Guayaquil hopsitals

 

Luis Vernaza is the hospital which I have been calling home for the past month.  It is beautiful in many places, disturbing in a few others, and although the lack of access to standard medical care that I mentioned in an earlier blog is an unfortunate fact of life here in Ecuador, Vernaza (owned and operated by the Junta de Beneficencia) seems to do a good job in providing care, and even helping many of those who can’t afford to pay.  It is a well-respected hospital among the people of Guayaquil.

 

Rather morbidly, funeral homes surround Vernaza hospital; I have counted no less than 12 within 1 block of the hospital. 



Patient at Ponce



Another hospital which I visited recently is the Psychiatric hospital, called Lorenzo Ponce.  The abundant grounds were cleaned and managed by the residents, and there were large groups in art and educational classes.  I was told that many of the patients had been abandoned by their families, and that the Junta de Beneficiencia was taking care of them, gratis. 

Today, I visited a state-sponsored hospital, Guayaquil hospital, in the southern suburbs of the city.  In a city of 3 million, it is the only state hospital, and it has 4 floors of approximately 60 beds each, including pediatrics, neurology, internal medicine, and surgery patients, as well as an emergency room and outpatient clinic offices.  



Sharps container














Vendors outside Guayaquil Hospital



The left-leaning government of president Correa has been trying to promote better health-care and access for all Ecuadorians, and this hospital has had some recent renovations and is receiving financial support for improvements.  A new infectious disease wing was constructed with help from Doctors without borders, with a focus on HIV cases, which are numerous in Guayaquil. 

Mobile Business (and more hospital
business coming soon?)