Your Children, Our Children, Tucuman, Argentina

PROJECT GOAL

The goal of Your Children, Our Children is to reduce the mortality rate of newborn infants and help them survive in the early stages of life.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this project is to support the endeavor of the Province of Tucuman, Argentina, in general, and the Instituto de Maternidad y Ginecologia, (hereafter referred to as the Maternity Hospital) specifically, in their goal to reduce the high rate of infant and maternal mortality.

The Province of Tucumán, Argentina, has a population of 1,323,441. Almost 24% of the population lives below the poverty level for meeting basic needs. The unemployment rate is 17.8%, and 48.2% of the population do not have any health care coverage.

The Maternity Hospital serves the Province of Tucumán and is the referral center in North Western Argentina for patients from neighboring provinces, requiring highly complex gynecological treatment. This Maternity Hospital is considered the most important public maternity institution in Argentina, based on the number of births in a single public hospital. The Maternity Hospital has a disturbing infant and maternal mortality rate, which the medical personnel at the Hospital correlate in part with a lack of proper equipment and supplies for both mothers and their unborn and new born infants.

Both the Province of Tucumán and the Maternity Hospital have the objective to reduce the maternal and infant mortality rate outlined in their multi-year strategic plan, an objective that follows the National Objectives established by the Federal Health Plan of the Government of Argentina. As part of the implementation of the strategies supporting these objectives, the Province of Tucumán, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, has funded several improvements to the Maternity Hospital’s building, including the remodeling of the physical space for the Maternal Intensive Care Unit. In setting up this new Maternal Intensive Care Unit, the Maternity Hospital has also initiated a new infrastructure for the control of infection in the treatment of highly complex gyne-obstetric pathology.

In partnership with Rotary Clubs in District 4800 in Argentina and supported by Rotary Clubs and District 7510 in the USA, the Your Children Our Children project received Rotary International Matching Grants for Phase I and Phase II as summarized below, which provided the medical equipment necessary to optimize the possibilities and efficiency of proper treatment, thereby improving care and supporting the objective of reducing the maternal and infant mortality ratios.

Phase I, funded by a Matching Grant of $24,798, provided specialized equipment and the supplies to support this equipment for the treatment and care of infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the Maternity Hospital. The equipment included oximeters, respiratory humidifiers, intravenous pumps, a carbon monoxide monitor, and supplies to support the equipment. The hospital’s assessment of the impact of this Phase I Matching Grant indicated that the equipment contributed to a significant reduction in infant mortality.

Phase II, funded by a Matching Grant of $24, 917, focused on providing equipment to the Maternal Intensive Care Unit at the Maternity Hospital, with the objective of reducing the mortality rate of mothers and their infants. The equipment included 2 feeding pumps, 5 infusion pumps with common “perfus,” 1 central monitor for seven beds, 2 multi-parametric monitors (bedhead), 1 portable pulse oximeter, and1 cardio defibrillator with rechargeable battery.

VISIT TO TUCUMAN, ARGENTINA

In June, 2004, and again in July, 2006, Ed Griffin and Marcia Bossart from the Rotary Club of Princeton, went to Tucumán, Argentina, (at their own expense) to present the medical equipment funded by the Matching Grants to the Maternity Hospital. As part of the trip in July, 2006, the Princeton Rotarians had the opportunity to see the equipment from the 2004 Matching Grant being used and to see the major improvements that had been made in the facilities at the Maternity Hospital with funds from the Ministry of Health of the Province of Tucuman, as part of their strategic planning for improving the mortality rate of infants and mothers. One of the major renovations was in the Maternal Intensive Care Unit, which was doubled in size (from 3 dilapidated beds to six hospital beds), outfitted with new walls, air conditioning, and upgraded electrical capabilities. This intensive care unit was, thus, totally prepared for the equipment which was presented in June, 2006, from the Matching Grant for Phase II of Your Children, Our Children.

The presentation of the Phase II equipment took place at a formal ceremony and reception at the Maternity Hospital. In addition to the hospital administrators, several doctors and staff, the presentation ceremony was attended by officials from the Ministry of Health of the Province of Tucumán, the District Governor and Governor Elect of Rotary District 4800 in Argentina, and several officers and members of our partner Rotary Club of Villa Lujan.

The presentation event was covered by several newspapers and television stations. The Rotary Banner provided the backdrop for the presentation ceremony and the Rotary Flags were placed on top of the medical equipment which was formally displayed at the ceremony. Rotary District 4800 provided the hospital with yellow and blue stickers displaying the Rotary Wheel and the words “Distritos 7510 – 4800 2005-2006” to be placed on each piece of equipment purchased with the Matching Grant Funds. The Hospital Women’s Auxiliary provided a beautiful reception complete with homemade refreshments, flowers and candles.

ROTARY HOSPITALITY

While we were in Tucumán, we attended the Changing of the Guard Ceremony of the Rotary Club of Villa Lujan. (The ceremony had been postponed from the usual date in June until we arrived in July so that we could be present at the ceremony.) The evening dinner meeting was a joint occasion to install the new officers and celebrate Phase II of the joint Our Children, Your Children project. At the meeting, we presented Lead the Way pins to each member of the Rotary Club of Villa Lujan, as well as Lead the Way Ties (with the word written in Spanish) to the District Governor, Governor Elect, and incoming Club President, and Lead the Way scarves to the District Governor’s wife, the outgoing Club President, and the Coordinator of the Matching Grant.

In addition to the formalities connected with the Maternity Hospital, we spent time with several Rotarians. The warmth and hospitality that we received from the Rotarians from our partner Rotary Club of Villa Lujan was overwhelming and most gratifying. One highlight of the hospitality was a day trip to the mountains and surrounding rural areas in the province of Tucuman outside the City of Tucuman, which was hosted by the District Governor Elect (who spoke no English) and a retired school teacher Rotarian from the Villa Lujan Club, who had once upon a time taught English! The entire day can best be described as being out of storybook and one that we certainly will never forget.

PHASE III

While Ed Griffin and Marcia Bossart were in Tucumán in July, 2006, The Rotary Club of Villa Lujan and Rotary District 4800 requested that they considered a Phase III of Your Children, Our Children, to address a recently diagnosed problem of arsenic in the water supply within the area that the Maternity Hospital serves. The contaminated water supply resulted in newborn infants being brought back to the Hospital acutely ill, after being home a short time.

Rotary District 4800 in Argentina, together with some of the Rotary Clubs in the Tucumán area, is committed to help in addressing this contaminated water issue. Thus, the Rotary Club of Princeton is pursuing a Matching Grant to address this water problem, which interestingly corresponds to Rotary International’s focus on clean water. In addition to pursuing the funds in a Matching Grant, the Rotary Club would like to raise additional money to build and help address this contaminated water issue. They are asking any Club that would like to support this effort to contact the Co-chairs of the Your Children, Our Children Tucumán Project listed below.

Additionally, the Princeton Rotarians plan to return to Tucumán in June, 2008, and would welcome anyone who would like to accompany them. This visit is not a hands on work project, but rather a trip to “follow the money” and re-connect with the Rotarians and other officials who will be directly involved in this water project. Additionally, the trip would involve a return to the Maternity Hospital to follow-up on the use of the equipment donated in June, 2004, and July, 2006.

CONTACT FOR CO-CHAIRS OF TUCUMAN, YOUR CHILDREN OUR CHILDREN PROJECT

Ed Griffin
E-mail:egriffin@princetonfuel.com
Phone: (609) 587-4400

Marcia Bossart
E-mail: mbossart@aol.com
Phone: (609) 683-9672