Last month, medical students from the American University of the Caribbean (AUC) traveled south for a volunteer experience with our partner, Consejo de Salud Rural Andino (CSRA) in the lowlands of Bolivia. Eight medical students and one professor led trainings and provided clinical services to the CSRA staff and the population it serves. The group hoped to gain experience collaborating with local health staff and through hands-on experience with Bolivian health practices.
The group split into four teams and worked with patients in the local jail, supported free medical clinics in rural neighborhoods, and provided services to children in nursery schools. Dr. Shupe, a microbiologist and professor of public health with a focus on epidemiology, spent her time sharing her knowledge and experience in the laboratory. Students also spent time in the general hospital and in the children's hospital going on rounds with doctors to learn about Bolivia’s health care system.
An important part of each volunteer expedition is providing capacity-building for local staff to support the project’s sustainability and long-term success. An important part of capacity-building for medical staff is continuing education so they can use the best practices and learn about areas that may be of greater focus in the future. One AUC student, a certified CPR instructor, led a course on CPR for over 100 hospital staff members.
The team also provided donations to our partners, including CPR training tools and supplies for the hospital and health centers. The donation of a soccer ball to a local orphanage that is managed by CSRA spurred an impromptu soccer match with the student volunteers. Both the students and the children had a blast and enjoyed sharing this time together.
From our partners and beneficiaries in Bolivia, and from Impact Global Health Alliance Global, we give a warm thanks to all the volunteers from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine!
