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We have been open in our new facility for some time, but the Ministry of Health has said that when we have everything for our birthing center and pediatric inpatient center that they would come and license the entire building. We have been ready to open now for one year and the Ministry of Health keeps saying ‘one more paper’.

altBy Marco Cáceres
It is possible that, contrary to the opinions of many, Honduras' greatest problem is not corruption, rather ineptitude -- an inability (or unwillingness) to get things done in a timely, efficient, and courteous manner. This huge problem is an outgrowth of many other more core social and economic problems in Honduran society, and it fuels many other symptomatic problems which often receive more attention and bigger headlines. But the truth is that ineptitude is integral to what grinds everything to halt in Honduras and makes the simplest, most reasonable and worthwhile actions seem monumentally difficult. Bureaucratic ineptitude is perhaps the most frustrating and mind numbing of all the faces of this progress impeding phenomenon, because it is almost impossible to determine who is at fault, and thus to whom one might turn in order to remove the wrench in the wheel. It is systemic, and it is inherent to most governments, but particularly to governments without a professional civil service which employs people more interested in not rocking the boat than seriously looking to resolve issues.

On Friday, I received a message from the Roatán Reporter that a wonderful public medical clinic -- Clinica Esperanza -- in Roatán would be closing its doors because the Honduran government has been dragging its feet in granting the clinic its license. I immediately called the clinic's founder and president, "nurse Peggy" Stranges, to get the full story from her. I asked her to summarize the situation. The following is Peggy's response:

We have been open in our new facility for some time, but the Ministry of Health has said that when we have everything for our birthing center and pediatric inpatient center that they would come and license the entire building. We have been ready to open now for one year and the Ministry of Health keeps saying ‘one more paper’. The Ministry says that we are now ready, except for our ‘environmental’ license, (licensia ambiental).

We had hoped to open by January 1, 2011, and we have patiently waited for months. The Ministry told us that we should have everything by March. We had our dedication of the center in March. We are still waiting. We have an attorney in Tegucigalpa who is helping us through all the red tape.

I want to especially thank Dr. Fermin Lopez with the Ministry of Health on Roatán for all his patience with helping us with our licensing. This is one of the most beautiful and well-equipped centers for the poor in all of Honduras. We see over 1,500 patients every month. I would love for you to come and see our clinic when you are here in October. It would be an honor for me to show you what your encouragement has accomplished.

Regarding the container of supplies... this has been sent by New Orleans Medical Mission Services (NOMMS) to Hospital Roatán and Clinica Esperanza. Last year, NOMMS had a gala attended by the First Lady and myself. She told them and me that ‘anything we need, she will help’. The First Lady has received containers from NOMMS. We received the first container with some difficulty, but it was finally released last year and then NOMMS had scheduled another container to be sent directly after the first was received. This container was ready for shipping in January, 2011.

The container was ready, but we still did not have a dispensa in order to receive get it through Customs without having to pay duties. There were several people corresponding with the First Lady’s office to get the dispensa for several months. Finally, after many conversations, our Diputado, Romeo Silvestri, said, “This shouldn’t be a problem. Send the container and I will personally go to the office of the Minister of Heath Tuki Bandana.” We questioned him several times about this, and he assured us that he would personally get this dispensa. I know he tried and tried but no success.

We have been in contact with the First Lady’s office and also with the office of the Ministry of Health, particularly, attorney Raul Matamoras for months. This is a container of humanitarian medical supplies to help the public hospital and Clinica Esperanza. Our only motive is to help the people.

I was told today in an e-mail from the Vice-Minister of Health Dr. Javier Pastor that “The first Lady herself got the final authorization for the release... she is at the island right now to open container. It will be good that you contact her and thank her for her help.”

It is now after hours and Hyde Shipping is closed and Connie Hyde said that “Not even the First Lady can open Hyde Shipping on Saturday”. So, it is with regret that we will be closed on Monday and will remain closed until we have the container open and a reasonable expectation that we will have our license this month. I do know that Diputado Romeo Silvestri, Mayor Julio Galindo, his assistant Clinton Everett, and Governor Shawn Hyde have all been diligently working to help us get this solved. (7/11/11) (photo courtesy Clinica Esperanza)
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Note: The author is the editor and cofounder of Honduras Weekly. He is also the cofounder of projecthonduras.com, an international network of volunteers involved in humanitarian development projects aimed at empowering the people of Honduras. He directs the annual Conference on Honduras in the town of Copán Ruinas in northwestern Honduras. He was born in Tegucigalpa.