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Information

Mark Molitch, Susan Hou, etc.

Centro Medico Humberto Parra is the realization of a dream conceived by Drs. Douglas Villarroel and Susan Hou. It was built entirely through private donations on land donated by the late Milton Parra. It opened in July of 2001 initially without electricity and running water. These were added in November of 2001. Its goal is to provide basic medical care and preventive medicine to the people in Palacios and surrounding villages. Although we rely on a diverse group of volunteers from both Bolivia and the United States, we strive to provide continuity of care for common chronic diseases through a core of permanent staff members.

Most Common
Patient Diseases
Rheumatism
Diabetes
Hypertension
Appendicitis
Skin Infection
Parasites
Local Diseases
Chagas
Malaria
Dengue
Snake Bites
Anthrax
Yellow Fever

Facilities

The Centro Medico consists of two buildings - a residence and the medical clinic. Volunteers stay in the residence where there are two bedrooms, a full kitchen, living room and screened-in porch, electricity, shower and indoor plumbing. The clinic includes two examining rooms, an inpatient room, reception and waiting area, a lab and a classroom with computer access. A fully equipped dental suite and space for an ophthalmology suite have recently been added.

The People

The clinic primarily serves the people of the villages of Palacios, Arboleda, El Pilar, Buen Retiro, and San Ignacio as well as anyone else that cannot afford healthcare on their own. Each village has formed a group of families. The women from the families meet with our nurse on a regular basis in order to provide us with constant feedback so that we continue to meet the needs of the community. The groups donate a monthly amount for emergency use in surgery and other medical needs that the clinic can not provide. The groups are critical in volunteering, aiding with cleaning and cooking as well as in organizing the festivities for our anniversary.

A Brief Timeline

July 2000

Land for the clinic was donated and the dream began.

July 7, 2001

Shortly after construction finished, the clinic had it's grand opening.

November 2001

The clinic gets electricity and running water.

January 2002

Maria Cespedés is hired as the clinic's full-time nurse.

Spring 2002

Maria organized Grupos in each of the five main villages to provide community support for the clinic.

Fall 2002

A group of high school students from Palacios were recruited to train as health care assistants.

October 2002

An addition was built with rooms for the laboratory and ophthalmology and dentistry suites.

March 2003

The dentistry suite is outfitted with equipment and dentists begin to come on Saturdays.

June 2003

The Emergency Health Plan was developed by Dave Sears to help us work with hospitals in the surrounding areas.

Summer 2003

A comprehensive health survey of problems and living conditions of the communities completed by Rebecca Laks with help from Simone Vanswam.

March 2004

The Patricia and John Ziegler Centro de Ojos is dedicated.

Summer 2004

Sue Schweinsberg developed the laboratory. She helps further the Chagas Project that first began with Helen Jia-Ru Kuo as an education project.

October 2004

The first residents come for credit and the clinic has Steve Kneusel, it's first full time doctor.

February 2005

11 fourth year medical students from three schools earned credit for away rotations in Bolivia. 4 from Wright State who came down in Janice Duke's return visit.