What We Do > CMMB People > PeaceHealth El Salvador Health Mission

Meet Sister Eleanor Gilmore, director of PeaceHealth El Salvador Health Mission, a CMMB Healing Help partner.

“I believe the care of the sick is integral to being a Christian. Jesus was a healer in every way - whether curing people of physical illness, or just relating to them in a way that allowed them to be the most whole and complete person they were meant to be. He was totally committed to freeing women and men from whatever prevented this - relationships or oppressive social and religious structures and customs. Today is a particularly encouraging time in health care - in spite of all the realities of a competitive marketplace - because we are committed to the reality that healing must deal with all facets of the human person and personality. It is inspiring that so many persons in our system are committed to this mission and vision of healing and wellness.”

Salvadorans have long suffered significant hardship as a result of the civil war and overwhelming number of people are unemployed, living in poverty and with limited access to health services, particularly in rural areas.

Together, CMMB and PeaceHealth have distributed US$3,745,165 worth of donated medicines and medical supplies to the rural poor in El Salvador. PeaceHealth medical volunteers transport CMMB medicines to rural make-shift clinics housed in churches, schools, and community centers and treat up to 1,800 patients over 5-day periods of service.

Healthcare Challenges in El Salvador:

• Only 24% of rural residents have access to safe drinking water compared to 82% of Salvadoran's living in urban areas.
• 65% of rural residents have access to adequate sanitation services compared to 89% in urban areas.
• The infant mortality rate per 1,000 is roughly 350% higher in El Salvador when compared to the U.S.
• There are an estimated 300 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, compared to 12 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in the U.S.

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