see the Guatemalan panorama and reality where are challenges to work.
These last two months, I have had more time to spend and share with my family, I missed being at home a lot. Now I am here, there are many things that have changed. It is getting back to them that makes me happier and motivates me too much in the activities I do. I am also excited to start working with Health Talents International next year I want to help in the best way, getting involved in HTI programs.
Finally, I want to thank you very much for trusting in us and for being our support, there are no words to describe the gratitude I have for you.
Martha Ana María Álvarez Gutiérrez