The voices of young children singing "Jesus Loves
Me" in Spanish greeted us as we approached the Emmanuel Methodist Church day care
center on this cool, sunny day in Cochabamba, Bolivia. We are nurses and pastors,
doctors and dentists, pharmacists and microbiologists, teachers and missionaries - forty
of us from across the U.S. in Bolivia to participate in the Bolivia Medical Volunteers
Seminar sponsored by the Mission Volunteers and Health and Welfare units of the General Board of
Global Ministries in May 1999. The seminar was also supported by the United Methodist Fellowship
of Health Care Volunteers. A newly formed national organization, the Fellowship comprises
persons willing to support and participate in time-limited health care missions in the
U.S. or throughout the world. The Fellowship relates directly to each jurisdictional
medical organization within the United Methodist Church and seeks to support, strengthen,
and enrich the work of medical volunteers who serve around the world.
Emmanuel's program was our initial opportunity to see first-hand a comprehensive
community-based primary health care center. Comprehensive community-based primary
health care (CBPHC) is a working model for wholistic health which helps people help
themselves through accessible, affordable, and sustainable health care. Much of the
inspiration for CBPHC comes from the work of Dr. Raj Arole and his Comprehensive Rural
Health Project in Jamkhed, India. CBPHC is based on three principles: Equity,
integration and empowerment.
Here in Cochabamba we saw this model put into action in a very powerful way. We saw
the young children, with their heads bowed and their hands folded, who came for healthy
food, mental stimulation, and emotional and spiritual nurturing. We heard the women
who spoke with dignity of the work they do to promote the health of their families and
communities. We saw the "third generation" women who in the past were home
alone, isolated and lonely, now surrounded by a nurturing community of people at Emmanuel.
From
Cochabamba we headed to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia. At more than 12,000 feet
above sea level, La Paz is one of the highest cities of the world. Snow-capped Mount
Illimani provides a stunning back drop for La Paz, a city build in a deep, drastic
canyon where adobe houses seem to climb the steep walls. Our destination was the
tiny village of Ancoraimes in the Highlands along the eastern edge of Lake Titicaca.
We were welcomed warmly by the staff of the community-based health care programs of Andean
Rural Health Care. The Frank S. Beck Hospital, the only hospital in the Ancoraimes
area, serves as the center for a census-based, impact-oriented public health care program
which is administered by Andean Rural Health Care in partnership with the Bolivian
Methodist Church. Primary and secondary health care is provided to Aymara families
in 51 small surrounding villages.
The dream that these indigenous people would become responsible for their own health care
has come to fruition. The program is carried out mainly by indigenous community
health workers who come from the villages of the area. These workers visit every
home in every village at least twice a year. Using this strategy they have reached
an immunization rate of more than 90% and have reduced the risk of death for children
under five to one half of that in other areas of Bolivia.
Grassroots education focuses on preventative health care measures, environmental concerns,
and sanitary practices that will prevent needless sickness and death. Hard work and
dedication has had a profound impact on the health of the Aymara Indians here in the
Altiplano.
Once again we are inspired by the stories of the people whose lives have been touched.
Primativa Mamarni, a young Aymara mother shared her story of appreciation for
Andean Rural Health Care. She believes here life, and that of the beautiful child
clinging to her skirt, was saved because caring health providers were there when she had
complications in childbirth. She graciously showed us her home and spoke with pride
and dignity of her work as a community health promoter.
The final leg of our Bolivian journey took us to the
tropical low lands of Santa Cruz. In nearby Montero we were privileged to visit
another of the Andean Rural Health Care Centers. We hear of the immigrants from
surrounding mountain areas who come to Montero. Because many are a high risk of
disease and are afraid to come to the clinic, a team of community health volunteers go to
the homes. The community is divided into 38 barrientos, each assigned a health
worker. A family chart is developed for each home to assist in promoting health for
each family member. Growth and immunization charts are kept for the children.
Family planning methods are discussed with the adults. Ongoing health education is
provided based on the individual needs of the family.
The needs in Montero seem very great. The open market is littered with garbage and
stagnant water. Dogs roam freely amidst the insect-covered meat carcasses hanging in
the hot sun. As we drive through the developing barrientos we see clearly the lack
of basic sanitation. Many homes have no plumbing or water. Animals an children
live together on tiny plots of land.
Yet amidst this overwhelming public health challenge, there is a sense of hope in this
community. The Andrean Rural Health Care Center in Montero and its dedicated staff
are like a shining beacon of hope. The staff proudly share the accomplishments - The
Certificate for Achievement in reducing tuberculosis is passed around; many more now have
access to running water; the lab is able to conduct water analysis and teaching is
underway on disinfecting water; latrines are being built; opthamology and dental services
are available. Progress is being made and lives are being changed.
I think back to our first days in Cochabamba where we were privileged to meet with the
Itinerant Team for the Promotion of Integral Health in Latin America and the Caribbean.
These dedicated professionals from Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, and
Guyana shared with us a common dream: that all the children of God may have the
possibility of enjoying full health, in harmony with the God of Creation, with family and
with community they shared with us these simple, yet profound, words:
Go to the people.
Live with them.
Learn from them.
Love them.
Start with what they know.
Build with what they have.
Submitted by Margie Hesson, Dakotas Annual Conference
For information on UMVIM opportunities:
please go to the Where We Go section in this website
or
contact your UMVIM Jurisdictional or Annual Conference Coordinator
(their contact information can be found in the Resources section)
or
contact the Mission Volunteers Program Area
General Board of Global Ministries, UMC
475 Riverside Drive, Room 330
New York, NY 10115
Tel (212) 870-3825
Email: voluntrs@gbgm-umc.org* * *
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