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Pediatric Health in La Paz(3)- Nima Habibi





Pictured: puerto mejillones health center in El Alto




Pictured: observing Dra. Gutierrez’s consults

These last two weeks in La Paz have been very draining, fun, and educating all at the same time. In week 4, I was assigned to go to a small health center far away in the outskirts of El Alto. Meaning I had to leave home at 6:30 in the morning to compensate for an hour and a half commute. The health center is very different to the big hospitals I had gotten used to. There is only one doctor doing consults, and we often only see pregnant women and mothers with small children. They are often underweight and lack the proper nutrition. The doctor we shadowed said this is the fault of the mother, as they dont always listen to her advice. Another common thing I saw was children with early signs of hip dysplasia. This is due to the traditional way mothers bundle their babies to protect from the harsh cold. The final week in La Paz we spent at a school in El Alto for children with disabilities. Though we were only there for three days due to our travels, I was able to interact with so many children, and meet a couple of inspiring professors. The first day was spent with children with cerebral palsy, the next with those with ADHD, and the last I was offered to play in a soccer match with all of the professors! It was beautiful to see the teaching styles of each of the professors and to learn and work with the different mannerisms and functionalities of the children.




Pictured: the traditional way of bundling children which can cause hip dysplasia




Pictured: Helping with Prof. Patri’s autism class at Virgen Niña, a school for children with disabilities in El Alto




Pictured: me and a student at Virgen Niña




Pictured: one on one work with another student at Virgen Niña
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Location: La Paz, Bolivia

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