Project SEMILLA Provides Needed Knowledge to Nicaraguan Hospitals

Working in an emergency room setting in the United States, in almost all circumstances provides doctors with at least most of the major needs they require to do their jobs on a daily basis.

Even in inner cities equipment like EKG machines are common enough that patients in need can have them at their disposal. While this is advantageous to both healthcare professionals and the people they treat, it is not a universal expectation.

Because of this, a group known as Project SEMILLA, which stands for Strengthening Emergency Medicine Investing in Learners in Latin America, has spent the past few years working to bolster conditions and improve the level of service at emergency rooms in Nicaragua.

Breena Taira, MD, who spends most of her time working at Olive View UCLA Medical Center, also serves as US Director for the project. Having made several trips to the Latin American country, Taira said it is rewarding to see all that they have accomplished in a relatively short period of time.

Project SEMILLA works on several facets of emergency care when they arrive in country, offering courses in resuscitation, emergency ultrasound, first aid, and pediatric resuscitation, as well as trauma.

The organization’s website said the vision of the group is “that emergency practitioners of all levels, in countries throughout Latin America, will have the training and resources to provide the highest level of patient care in emergency situations.

Even with all that has been done, Taira said there is much more ahead, including expansion to other countries in the region that can benefit from their knowledge.

You can learn more about the project through the videos posted below.