Health Across Borders: two countries, one team
Alex travels from Tegucigalpa, Honduras to Chimaltenango, Guatemala. It’s July 2024, and Central America is facing the rainy season, which strikes with great intensity and sometimes affects the roads. Alex didn’t hesitate for a second to embark on the journey when he was informed that his mother, who lived in Guatemala, was gravely ill. As he began the trip, one of his concerns was continuing his Antiretroviral Treatment (ART), which helps to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV, like himself.
Alex was diagnosed HIV-positive in 2014 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where he attended the Dr. Alonso Suazo Comprehensive Health Center, which offers Comprehensive Care Services (CCS) for HIV where Asociación PASMO staff currently work under the regional USAID HIV Prevention, Care and Treatment Project. In July 2024, Alex contacted his health center to notify he was in Guatemala and running low on medication. The team in Honduras quickly mobilized to prevent an interruption in his treatment, something that had happened in previous years. “We always keep track of all our patients and provide timely follow-up for those who miss their appointments. In Alex’s case, after adherence-focused counseling, he had already shown great commitment, and consistent health controls and appointments. That’s why we started looking for solutions even though he was out of the country”, says Rosa Ramos, a community liaison.
The PASMO Honduras team immediately contacted their colleagues in Guatemala to explain the case and help connect Alex to the nearest comprehensive care clinic. This is where Dr. Alfonso Huerta, Program Technical Coordinator in Chimaltenango, coordinated so that Alex could receive care at the Pedro Bethancourt Hospital in Antigua Guatemala. Alex received one month of ART the same day he attended the hospital. “We have the advantage of being a regional project, and people have the right to health care. People living with HIV should receive their treatment wherever they are,” says Dr. Huerta.
After several weeks in Guatemala, Alex returned to Honduras and continues receiving comprehensive HIV care in Tegucigalpa to this day. “This case underscores the commitment and effectiveness of our team in providing continuous care, even in unforeseen circumstances. The collaboration between different clinics, even across different countries, demonstrates how, through effective communication and a patient-centered approach, we can overcome barriers and ensure access to essential medical care”, Dr. Huerta says with great satisfaction.
