As you may know, this situation is going to stay with us for a while. That is why it is necessary to adapt our program offering a safe environment to all our team. The safety and security of our volunteers, staff members, and communities is our top priority, and we have to take precautionary measures to protect our people.

This safety protocol was created in response to the COVID-19 situation. It is based upon local Health Ministries and the indications provided by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and under the technical supervision of local professionals in Guatemala and Costa Rica. We are continually communicating with the local health authorities and updating this Protocol as needed.

GENERAL MEASURES: 

• Wash hands
• Social Distance
• Use of facemask
• Cough and sneeze protocol
• Clean and disinfect

PPE: PERSONAL PROTECTION EQUIPMENT

• Surgical mask
• Faceshield
• Medical Gloves

OPERATIONS AND LOGISTICS 

• Our trips will have a maximum of 21 volunteers.
• We will avoid close contact with people in the communities without protection
• Students must bring with themselves at least 1 full scrub set for each clinic day, or a minimum of 3 scrubs. It is encouraged for students and staff members to use the laundry services at the hotels.
• Avoid direct greetings such as handshakes and kisses.
  • The temperature will be taken at the beginning and the end of each day according to the itinerary.
  • Social bubble or within the same members of each program.

Arrival Day:

• Team Leader will take the temperature of each person and register the information in a logbook, starting from the first day of the trip
• Team Leader will briefly explain the dynamic of the activities regarding social distancing, roommate assignment for hotels and homestays, if applicable.
• The use of a mask during the General Orientation will be mandatory for all the participants.

Clinic Day

• Family visits activity and Homestay program  will be suspended until further notice.
• During clinic days, there will not be any rotation between students and/or staff, meaning that the groups will stay the same from the beginning until the end of the clinics.
• Each student will carry their Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) provided by Vida.
  • Surgical Face Mask.
  • Face shield.
  • Isolation gown (dental students).
  • N95 mask (dental students).
• Each staff member will carry their Personal Protection

Equipment 

• Vida will ensure through the community coordinators the cleanness of the facilities where clinics are performed before and after its use, by providing cleaning tools such as liquid Lysol, soap, chlorine, or a solution with at least 70% alcohol.
• During clinic days patients’ consultation will be given through scheduled appointments organized by the Community Coordinator. There will be assigned 1 or 2 patients per hour per interpreter for each clinic day.

• The organization guarantees access to soap, hand sanitizer, disposable towels that can be placed within the clinic.

• Social distancing of 6 ft should be applied both in and out of the clinic.
• The community coordinator will set and mark how social distancing should be in the waiting area for the patients.

Patients’ admission to the clinic 

Prior to the admission to any of our clinics, Vida will set a Triage station where a nurse will classify patients. The nurse in charge of patients’ admission to the clinics should use Personal Protection Equipment (PPE).

People with COVID-19 suspicious symptoms will not be admitted to the clinic and will get a referring medical order, according to the Alert System of the Health Ministry.

DOWNLOAD THE FULL PROTOCOL HERE

We empathize with those who have been impacted by the outbreak and we know this is a very stressful time for everyone.

As you know, the safety and security of our volunteers, patients, community and staff members is our top priority and the rapid spread of COVID-19 has forced us to take precautionary measures to protect everyone at this time.

Since Vida relies entirely on the support of volunteers, it’s vital that we plan ahead to ensure we can continue with our important mission as soon as travel is less restricted. We require a strong and united stance and, as a member of our valued community of supporters, we are asking for your support to help us keep our operation going until this crisis passes.  Your kind donation will help us to keep impacting the communities in Central America

More than 50 communities are our allies in Central America. In these places, the situation of COVID-19 is evolving every day and changing very quickly.

That is why we maintain direct contact with our Community Coordinators, who are leaders in each of these places, and maintain relationships with the authorities at the local level (health centers, municipalities, schools, etc.) and provide us with information to understand what is happening in each area. In both Guatemala and Costa Rica, the government is directly working to contain the situation in these communities, and we continuously monitor it.

Once we return to the communities, our job is to work harder to promote health, providing all the information that people need to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Local health systems will likely be strongly affected, so volunteers, staff members, and community leaders are more necessary than ever.