Centro Médico Divino Niño (ECU-130)

The objective of the medical center is to provide access to health care to low-income people so that they can be treated in time in case of any disease or illness. They receive a minimum of 2 people per day and a maximum of 20 people per day

Cotocollao is an urban parish in the north of Quito, close to the zones of Condado, Ponceano and La Concepción. It is a commercial area with many businesses and street vendors, which makes it easy to access and to get to other parts of the city as many buses cross the area. The population in the area tends to go from lower to middle class and are mostly of mixed race, meaning they will speak spanish.

The day starts at 8 am until 4:30 pm. Patients may be infants, children, adults or older adults. And the medical specialties that are treated throughout the day are: General Medicine, Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dentistry, Radiology, Psychology, Nutrition, Physical Therapy and clinical laboratory.

Volunteers can provide assistance in different areas, depending on their profile. If they do not have previous experience in the medical area, they can also support in the social and administrative area until they learn about more specific tasks. Among the activities they can perform are: helping to serve food, checking the vital signs (blood pressure, saturation, temperature, ...)measuring blood sugar, pharmacy errands, help the, patients with washing and changing, changing dressings, cleaning / sterilizing medical equipment, organizing and refilling medical supplies Supporting during medical campaigns in other cities (when they go to communities). The medical center also works in the social area during weekends, serving food to elderly people (low income) that come from different parts of the city. Volunteers can be part of that events too.

There are no gender specific requirements as long as the volunteers are older than 18 years old.

It would be preferable to have someone with experience in the medical field, but if not, they must have an interest in learning about this topic and flexibility to adapt to different scenarios in the clinic. It is better if they have a basic knowledge of Spanish, for better development in the project. It is essential that they should have social skills so that they can work with people of different ages.

Quito - Cotocollao (north of the city)

 

ICYE Long Term and Steps, WW, IJFD