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When Bishop Paul Bootkoski led the inaugural ambassadorial delegation to Santa Rosa, Guatemala in January 2004, it became clear that health care was a diocesan need in Santa Rosa. The Bishop met with leaders of the St. Peter's University Hospital to develop a hospital-sponsored initiative. The initial focus was maternal and neonatal/child mortality.
The team identified an area in coastal Santa Rosa that had an overwhelming lack of access to basic health care. Using the town of Chiquimulilla as a base, St. Peter's developed a five-clinic project to help serve the need for comprehensive health care in the department. As part of the project, the hospital purchased a truck to transport clinic workers to and from the various clinics.
A major goal of the project was to build a high level of health awareness for pregnant women. Each clinic is staffed with a physician and nursing staff to diagnose and treat routine health issues. Education and training are also provided for these levels: physician, non-physician clinic staff and community workers (midwives, vigilantes). The focus is geared toward maternal and fetal mortality.
Dr. Bipinchandra Patel, The Chairman of the Children's Hospital at St. Peter's University Hospital, talked about a "sustained project" to reduce the infant mortality rate, in that region. By 2011, through the St. Peter's sponsored clinics, the infant mortality rate was alomst zero. Click here for more information.
