CLINICA  ESTRADA

El Cortijo, Guatemala

Project Proposal

Provide funds to support the building of a medical clinic in the rural community of El Cortijo, Guatemala.

Background and Need

El Cortijo is a poor rural community about one hour south of Guatemala City.  The 4,300 residents do not have a local doctor or a medical facility and depend heavily on a once-a-week visit by a doctor from Guatemala City.  Although the town is accessible from the main highway over very rough unpaved streets, the people are limited to walking to the nearest medical facility, which at the present time is at a church.

Dr Erick Estrada travels from Guatemala City to see patients at the church but is limited by the lack of a permanent facility with adequate space for examining patients and storing medicines.  The residents want to build a clinic, but they need funds to do so.

Clinic Visits

Frank Ebetino, Venice Presbyterian Church, Charles Ebetino and Laura Ebetino, an engineering and Spanish student, accompanied and assisted Dr Estrada on his weekly clinical visits to El Cortijo and to the refugee community of Balcones de Palin during August 2007.  FE and CE have made two previous visits to the area.  They along with Pastor Howard Taylor and two other volunteers from the US conducted an eye clinic at Balcones in 2006.  Eye instruments, medications and glasses were brought for the eye clinic and then medical supplies were brought to the clinics in 2007.

At the Cortijo church, it was necessary to hang a sheet around an examining table in one corner of the room and to dispense medicines from a raised platform at the opposite end of the room.  There was very limited privacy for doctor and patients, no locked storage space for medicines and no toilet facilities.

Building Site

After conducting the clinic and dispensing drugs at El Cortijo, we examined a plot of land in the village that has been acquired for a possible clinical building.  Very little site preparation is necessary as it is a clear piece of land.   It has a source of water and electricity and is centrally located.  A short access dirt road would be installed.

Clinic Staff

Dr. Estrada will continue to provide medical services in the Palin area at Balcones, Cortijo and Palinche once or twice a week.  He received his medical and theological degrees in Guatemala and is a part time Pastor of Missions at Nazaret, a large Christian Church.  His medical and pastoral office is at the church where he has patient visits.  He and his wife Cynthia are very active in the church and at other locations, preaching and giving bible lessons.  They now house and home school, and provide the medical and spiritual needs for their three children and three abandoned children.  Venice Presbyterian Church lends financial support to this effort.

Recently, Dr Estrada has agreed to provide medical services to the pastors and families in the Central Presbytery of Guatemala (a Peace River Presbytery partner) and to other patients.  At the present time, this is being done at the Nazaret and Balcones locations.  The intent is to add Cortijo and possibly a clinic at our sister church, Transfiguracion.

 During our visit this year, we presented a plan of action to the Pastor and session members of Transfiguracion for a weekly clinic.  We are awaiting their approval.

All patients are expected to pay a nominal fee for the clinical services.

The nurse-in-training who comes to the Balcones clinic will assist at Cortijo.

There will be ongoing visits and assistance by volunteers from the US.

Building Plan and Construction Needs

A rather simple one story masonry building of approximately 1,000 sq. ft. containing a waiting room, reception desk, office/pharmacy, examining rooms and toilets was proposed.  No heating or cooling systems are required in that area.

Residents will provide all the labor needs for construction at no cost.  Paco Valiente, a construction supervisor, has agreed to monitor the work.  He supervised the construction of the Presbyterian Church at Balcones, which was supported by Moorings Presbyterian in Naples Florida.  His son Rene was a member of the Central Presbytery.

Financial Needs

In a discussion with the residents and Dr. Estrada, it was determined that construction materials for this building would cost $5,000. 

The bulk of medicines and medical supplies would continue to be sourced from outside of Guatemala.  Presently, drugs have been coming from organizations such as  Blessings International and individual doctors, church members and others.

Goal

The goal is to raise $5,000 for construction materials for a medical clinic in El Cortijo, Guatemala.

Action Plans for Fund Raising

· prepare pictorial brochure and presentations

· present project to Associate Pastor and Mission and other Committees at Venice Presbyterian Church

· presentation to members/committees of Peace River Presbytery

· contact possible individual donors

Frank Ebetino

8/20/07

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