Pediatric Services in Remote Areas of Argentina

We’d like to share great news! As part of our Health program, we started working with Dr. Marcelo Wirth, a local medical doctor in Pampa del Indio, Province of Chaco to provide pediatric services to the schools in the area. Dr. Wirth visited several schools which are also part of our nutrition program. The visit was conducted alongside with a Pediatric Dentist who examined and treated the children, as well as educated them and families on proper dental care. During the visits, the doctors checked all the children who were present and some younger siblings who also went very excited upon hearing the news of the doctors coming to their schools. The children were examined,  diagnosed and treated in the cases that were necessary. Those children who needed medicine received at he time of the visit and the ones who needed a follow-up or a new consultation were scheduled for a visit to the local hospital promptly after the initial check up. In particular, 2 children needed a consultation with a Cardiologist and it was done shortly after with very positive results. Dr. Wirth has personally devoted his efforts to enquire and follow up with each child under his care. We are blessed to have him as part of our Sumando Manos Team. Thank you for all your efforts. 

For the families in these remote areas, a simple visit to the local hospital poses a tremendous challenge. First, there is a limited number of spots to be seen on a daily basis at the hospital; so for families to get an appointment it means having to walk before dawn with their little kids something between 10 to 30 kilometers on deserted countryside paths and get to the hospital by 6 a.m. or sometimes earlier than that.  Most of the time when they get to the hospital, the available appointments are already taken since the hospital operates on a first come, first served basis. This means that they have to walk back home without being seen and try again the next day. There is never assurance that they will be seen if they can’t get one of those appointments. This is a feeling of deep frustration and disappointment and this often puts the lives of the children at risk - a condition that can be diagnosed with a simple medical check-up is often overlooked because of the lack of medical services in the area. 

We share photos of the schools visited: 

• Kindergarten class at School E.E.P. 734 in Lot 3, Pampa Chica.
• School E.E.P. 395 in Paraje Pampa Ombu, Pampa del Indio.
• School E.E.P. N° 616 “Capitán Facundo Solari”, Ubicada en Paraje El Salvaje, Pampa del Indio. 
• Anex to School E.E.P. Nº 916 "Juan Jose Castelli”, Paraje El Gramillar, Pampa del Indio.

Thanks to Dr. Wirth, Dr. Daniela and to all the wonderful and dedicated teachers and directors of these schools for coordinating efforts for the wellbeing of the children. 

We couldn’t give these children the medical attention and nutrition they receive without your contributions. Thank you for supporting Sumando Manos Foundation.