The hospital partnership with medmissio –Institute for Global Health (known until late 2021 as the Medical Mission Institute) is helping to establish a modern laboratory for tissue and cell diagnostics at the Fundación Centro Multifuncional Adolfo Kolping (FCMAK) in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.\r
\r
Background: \r
Santa Cruz de la Sierra lacks a sufficient number of pathology labs to serve the three million plus people living in the region. As a result, many illnesses go undetected. Additionally, the number of trained pathologists able to provide appropriate diagnoses is very small. The FCMAK foundation already operates health centres, pharmacies, diagnostic centres and haematology, biochemistry and bacteriology labs in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, providing services that are also affordable for poor individuals.\r
\r
Activities:\r
-\tTraining for pathologists and technical and medical staff\r
-\tOne exploratory visit\r
-\tPurchase and commissioning of diagnostics equipment, including for immunohistochemistry purposes\r
\r
Impact: \r
Staff at the FCMAK foundation are sufficiently trained to operate the laboratory to a professional standard. The better diagnostic options at the FCMAK foundation have afforded more people access to tissue and cell diagnostic services, significantly improving the health care they receive. With the laboratory located in the same building as one of the FCMAK foundation’s health centres, patients can be treated directly on the premises.