1 year of preparation by H4H Board members and other volunteers
- Board appointment of team leader and mission committee
- Recruiting physicians, nurses, support
- Arranging travel, accommodation, insurance details
- Fund raising for patient care expenses
- Collection and sterilization of surgical supplies
- Acquisition of supplies donations from companies
- Acquisition of medications and anesthesia supplies

2 week Surgical Mission Nov 7th – 23rd, 2008
- 39 member team travels to Guatemala (7 admin and support staff, 1 Interpreter, 13 physicians, 18 nurses)
- Nov 9th Triage Day - 205 patients, 10 hours of screening, 163 surgeries booked
- Nov 10th – 20th. 9 days of surgery, 4 operating rooms, 160 surgeries completed
- Nov 21st – 23rd. Follow up and discharge of patients. Settlement of accounts for patient costs, supplies and medications purchased in Guatemala, patient accommodation and transportation. Donation of new infant weighing scale to Obras Sociales Hospital
- Team returns home tired but satisfied with a job well done, grateful for the opportunity to help, wiser and with a greater appreciation of their own privileged lives.

Although the new government in Guatemala acknowledges the need to improve the availability of basic healthcare, it will be many years before they are able change the major social inequality, broaden the tax base and increase spending on social programs. It is clear that there is an ongoing need for our volunteer services and H4H is committed to sending surgical teams as long as the need is there.

All team members, and our volunteers and donors in Canada, can feel proud of their contribution to a successful team effort. Together with the other volunteer teams that perform surgery at the Obras Sociales Hospital we make a significant contribution to medical care in Guatemala.

Plans are already underway for our next mission to Antigua which is scheduled to depart November 6th, 2009. Thanks again to our Board, team members, and other volunteers for their commitment and hard work. Thanks also to all our donors for their support in 2008.

Mike Morton - Medical Director, Health for Humanity
December 2008