Last year, Dr. Luigi Castagna and two University of Toronto medical students, Rocco Lombardi and Alex Brooks-Hill, joined a 2-week medical mission in Ecuador. Here the group is seen travelling down the Amazon to Napo.

This Year's Mission Project

The St. Joseph Moscati Toronto Doctors' Guild has established an ongoing relationship of professional exchange and general assistance with the Hospital Cuschieri in Colcapirhua, Bolivia. The 22-bed general hospital is funded by a Canadian charity and serves a community of 30,000, mostly lacking basic services such as electricity, sewage and running water. Satellite outpatient clinics reach out to the periphery of this sprawling settlement. Dr. Roberto Vargas, the medical director, is an epidemiologist with international experience and training. He is committed to bring public health projects to reduce the staggering infant mortality rate, widespread malnutrition and endemic infectious diseases. Participation in this medical mission is open to all health professionals, students, and anyone fluent in Spanish. Guild members can help this project in a variety of ways:

Individual field work: dentists, surgeons and physicians in any specialty, dietitians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, nurses and others are invited to spend at least 2 weeks at the Hospital Cuschieri for teaching and clinical work.
Group field work: At designated times during the year, the Guild will organize groups to participate in teaching, clinical work, public health projects, and research. We encourage teach staff to volunteer for these endeavours to supervise students and residents. One of the Guild's main objectives is to provide young health care professionals with the opportunity to realize their humanitarian ideals and commitment to an ethic of service.
Administrative help: Help is needed for logistics, organization, and fund-raising efforts in Toronto. Please volunteer to join the Mission Outreach Committee.
Donations of equipment: If discarded hospital (including dental) equipment is available at your institution, it can be put to good use in Bolivia.
Financial support: You can help to sponsor a student who wants to do field work in Bolivia through the Human Family in Christ, a Catholic charitable organization that supports the Hospital Cuschieri. A tax receipt will be issued.
Spiritual support and encouragement: You can pray for the fruitfulness of our mission project.

Dr. Bill Sullivan will be leading a group of doctors, nurses, and students to Bolivia, August 6-22, 1998.

For more information, contact: Dr. Luigi Castagna. Tel. (416) 431-4848. Fax (416) 431-5940. E-mail: castagna@on.aibn.com

Children in a parade at Colcapirhua, Bolivia.

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This Year's Mission Project

For more information, contact: Dr. Luigi Castagna. Tel. (416) 431-4848. Fax (416) 431-5940. E-mail: castagna@on.aibn.com