In 2021, Mano a Mano’s network of clinics had 1,107,024 patient visits. Mano a Mano also provides continuing health education programs, and has a number of new clinic projects currently under construction – all with the goal of improving access to quality healthcare for communities throughout Bolivia, especially in rural areas.
2021 Reports for Other Mano a Mano Programs
- 2021 Annual Report
- Distributing Medical Supplies and Equipment in the Twin Cities and to Organizations Working Around the World
- Providing Emergency Flights and Weekend Health Clinics: Mano a Mano’s Aviation Program in 2021
- 2021 Summary of Medical Distributions in Bolivia
- Moving Another Step Forward in Mano a Mano’s Long-Term Sustainability
- Training Farmers and Building Greenhouses: Mano a Mano’s Center for Ecological Agriculture in 2021
- Candita Walks Again, Thanks to New Prosthetic Leg
- Overhauling An Engine
Patient Visits in Mano a Mano’s Network of Clinics
Patient visit in Icla.
As a part of the Bolivian health care system, Mano a Mano’s network of 176 clinics provide monthly reports to the Bolivian Ministry of Health. Our clinic program’s approach is that health outcomes can be dramatically improved with simple yet effective interventions, beginning with the basic ability to consistently access quality services in their own communities. While COVID-19 has been (rightfully) the dominant current health issue, primary health care is needed now more than ever; our network of clinics serve a vital role in providing access to primary health care for communities in rural Bolivia. For reference, about 30% of Bolivia’s population of 12 million, or 4 million people, live in rural areas.
Mano a Mano’s network of clinics had 1,107,024 patient visits in 2021 (166 clinics reporting).
Building New Clinics in Partnership with Communities
Dedicating a new clinic in Panamá with the community – December 2021.
In partnership with the community, local and national government, and Mano a Mano supporters, our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Bolivia completed 3 health clinics in 2021, with 3 more clinic projects currently underway and 1 more community with a signed agreement for a clinic project in the near future. (Mano a Mano Bolivia is also nearly done with a new school project in Chirusi, Bolivia; our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Nuevo Nuevo is helping with this specific project.) We have completed 176 clinics overall over the past 25 years, with 63 communities on our waiting list for a health clinic project.
Why We Build Health Clinics in Rural Bolivia
With each clinic Mano a Mano builds, the goals are the same:
- Improve maternal and infant health.
- Increase the number of medically-assisted births.
- Easier access to family planning services.
- Access to primary care and immunizations.
- Stronger preventative care and public health education.
- Improve access to government public health programs.
- Permanent training of health personnel.
New Clinics Completed in 2021:
Guadalupe Clinic – Completed December 2021
Guadalupe, Bolivia is located in the municipality of Santa Rosa, province of Sara, department of Santa Cruz. The community has a population of 1,400 and is an 8-hour drive from Cochabamba. Construction on this project is complete but it has yet to be formally dedicated.
Mano a Mano’s clinic in Guadalupe. (This project has yet to be formally dedicated.)
Sarufaya Clinic – Dedicated on November 23, 2021
Construction on the Sarufaya clinic began on July 22, 2021 and was completed on November 19th. Sarufaya is located in the municipality of Tarabuco, province of Yamparaez, department of Chuquisaca. The community has a population of 1,702 and is a 9-hour drive from Cochabamba. Thank you to our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Bolivia, who oversees the process of building clinics from start to finish; the local community of Sarufaya and municipal government of Tarabuco that participated throughout the process; and Rotary District 5580 that provided the seed money that made this project possible!
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- “When we visited Mano a Mano Bolivia in Cochabamba, we were very surprised when we found out how the financing was obtained [by US donors] to make the project affordable. Now they give us an equipped health center, which was built in a very short time. All this gives us lots of joy.” Ariel Siles Cespedes, Municipal Mayor of Tarabuco (Sarafuya is a town of 1,702 in the municipality of Tarabuco, department of Chuquisaca)
Panamá Clinic – Dedicated on December 14, 2021
This clinic project in Panamá was a collaboration with: Gobierno Autónomo Municipal de Aiquile; Amigos MMB – Bélgica; Rosa Oud -Turnhout Bélgica; Gros Laarne Bélgica; Wereldraad Turnhout Bélgica; 11.11.11 Bélgica; Provincie Antwerpen, Bélgica; ONG Mano a Mano Bolivia; and the community of Panamá.
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- Dedicating the new clinic in Panama with the community – December 2021.
New Clinic Projects Currently Underway in 2022 (One More Community Has a Signed Agreement):
- Estaño Colorado
- Villa Nueva
- San Rafael
Estaño Colorado Clinic – 48% Complete
Construction on the Estaño Colorado clinic began on December 2, 2021 and is 48% complete as of January 21, 2022. Estaño Colorado is located in the municipality of Chimore, province of Carrasco, department of Cochabamba. The community has a population of 1,120 and is a 6-hour drive from Cochabamba. This project is a partnership with Mano a Mano Bolivia and Mano a Mano International Partners; the local community of Estaño Colorado and municipal government of Chimore that are participating throughout the process; and US donors that provided the seed money that make this project possible.
