Winnipeg man collects cans to deliver health care and gospel in Cuba
A Winnipeg man is collecting cans in an effort to help fund a medical outreach mission to Cuba that focuses on mosquito-borne disease prevention, natural health solutions, community education, and sharing the gospel. Pedorthist Jim Pattison travels to countries including Cuba and Mexico, where he provides care and training for people living with high-risk foot conditions and limited access to medical supplies. A key focus of his work is helping communities reduce the risk of mosquito-borne illness through locally available prevention methods, rather than relying on imported products such as chemical repellents. “DEET has to be imported, and it’s fairly costly,” Pattison said. “Some people can’t use it, like young children, pregnant women, or those with sensitivities.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/chv_ros_bb', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1616015438375-bbm1'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1616015438375]) s.setTargeting('story_id', 'winnipeg-man-collects-cans-to-deliver-health-care-and-gospel-in-cuba'); s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); Instead, Pattison says his work emphasizes practical alternatives that can be sourced locally. “There are natural methods of mosquito repellent that are available there, and we’re showing them how to use them,” he said. Related Stories ‘Press In, Pray Through’: National Day of Prayer supports summer camps Winnipeg missionary sees hundreds of students give their lives to Christ in Guatemala How three-pound bags of produce feed 100 people One method he has explored is brewer’s yeast extract, a fermentation byproduct he says helps deter insects. Pattison first tested the approach in Winnipeg during an encephalitis outbreak while working with the Department of Entomology. googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/chv_ros_bb', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1616015438375-bbm2'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1616015438375]) s.setTargeting('story_id', 'winnipeg-man-collects-cans-to-deliver-health-care-and-gospel-in-cuba'); s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); “I tried a natural mosquito repellent, and I wasn’t bitten,” he said. He initially believed yeast-based solutions could be a practical option in part due to local fermentation industries and Cuba's rum production. However, he says fuel shortages and limited infrastructure created challenges in producing and distributing some materials, leading him to explore additional natural alternatives. Pattison also examined other locally available options, including tea tree oil, which he says can be sourced in some agricultural areas. Based on earlier conversations, Pattison says he was initially told tea tree oil resources were not available. However, he later confirmed its presence while in Cuba. “I wasn’t sure it was available, but I saw it there,” he said. “I’ve seen the trees, and they grow on farms down there, and they’re able to produce that.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/chv_ros_bb', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1616015438375-bbm3'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1616015438375]) s.setTargeting('story_id', 'winnipeg-man-collects-cans-to-deliver-health-care-and-gospel-in-cuba'); s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); Mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya remain a significant health concern in tropical regions. “Dengue is life-threatening; you can get spontaneous bleeding with a high fever,” Pattison said. “And with chikungunya, people can have joint pain for months, even up to a year. If we can stop mosquitoes from infecting people, there’s going to be less impact on the community.” He also says diabetes and foot-related complications are a growing concern in the regions where he works, especially where medical resources are limited. Pattison says access to medication and long-term treatment is a major issue. “The medicine that they would use, a standard antibiotic, would be used for three months, and about $400 a month, and it destroys your liver,” he said. “You have to have your liver checked regularly, and it's not uncommon for people to be taken off of the medicine early because of liver damage.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/chv_ros_bb', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1616015438375-bbm4'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1616015438375]) s.setTargeting('story_id', 'winnipeg-man-collects-cans-to-deliver-health-care-and-gospel-in-cuba'); s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); He also referenced projections from the International Diabetes Federation, saying some countries in Central America, including Cuba, are expected to see a significant rise in diabetes cases in the coming years. “The cost of treating a person with diabetes to make sure that they have the insulin and the tools to check their blood sugar, that is a high cost,” he said. “If there’s something that we can do to help reduce the incidence of diabetes and the complications, I think it is important for us to be able to do that.” Cans for Cuba Pattison helps fund his outreach work through an unconventional approach, collecting donated recyclable cans in Winnipeg. “It’s something we can ask people for that isn’t money, and it’s something they generally have,” he said. “We collect the cans and take them in for scrap.” googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/chv_ros_bb', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1616015438375-bbm5'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1616015438375]) s.setTargeting('story_id', 'winnipeg-man-collects-cans-to-deliver-health-care-and-gospel-in-cuba'); s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } }); He says roughly 40,000 cans are needed to fund one trip, with each can bringing in about 1.5 cents. He also notes that tabs from the can are repurposed for a separate initiative. “We also take the tabs off and give them to tabs for chairs,” he said, adding that his church community is involved and excited in that effort. Alongside medical care and prevention training, Pattison says his work also includes sharing the hope of Christ that he describes as central to the mission. “The gospel is being given out at the same time,” he said. “It’s about providing the hope of Christ with everything that’s going on.” To support Pattison in this effort, you can connect through the Cans for Cuba Facebook page, where donations and can pickups are coordinated. googletag.cmd.push(function() { if($(document).width()<900) { s = googletag.defineSlot('/50748803/chv_ros_bb', [300, 250], 'div-gpt-1616015438375-bbm6'); s.setTargeting('URL', [window.location.pathname]); s.setTargeting('position', [1616015438375]) s.setTargeting('story_id', 'winnipeg-man-collects-cans-to-deliver-health-care-and-gospel-in-cuba'); s.addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().refresh([s], {changeCorrelator: false}); } });
