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Arcatao is a community of about 3,000 people which has been heavily plagued by the violence of the civil war. It serves as a model of development. In the past 10 years the community has gained access to potable water and electricity. The rotating loan project has created a women’s cooperative bakery, a general store, and an embroidery shop. One of the lay health workers in this community has recently earned her nursing degree and provides a stable source of health care.
Jucuran, a commuinity of approximately 6,000 people, is an area that was heavily affected by the brutal civil war lasting from 1980-1992, and was also devastated by hurricane Mitch in 1998. With the nearest medical clinic several hours away, the leaders of Jucuran built a small community clinic after Mitch in 1998 to better serve their people. Dr. Yamila Abrego, a physician from the capital city of San Salvador, travels the four hour round trip to Jucuran, three days a week to run the clinic and assist the health care promoters. Dr. Abrego has noticed that many women in her community are dying from cervical cancer, a preventable disease, and requested the assistance of BHES.
San Pedro is a community of approx. 60,000 people with a disproportionate percentage of women secondary to the civil war. BHES partnered with community organization ACOSAMA (community organization of health, water and environment) to provide service to over 4,000 people during the 2005 delegation. The organizational abilities of the community were remarkable. The municipal building was converted into a temporary clinic. In addition to the patients coming to the clinic, six medical outreach teams traveled to the outlying areas in order to treat people in the more remote areas.
San Sebastian, a community of 25,000 people, has struggled to recover from a 12-year civil war that ended in 1992, and earthquakes that devastated the region in January and February 2001. While there are two community health clinics, a shortage of resources and knowledgeable physicians and poor public health planning has left the community without proper health care. Dr. Cortez of the local Red Cross unit reports that most women have not had adequate examinations, a large percentage of children are malnourished, and many in the community suffer from treatable illnesses. Basic Health works in conjunction with the Red Cross unit (Cruz Roja, Seccional San Sebastian), the local Unidad de Salud, the Church, and the Mayor’s office (Alcaldia) to provide the care needed to regain a sustainable and adequate level of health care in the community.
San Vicente, the capital of San Vicente, is home of the First Hospital established in El Salvador, Hospital San Gertrudis, over 100 years ago. After the 2003 earthquakes, Hospital San Gertrudis suffered major damage on its infrastructure, limiting healthcare facilities for the region. BasicHealth's delegation to San Vicente was partly sponsored by the Fundacion para el Desarrollo de San Vicente, which is a Salvadoran foundation that advocates for the development of San Vicente. Basic Health for the first time had a structured training on VIAA for general physicians and nurses.
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