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- Mano a Mano’s new clinic in Estano Colorado will be formally dedicated in the next few weeks.
Villa Nueva – Started Construction in September 2021
Construction on the Villa Nueva clinic began on September 28, 2021 and is 38% complete as of December 9, 2021. Villa Nueva is located in the municipality of Villa Tunari, province of Chapare, department of Cochabamba. The community has a population of 2,800 and is a 5-hour drive from Cochabamba. This project is a partnership with Mano a Mano Bolivia and Mano a Mano International Partners; the local community of Villa Nueva and municipal government of Villa Tunari that are participating throughout the process; and US donors that provided the seed money that make this project possible.
San Rafael – Started Construction in Late December 2021
Construction on the San Rafael clinic began on December 20, 2021 and is 17% complete as of January 21, 2022. San Rafael is located in the municipality of Villa Tunari, province of Chapare, department of Cochabamba. The community has a population of 4,800 and is a 3-hour drive from Cochabamba. This project is a partnership with Mano a Mano Bolivia and Mano a Mano International Partners; the local community of San Rafael and municipal government of Villa Tunari that are participating throughout the process; and US donors, including Rotary District 5580, that provided the seed money that make this project possible.
Ongoing Funding for Mano a Mano Clinic Staff in Bolivia
With Mano a Mano clinics, they become part of the Bolivian healthcare system and are the official provider for their catchment area, making them eligible for services and reimbursement through Health Ministry-funded programs. All staff salaries in Mano a Mano’s clinics are paid for by sources within Bolivia. We currently have 527 doctors, nurses, and dentists working in Mano a Mano’s network of clinics, and Mano a Mano does not pay for any staff salaries on an ongoing basis. With this partnership agreement, we can ensure that there is stable funding in place, and we can continue to complete new infrastructure projects in communities that currently do not have local access to care.
Source of funding by Mano a Mano staff position in Mano a Mano clinics in 2021 (166 clinics reporting).
Providing Medical Supplies & Equipment
We provide medical supplies and equipment sent from Minnesota to Mano a Mano’s network of clinics. Mano a Mano Bolivia made 544 distributions of medical supplies and equipment to Mano a Mano clinics, other hospitals and healthcare organizations, individuals, jails, and other institutions. 371 of these distributions were individual donations.
These 544 distributions made by Mano a Mano Bolivia are in addition to the many distributions made by our counterpart organizations Mano a Mano Internacional and Mano a Mano Aviation throughout Bolivia. Mano a Mano sent 180,180 pounds of medical supplies and equipment from Minnesota to Bolivia in 2021.
Continuing Health Education
A critical component of Mano a Mano’s health programs in Bolivia is to provide health education:
- to communities through weekend health clinics providing basic services
- to Mano a Mano’s clinic staff through continuing health education workshops
- to medical professionals from other organizations
These programs are managed and administered by Mano a Mano Bolivia, and serve a complementary role to the construction of community clinics throughout rural Bolivia. Although workshops were limited in 2021 (and 2020 as well) due to quarantine and distancing protocols, Mano a Mano Bolivia hosted 20 health education workshops for 1,459 attendees.
A continuing health education course hosted by Mano a Mano Bolivia in December 2021.
Proyecto Soñar – “Dream Fund” Scholarships
Since 2001, as part its educational and training programs, Mano a Mano Bolivia has managed a program of partial scholarships for students called “Dream Fund,” aimed at young people who are performing well in their studies, come from rural or peri-urban areas, are from large families, or have financial needs. Selected students receive partial scholarships from Mano a Mano to study at technical institutes or universities, with a duration of 3-5 years of study. The students of this program are included as volunteers at Mano a Mano Bolivia, participating and collaborating in the different departments of Mano a Mano Bolivia’s day-to-day work.
Dream Fund students at Mano a Mano Bolivia’s office/warehouse in Cochabamba.
Continuing education and training are important components for every Mano a Mano counterpart organization and their areas of focus – for our own staff and interns, as well as others. In addition to Mano a Mano Bolivia’s continuing health education and Dream Fund programs, Mano a Mano International Partners hosts interns from local universities and is a social work field placement site for Metro State University; Mano a Mano Nuevo Mundo provides training for heavy equipment operators; Mano a Mano Aviation provides training and internships for aviation students (pilots and mechanics); and Mano a Mano Internacional provides internships for agronomy students and provides training programs for public school teachers and physical therapists.
Thank You!
Every Mano a Mano project is a partnership, with many people working together – thanks to the local communities; municipal governments; the Bolivian Ministry of Health; donors and volunteers in the US, Bolivia, and other countries; and our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Bolivia that oversees and manages these health projects!
