Curamericas Global, Inc. | Hope Through Health

Healing Communities... one person at a time.

Health worker making a home visit in El Alto
News from Bolivia Programs

EMILIANA PACHURI'S STORY

Emiliana is a mother of two young children who lives in a brick home no larger than the size of a double bed in District 8 of El Alto. She came here from her small village in the altiplano hoping to find a better life. However, she now finds herself in one of the poorest sections of the rapidly growing population of El Alto.

Curamericas Global with its Bolivian partner, CSRA, has recently opened the first completely public health clinic in District 8, where Emiliana, along with 28,000 other people like her, live. For many people of this area, who have mostly migrated from the altiplano region, this is the first time they have had access to quality, affordable health care.

"What I hope for my children is the opportunity to study, through university, and good health," Emiliana shares. Although her life is far from easy in El Alto, she has hope that things will change. "We didn't have a health clinic in our village, or schools for children after they reach age 12 or so," she says. "Here in El Alto we have both health and schools, and those are the first steps for us to make some changes in this life."

Written by Alyssa Boyer, a Curamericas Global Volunteer


	In Bolivia, the harsh living conditions and poor infrastructure have made it the poorest country in South America. As a result of the drastic elevations and unbalanced diets, many Bolivian women and children die from preventable illnesses such as pneumonia, diarrhea, malnutrition, and gastrointestinal complications. Curamericas Global works in two disadvantaged areas of the country: Montero is a lowland area in the south and El Alto is a shantytown on the outskirts of the capital city of La Paz. Working collaboratively with our Bolivian partner, CSRA (Consejo de Salud Rural Andino), we provide health services through clinics, as well as education and outreach through staff and volunteers.

	The front of the clinic in Senkata, an area of El Alto, Bolivia


	Within the Curamericas / CSRA service areas, death rates for Bolivian children under the age of five have been reduced by more than 62% in comparison to similar areas not participating in Curamericas / CSRA initiatives. A health volunteer with her child For more information on volunteering with our Bolivian project, please contact Elizabeth Barricklow at elizabeth@curamericas.org.