A Breath of Life for Honduras’ Newborns

At the Juan Manuel Gálvez Hospital in rural Honduras, babies born too soon once faced slim odds of survival. No equipment and a lack of specialized training meant many fragile lives were lost before they had a chance to begin.

But in early 2025, everything changed.

Thanks to a partnership between CAMO and Salem Health Hospitals & Clinics in Oregon, modern neonatal equipment—along with something even more powerful—arrived: education. A team of U.S. professionals, including respiratory therapists Karen Schell and Dana Henscheid, and neonatal specialist Mary Sayler, trained Honduran staff in life-saving techniques like CPAP, oxygen delivery, and neonatal stabilization.

The results were immediate. Within days, premature twins survived thanks to the new care protocols. And in just a few months, the hospital’s neonatal mortality rate dropped from 22.6% to 7.7%.

“We’ve improved survival not just because of better equipment,” said Dr. Douglas Carranza, head of pediatrics, “but because our team now has the training to use it effectively.”

This story is a reminder: when knowledge is shared, lives are saved. Sustainable healthcare is not built on supplies alone—it depends on skilled hands, informed minds, and cross-border collaboration.

CAMO continues to deliver both: equipment and education. Together, they bring hope where it’s needed most.

By the Numbers: Impact of Training + Equipment

• 6% ➝ 7.7%
  Drop in neonatal mortality at Juan Manuel Gálvez Hospital (July 2024 to May 2025)
• 58 newborns treated for serious complications in late 2024
  • 17 deaths
• 26 newborns treated in early 2025
  • Only 2 deaths
• 9 containers of medical equipment and supplies delivered by CAMO in the past year
  • 16,504 boxes of materials
  • 282 major medical equipment items
  • Valued at over $2.5 million USD
  • Lives saved: priceless