CENTRO DE SALUD PACATA

Volunteer/ Intern requirements:

• Beginner Spanish
• Knowledge/ experience in health care (desired but not required)
• Willingness to make trips into more rural areas
• Must be team player, motivated, and eager to learn
• Minimum commitment period of one month

Background:
The center was built in 1990, and was strategically placed in the northern zone of Cochabamba so as to be easily accessible. As a state run facility, funding is generated from the Ministry of Health. The facility offers the services of four doctors, five nurses, one dentist, and three administrators. The Center offers basic medical attention as well as pediatrics, gynecology, psychology, and psychiatry. There is a lab service twice a week.

Objectives:
The Health Center concentrates on health promotion and disease prevention. The staff makes regular trips to surrounding communities and gives educational talks at schools. The Center is the only one in Cochabamba that has a completely computerized patient database, thus providing the most efficient service in the region.

Who does Centro de Salud Pacata help?
The center serves a growing community of 38,700 inhabitants in the northern zone of Cochabamba, most of whom are from low income backgrounds.

Working conditions:
The Center is located in the Tupuraya zone, a fifteen minute trufi ride from the center of Cochabamba. The center has a permanent staff of fifteen and a number of university students studying medicine.

Centro de Salud Pacata Programs:
The Center does not operate specific volunteer programs, but volunteers are welcome to either shadow doctors and/or to make trips into surrounding communities to provide education on Chagas, nutrition, sexual health, etc. Furthermore, there is an ongoing vaccination campaign in which volunteers may participate. Volunteers/ interns with no experience in health care would also be welcome to help with the I.T. or hold educational workshops.

Program Supervisor:
Dr. Carlos Romero, has been with the center since its inception. Among other things, he has designed the only computer software that holds the medical histories of patients.