Where Do
the Cubans Fit In?
The clinic has employed Cuban doctors for some time. There
are
ten new Cuban doctors due to arrive at the Cotacachi hospital in
January, ’08. One may be a physical therapist who
will work
at Sol de Vida. In the past Cuban doctors have worked at Sol
de
Vida with great success.
They are highly trained and as a whole, considered by the local
community to be more interested in social development than in making
money. The city of Cotacachi pays for their room and board
and a
small salary. Many of them send their wages back to Cuba to
support their families.
The Doctors Have a Common Vision
The rehabilitation clinic tends to attract doctors with a similar
vision of selfless service. In fact, the clinic’s
new
nutritional program is the result of a common vision among a majority
of the people of Cotacachi, who, every year in November, come together
from all over the province to engage in their particular form of
participatory democracy.
About one thousand people meet for two or three
days—individuals
as well as group leaders, locals and also interested foreigners---to
discuss matters ranging from education and health to tourism and
motherhood.
The people want good health and good health care for all those living
in the area. They agreed that good nutrition is a key to good
health.
So for 8 months last year, in an effort to realize the
community’s desires for health, Sol de Vida used radio ads to
raise public awareness about the importance of good nutrition for
children 0-9 years of age and for pregnant women. Jorge
Pazmino,
director of the nutritional programs at Sol de Vida, and his wife
Pamela Baez, the rehabilitation clinic nutritionist, wrote the ads and
also created a series of skits to present in different
settings.
Then at this year’s community meeting, the people decided
that
the promotional aspect had been completed and they wanted
more
action taken. Jorge and Pamela have big plans to create
nutritional programs.
READ MORE. . .
The rehabilitation clinic’s administrator, Marcelo Pinto,
left a
lucrative job in Ibarra, a nearby city, where he worked as a financial
accountant. Most of his extended family resides in Cotacachi
and
he was driving back and forth often to visit them.
The stress he experienced during his thirteen years in that position
took its toll. He was often sick, nervous and
anxious. The
solution to his work problems finally dawned and now he is a changed
man. READ MORE. . .
The Doctors Need Our Help
The rehabilitation clinic was originally funded through a grant from
several foundations and the city government. That funding is
now
depleted. There is enough money for operational costs but not
enough to cover maintenance and facility upgrades. While the
center’s goal is to be self-supporting, that goal has not yet
been reached.
The clinic’s pool, a hot tub, steam room, sauna and weight
room
are open for public use on weekends at a small fee ($3.00) in order to
raise more capital for the Sol de Vida rehabilitation clinic.
In
addition, the low doctor fees may soon need to be raised unless other
sources of funding can be found.
Any ideas? Contact us if you feel moved to help the clinic in
any way.
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Return to Ecuador Revealed from Sol de Vida.
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flames a few drops at a time. The 
There he was given a series of treatments, which took about an hour
each time. He received about 7 minutes of laser therapy in
one
room.