Dr. Chavez, Dr. Darlene Ray and Dr. Jonathan Melk

Our partners at Consejo de Salud Rural Andino (CSRA) in Bolivia have been working hard to improve the health and well-being of women and children in need since 1982. The project is currently working in El Alto, located in the highlands near La Paz, and in Montero, located in the tropical region of Santa Cruz, where more than 150,000 low income families have been served to date. In the areas being served, almost 30% of families live on one dollar per day and 60% do not have any kind of formal employment.

In El Alto, the second largest city in La Paz, CSRA is battling common social problems including violence against women and children, unwanted youth pregnancies, increasing cases of STDS including HIV/AIDS, increasing female homicide, and malnutrition in children under five. All of these problems are influencing an already vulnerable population, particularly women and children.

CSRA are working hard to combat these issues. This year alone, they’ve educated more than 3,000 people about human, sexual and reproductive rights. They’ve trained 18 public health personnel from 7 clinics, including physicians, nurses and administrative staff, in quality of care and differentiated health services. These 18 professionals were then able to reach 4,591 women with information about sexual reproductive health.

They’ve also been emphasizing child health. The project reached over 795 families with children under the age of five and provided them with nutrition education and vitamin supplements during home visits.

Similar good work is being done in Montero. The Montero staff is providing high quality care through three health clinics and home visits. In the past year, they’ve provided medical consultations for over 22,000 children under the age of five. The staff also conducted growth assessments for 2,415 children under the age of two and vaccinations for 1,203 children under the age of one for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis and pneumonia. Both projects reached at least 90% of their target beneficiaries.

At Curamericas, we’re excited about the wonderful, lifesaving work that CSRA continues to do as one of the leading health care providers in Bolivia.

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