TRAVEL & TOURISM

Program makes it possible for disabled Miskitos to get around

By NANCY HOGE
Special to Honduras This Week

PERSONAL REPORT

The inside of the house in La Mosquitia was dim, almost dark. When my eyes adjusted to the light, I saw a young man lying on the floor.

"I've been here for one year and 14 days," said 24-year-old Cliver. "I can do nothing now but lie here and count the days."

"No," I replied. "You can do more."

It was then that I gave him a wheelchair, one of 25 donated by Hope Haven International Ministries to the Central American Medical Outreach (CAMO) program, a non-profit organization that works closely with Hospital de Occidente in Santa Rosa de Copan.

After making several trips to La Mosquitia and seeing first-hand how isolated the area is for people who need medical care, CAMO decided to donate the 25 wheelchairs to the Miskito people living on the La Mosquitia coast.

"Sometimes God makes decisions for us," says CAMO director Kathy Tschiegg. "When a need presents itself and resources seem to fall into place, not acting would be a denial of what is meant to be. From the donation of these wheelchairs in the U.S. to their delivery to the individuals in need in La Mosquitia, everything appeared to be smoothly orchestrated."

Because the La Mosquitia region is so inaccessible, hundreds of men, women and children who live there are virtual prisoners in their own homes because they have been crippled in one way or another. Many of those who lie on the floors of their houses are young men who once earned their living diving for lobsters. That's how Cliver was injured. On his last dive he went too deep, stayed down too long and surfaced too quickly. He was fortunate to survive, but he's now suffering daily with his disability.

As a measure of how inaccessible La Moskitia is, it took CAMO four months to deliver the wheelchairs to the people there. The wheelchairs were donated in November and had to be transported by land to Santa Rosa de Copan. CAMO could not have afforded to pay the shipping costs, but MATRA donated space on its freighter and SOSA Airlines generously brought the wheelchairs to areas not accessed by the ship. Distribution within La Moskitia required transportation in dugout boats.

The wheelchair project is one of many CAMO has been involved in. The program has also created the first physical therapy and mammography units ever installed in a Honduran public hospital. The equipment required for its projects is donated to CAMO by hospitals in the United States. CAMO then pays for all shipping costs and sends volunteers to install the equipment and train hospital personnel in its use and maintenance.

"CAMO is committed to partnership and stewardship of its projects," says Tschiegg. "It's easy to send a container or a team. The hard part is the integration of the pieces, including training the personnel in the proper use of the equipment and then stepping back to watch them grow."

As much as CAMO has been able to accomplish in the past few years, however, there is still much more to do. There are still children dying in Santa Rosa de Copan because there is still not enough medical equipment to serve everyone.

"It is our belief that most people want to help ease pain and suffering, but too often they don't know quite how to do so," says Tschiegg. "We [at CAMO] know how. All we need now is for people of good will to join us. Together we can make a real difference in people's lives."

For more information about Central American Medical Outreach, call (330) 683-5956 in the United States or write CAMO at 14821 Burkhart Rd., Orrville, Ohio 44667. You can also send an e-mail message to CAMOkathy@aol.com.

Nancy Hoge is a physical therapist who works with the CAMO program.

Taking a taxi in Honduras: know before you go!

By CAPTAIN TERRY CLYMIRE

There seems to be an ever-increasing problem with taxis in Roatan, and much of Honduras for that matter. People who are visiting this beautiful Central American country for the first time need to be aware of the situation and have some basic guidelines to follow.

Over the last year, there have been numerous traffic accidents involving taxis and their passengers. Some of these proved to be serious and, in a few cases, fatal. Most of these incidents can be attributed to two factors. First, the police ruled them to be caused by mechanical failure, and second, the driver was under the influence of alcohol.

Accidents do happen, but most can be avoided. Before you take any taxi, first complete a visual inspection. Do the tires have tread and appear to be in good condition? Are the windows cracked or broken? Does the vehicle have bumpers and all of its fenders? Is the body in good condition and all the doors, trunk and hood working, not tied shut with rope or wire? Does the driver appear to be well groomed? Is the paint in good condition? Does it look like the vehicle will make it to your destination?

Taxis cause many accidents. They often fail to signal when stopping or turning, and when they do stop it is usually in the traffic lane rather than pulling to the side of the road. With the many curves on Honduran toads, this is a rearend collision waiting to happen.

Many taxi drivers take pride in themselves as well as their vehicle. If you find a good one, remember his name and taxi number, use him again during your stay and refer him to friends.

Also remember to price before you ride. Always ask the price before you get into a taxi and, once again, remember the taxi number. You can report the driver to the police if you have any problem. A German tourist once took a taxi from West End on Roatan and agreed upon the price before he got in the taxi. But once he arrived at his destination, the driver wanted more and held a knife to his throat for the money. He was reported by the tourist and the police now have him in custody.

Before leaving your hotel or the airport, ask what the current government-set taxi rate is. These are posted in all airports. Some taxi drivers will try to charge what ever the market will bear, but many are honest. An American tourist recently traveled form French Harbor to the new Roatan Airport. The standard fare for this trip is $7. The tourist paid $30. Look for the honest drivers and remember that taxis are always cheaper outside the airport.

The problems associated with using taxis can very easily be eliminated. As in other countries, have the rates posted inside each unit so they can be easily read by the customer. Have the police do a thorough vehicle inspection each year as currently required by Honduran law, and stop and cite any taxi in need of repair or suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Talgua Cave discovery will soon be a national park

By BLANCA MORENO

CATACAMAS -- President Reina laid the first stone last week at what will soon become eastern Honduras' first national archaeological site. Located 10 kilometers outside the Olancho city of Catacamas, the Talgua Caves were once home to the burial rites of a millenia-old culture. Today they're the site of a new park that is likely to draw tourists and archaeologists from all over the world.

The ocre-painted, calcium-coated bones discovered in the caves three years ago by a group of locals have turned out to be the remains of a culture dating as far back as 3,000 years. The discovery drew the immediate attention of foreigners and Hondurans alike. With Lps. 2.49 million in funding, the new Talgua Caves Archaeological and Ecological Park has been created to give both professional and armchair archaeologists an opportunity to get a look at the exciting new discovery themselves.

The park project will include the construction of nearly four kilometers of new highway leading to the site, plus security gates, walking paths, a footbridge, a visitor's center and a network of ladders and platforms to help visitors navigate the caves. It is being sponsored by the Honduran Social Development Fund (FHIS), the Honduran Institute of History and Anthropology and the Ministry of Culture.

The site is expected to draw numerous visitors, not only to see the caves, but also for its proximity to several rivers and Sierra Agalta National Park.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, President Reina said the Talgua site is a celebration of the achievements of the human culture. He also said, "Honduras is one enormous archaeological site."

Culture Minister Rodolfo Pastor Fasquelle praised projects like the Talgua Caves Park and said he's pleased to see positive development of archaeological sites rather than ransacking by curious looters. Since its discovery, the Talgua site has been closely guarded to keep its contents safe and intact.