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A Few Quick facts about Bolivia:
- At about 12,500 feet elevation, La Paz is often quoted as the highest capital city, but in fact, Sucre is the official capital of Bolivia.
- Bolivia gained independence from Spain on August 6, 1825.
- Bolivia has a democratic government and the current elected president is Juan Evo Morales Ayma.
- The population of Bolivia is estimated at 9.8 million people, comprised of 30% Quechua, 30% mestizo, 25% Aymara, and 15% White.
- 95% are Roman Catholic.
- 60% of the population falls below the poverty line.
- The traditional dress worn by many Bolivian women is known as the Chola.
- One U.S. Dollar equals approximately seven Bolivianos.
Health in Bolivia in a little nutshell:
According to the wise Wikipedia, "Health in Bolivia ranks nearly last among the Western Hemisphere countries. Only Haiti scores consistently lower."
Life expectancy at birth in Bolivia is estimated at 65 years and the infant mortality rate is approximately 54 out of every 1000 live births. 28% of children under 3 years of age suffer from chronic malnutrition, and of these, 8% suffer from severe malnutrition.
Bolivia has a public healthcare system, and pregnant women and children are provided with free health insurance; however, access to care is challenging. Furthermore, although free, funding, resources, and providers are limited. In Bolivia, there are about 12 physicians per 10,000 people. To further exacerbate conditions, healthcare providers in Bolivia are paid poorly and are often overworked due to shortages. This is where we come in! Physician preceptors receive stipends, which increase job retention, provide healthcare supplies, and promote the exchange of knowledge between students and preceptors.
Additionally, U.S. providers can expect up to 40% of their patient population to speak a language other than English. With Spanish as the second most common language, learning Spanish will also increase retention and satisfaction among patients back here in the U.S.
