Group has been providing crucial care to Honduras for 27 years

When is the last time you helped your neighbors? How about neighbors that live 2,500 miles away?

A couple weeks ago, about 100 volunteers, many from Minnesota, packed up and headed to Honduras to help their distant neighbors. The volunteers are part of International Health Services (IHS), an organization that provides medical, surgical, eye care and dental services to those who need it most in Honduras
“Honduras remains one of the poorest countries in the western hemisphere,” said John Kirckof of Glenwood, who recently left on his 14th mission to Honduras.
The IHS mission to Honduras started 27 years ago when a few dentists traveled to the most remote areas of the country. W where no medical or dental care was available. As the years went by, the group got larger and soon physicians joined the dentists. Surgical and eye care teams were later added. 
“Each year we usually have two surgery teams and about six or seven medical/dental clinics throughout the country,” said Kirckof.  “In addition, we usually send one or two eyeglass clinic teams each year.”
Prior to the mission, villages are selected based on their needs. Those communities that are in the most need and have the least resources are given top priority.
“The village clinic teams typically have two doctors, one or two nurses, a pharmacist, a dentist, sometimes a dental assistant, a ham radio operator, an engineer, one or two translators, and two or three general helpers,” said Kirckof. “Depending on the qualifications of those who apply, sometimes a person may do two positions.”
Kirkof, for example, is ham radio operator, but he usually does the engineer job and some general helper tasks.