Key activities:
- Raising public awareness in the UK
- Provision of medical and supportive care to children affected by earthquakes
- Resourcing healthcare infrastructure
- Addressing specific health care needs in poor communities
- Working at local level to promote good building practice and education
Links:
Historically we have undertaken annual field trips to El Salvador (2002-2015) and one in 2019, to Colombia in 2012, 2013 and 2015, and to Uganda in 2016.
Dr Chris Jagger carried out emergency medical work in Samoa in October 2009 after a tsunami, and visited Uganda in 2019.
Field trips have not been possible since the Covid 19 epidemic, but local field workers have been appointed in El Salvador and Uganda to supervise medical interventions, ophthalmology work, and help for handicapped children.
Dr. Chris Jagger is able to use modern technology to provide remote diagnostic advice.
El Salvador
Annual trips to El Salvador have taken place following the earthquake in 2001 with the exception of 2012.
San Carlos
SALCET has been journeying with the community of San Carlos since the earthquake in 2001.
Follow-up medical assistance was provided in 2002. A needs assessment of the community took place in 2003 and each household was given one item to increase self-sufficiency e.g. a sewing machine.
In 2005/6, the need for a community house was identified and plans were drawn up by a UK architect for an earthquake-proof building in this vulnerable community. Planning permission was gained in 2007.
The local community constructed the building and the opening ceremony took place in 2010. The building is used for workshops; music lessons; clinics; and community gatherings.
Teaching and Training
SALCET promotes medical teaching and training in El Salvador in order to improve the health of the population, in particular, poor communities.
In 2008, a team from the Royal College of Surgeons held a course in latest methods and techniques for surgeons in El Salvador.
In 2010, a team of endoscopists joined the SALCET team and held a four day teaching and training programme in two hospitals in San Salvador. An endoscope was donated to Hospital Rosales.
SALCET has provided training on physiotherapy during the annual visits to El Salvador.
Eye Treatment
SALCET refers patients in poor communities to ASAPROSAR, a charity which offers ophthalmology services for needy communities (www.asaprosar.org). Many patients have received cataract surgery which has enabled their quality of life to improve greatly.
Estancia
SALCET supports the work of CAIPES clinic in Estancia, a remote, mountainous location in NE El Salvador. The local CDH (Asociacion Campesina para el Desarrollo Humano) committee work valiantly to run the clinic and other local projects/ facilities with no government help. SALCET provides medicines and financial support for other projects e.g. provision of latrines.
Compassion Projects
SALCET has strong links with Compassion projects in El Salvador and has held clinics at numerous projects during the annual trips to El Salvador.
Please click here to view some images: El Salvador Images
Uganda and Kenya
Uganda
The SALCET mandate has been broadened to enable us to address poverty as a chronic disaster and so branch out into helping the poor in Africa. Following various approaches, SALCET visited Uganda in November 2016 combining medical clinics with the setting up a women’s micro-finance projects.
Giving women the ability to earn for themselves is an effective way in the African context to help raise families out of the vicious circle of poverty.
Uganda 2016 Trip SummaryTanzania
In January 2012 SALCET made a £4000 donation to The Sean Devereux Trust to fund a malarial control project in a school in Tanzania.
Please click here to view a report on the programme: SDCF_Malaria_Project_Didia_2012
In March 2013 SALCET heard from The Sean Devereux Trust that the malarial control project they had put into effect had halved the incidence of malaria in a year.
