Rehabilitation Clinic in Cotacachi:
A Life of Service Instead of Stress

At the age of 32 he made a decision that resulted in a huge change in his life and the lives of his family.  He quit his job and took a new job in May, 2007, as the administrator of Sol de Vida, a health and rehabilitation clinic in Cotacachi. 

In his own words, “I came back to Cotacachi for personal reasons.  I made a change that was not very good financially, but this new job has been a great investment in my professional and personal life.”

According to Marcelo, the stress is gone.  “I am tranquil.  My vision has improved.  In helping the people of Cotacachi, I have found more happiness for myself.”

His primary roles at Sol de Vida are to evaluate new projects, come up with more new projects, and to implement the three new projects now underway, which are the following:

1.    Construct a new hospital in the town of Apuela.
2.    Build a small clinic for basic health services in Intag.
3.    Make Cotacachi free of infant nutritional problems in the next two years.

In the last four months, from September to December, 2007, three casas de salud (houses of health) have been built to receive children with nutritional problems in Intag.  Next year there will be more direct participation in schools throughout the canton, led by Jorge Pazmino, director of nutrition at Sol de Vida.

But Marcelo has another goal as well, his personal mission:  to make Sol de Vida self-sustainable and solvent, so “We don’t have to ask for money any more.”

The Sol de Vida rehabilitation clinic is a non-profit organization.  The income generated covers the costs of the building and doctors’ salaries, but there is not enough income to cover all operational costs.  Marcelo asked the municipio (municipal government) for help and they made up the difference for equipment costs only.  Nothing was given for many of the center’s expenses.

With his professional background in finances, Marcelo is dedicated to finding ways to make Sol de Vida self-supporting.  His plan includes raising the price for treatments at the rehabilitation clinic, which is now only $2.  He will also add additional services such as psychology, more physical therapy, music therapy, aromatherapy, exercise and speech therapy.

He has opened the rehabilitation clinic’s pool, sauna and exercise room to the public for a small fee on a sliding scale.

The last administrator was a doctor, with no background in finance.  There was little money for extras, even upkeep of the grounds.  When Marcelo took over, the grass was brown and many of the plantings had died.  He is busy replanting.