A medical mission to Bolivia

“WHETHER you’re in Bolivia or Scotland, seeing a child in pain is one of the worst things you can witness. We, as adults, generally know how to cope with life’s challenges, no matter how bad or hurtful, but when we see a sick child or one going through pain, that should provoke mercy in us.”

These are the poignant words of Fr Iver Copa, parish priest of St Pio X in Oruro, where Missio Scotland is supporting projects this year. As well as running a parish, Fr Iver supports the St John Paul II Clinic in the city, which provides much-needed medical care and medicines to some of the lowest-income families in the diocese.

Health issues in Bolivia are many and multi-faceted. The country’s indigenous peoples make up more than 40 per cent of its population—51 per cent in Oruro—and face health challenges such as an increasing prevalence in diabetes and cancer. Unhygienic water supplies, inadequate waste management and air pollution all contribute significantly to many illnesses. In more rural areas—and despite being a city, Oruro would fall into that category—medical centres, hospitals, doctors and nurses are scarce, but respiratory diseases and malnutrition are common. Many Bolivians also lack health insurance, making it hard for them to afford the necessary medical care.

The Church itself crucially provides healthcare to around 10 per cent of Bolivia’s population—especially in marginalised urban areas and poor districts—but many health challenges still abound.

Caring for children

The situation for children in the country is particularly distressing. Bolivia is the second poorest country in South America and this poverty affects the youngest in their society greatly. For example, one child in 37 dies before their fifth birthday. 13 per cent of children are out of school and 26 per cent are engaged in child labour. One in three children in Bolivia suffer from malnutrition, with 16 per cent of those suffering stunting as a result. Approximately 20 per cent of girls are married before the age of 18 and in some areas 50 per cent of girls under the age of 16 are pregnant. Pollution in the country can also have long-term consequences for children’s health and wellbeing.

Having been on various mission trips with Missio Scotland, witnessing poverty at first hand is all too commonplace. Health issues, however, are not always as visible, but in Oruro, when my colleague Andrea and I were being shown around the St John Paul II Clinic, the sight and sounds of a nine-year-old boy struggling for breath in one of the treatment rooms, highlighted those medical needs in a very stark and heartbreaking manner.

Mercifully, Missio Scotland—thanks to our benefactors and Fr Dominic Quinn of St Leonard’s in East Kilbride putting us in touch with priests and religious in his former diocese—has been able to provide some assistance to the clinic and children suffering from respiratory illnesses by purchasing medicines to treat such ailments.

“There’s an economic crisis in Bolivia, so medicines are two or three more times expensive than they were even a short while ago and people now can’t afford them.” Fr Iver said. “So, Missio Scotland helping to cover the cost of the medicines that children need for respiratory infections is a grace from God during such difficult times.”

Women’s wellbeing

The impact that Missio Scotland will make via its support for healthcare projects in Bolivia, however, won’t simply be restricted to children, but will also support the needs of women there too. When speaking with Fr Dominic, he told me: “South Americans have a huge devotion to Our Lady and I think it's connected to the cultural value they place on motherhood in general.”

With that in mind, Fr Iver is also extremely grateful that Missio Scotland is supporting projects that will greatly benefit women’s health in the diocese. Not only have funds been provided for hormone replacement therapy treatments, but a brand new ultrasound machine has been purchased for the clinic too.

In Bolivia, the maternal mortality rate is higher (205.49 deaths per 100,000 live births) than the world’s ratio (159.84 deaths per 100,000 live births). There is also a lack of access to quality gynecological care and many women—especially mothers—suffer silently from conditions like abnormal bleeding, pelvic organ prolapse, fibroids, urinary incontinence and other health problems linked to multiple childbirths.

“We are deeply grateful for this,” Fr Iver exclaimed. “This is the first time that someone has given us a hand in all the years that I’ve been involved with this work as part of the Church. Missio Scotland helping us with the ultrasound machine is truly a blessing, because it will not only help women who are in dire need, but also anyone else who needs to avail of it.”

Witness and universality

As if to emphasise the importance of witness and the universality of the Church, the clinic has received a second new ultrasound machine. A retired parishioner of Fr Dominic’s—a former NHS professional—was moved by the story and used his contacts to secure the extra equipment. In addition to this, tentative moves are afoot to establish a link between the clinic in Oruro and the Glasgow University School of Medicine, which, it is hoped, will bear much fruit for years to come.

“Mission is a great equaliser, a great challenge and it means having a big heart, because realities are sometimes harsh,” Fr Iver said. “Sometimes they can cause you to question God’s presence, but they also call you to bear witness to it, because the first step is closeness to Christ. So, mission is about closeness to Christ.

“Missio Scotland’s visit and support is providential and has allowed me to see the hand of God in your work. You are like the Good Samaritan who has reached out to us and offered his help. You visit motivates me in my priesthood, to understand that the Church is universal and no matter how far apart we may be, it is Christ who unites us.

“I am deeply grateful and I ask God to truly bless you. As the Gospel of Matthew 25:40 says: ‘Whatever you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did for me.’”

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