People living in remote areas in smaller villages frequently have limited access to medical care. Many families go without help, causing individuals to die from common illnesses that could have been easily treated. Samaritan’s Purse developed the Village Samaritan program to overcome this gap in health care by training community members to recognize the warning signs of illness and provide basic medicine. They not only help bring treatment, but also educate families in how to prevent diseases from spreading. As the Village Samaritans help people physically, they also share the Word of God and proclaim the Gospel to heal them spiritually. These medical volunteers are following in the footsteps of the good Samaritan by finding the lost and broken, and bringing them hope.
Katia Licona, 22, checks 8-year-old Elbia Ulloa’s heartbeat and breathing. The Village Samaritan program encouraged Katia to pursue a nursing degree at college. “What inspired me was to help all the people in my community,” she said. “I like learning about health, so when this program came here I thought it was a good moment to learn.”
Rosario Flores, Village Samaritan nurse manager, visited Donaldo and Noelia Ortega to talk to them about Noelia’s pregnancy. Rosario does routine visits with families once a week in each village Samaritan’s Purse is working in. She also leads community lectures for the pregnant women and drives them to the health center to get check ups.
19-year-old Noelia Ortega is five months pregnant and is one of six pregnant women in the community of Buenos Aires. She has been attending the pregnancy meetings that Rosario leads, which include lectures about nutrition and breastfeeding. “I feel confident now that the Village Samaritans are here to help us with the health issues we have,” Noelia said. “I have learned a lot through the pregnancy meetings we have every week.”
When Rosa Julia’s son Osman got sick with diarrhea and a fever she took him to see Cesar Bueso Rodriguez right away. After Cesar gave Osman the medicine he needed, he started feeling better the following day. “I didn’t have to leave my family for an entire day to get medicine,” Rosa said. “It’s wonderful to have someone here locally.”
One of the responsibilities of a Village Samaritan is teaching good hygiene and health to children in schools to help prevent the spread of disease.
“I’ve seen that this program is making a difference because we have the medicine here and people can’t get to the doctor because they don’t have the money,” said Cesar, the Village Samaritan in Caballo de Piedras. “The biggest difference I think this will make is the behavioral changes in the homes, which will help prevent diseases.”
Caballo de Piedras is nestled up in the mountains, hours away from the nearest medical center. The rough roads and lack of transportation make it difficult for families to get access to medicine and treatment quickly.
When Mirna Lopez’s son, Anthony, got sick with diarrhea and fever, Village Samaritan Elsa Castro was nearby to help. She gave him rehydration fluids and medicine to lower his temperature. That evening, Anthony’s fever broke, and he was feeling much better. “It was very good to get the medicine here because my son gets sick routinely, and now I don’t have to pay the money or spend the time to go to the doctor,” Mirna said.
Angelina Guzman Anariba is one of two Village Samaritans in Agua Frio. We equipped her with a cabinet full of basic medicines and first aid materials so that she is ready to help sick families at any time.
Rosario Flores helped transport Faustina Castillo Hernandez to the Hospital with the Village Samaritan ambulance when she couldn’t walk due to arthritis. Once she got the medicine, she was able to walk again. Her husband, Julian, was incredibly thankful for the help.
