Monte Sinai, Bolivia

Paulina (17 years), an indigenous Quechua woman, was waiting on the 'porch' (a concrete slap about 2’x5’) in front of Dr. Cerillo’s home and clinic when we arrived at 7am today. Vitamin Angels was traveling to remote communities to observe vitamin A distributions with our field partners from World Concern and the local doctor and nurses. We were 5 hours from Santa Cruz and another hour and a half from our base in El Puente. Paulina’s two children, David (4 years) and Claudia (11 months), are bundled up against the cold morning air. Paulina has walked, gotten rides and paid a minibus fare to get here – about an hour and a half journey from her village, Monte Sinai. She is worried about David and an abrasion looking rash on the right side of his face (skin problems are often associated with vitamin A deficiency). Both children have runny noses, colds and respiratory problems, conditions which can be life threatening for children who are chronically malnourished. Paulina tells us that she recently lost her two month old baby because the roads were impassable and she couldn’t get to medical help in time.

Paulina’s children received vitamin A to boost their immune systems and supplement their nutrient deficient diets, as well as a check up from Dr. Cerillo. In addition, an educational session accompanied by informational posters on the sources and benefits of vitamin A, and the symptoms and sources of parasites was given to the whole community.