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Tony Galiani and Mira Gloss are examples of those with a heart to serve. I have worked with them within the Duke Health System for many years. They have not only been colleagues, but friends. Tony and Mira wanted to see what HOPE worldwide Bolivia was doing in La Paz and wanted to help. They took a week of vacation to serve with us at Hospital Arco Iris (HAI) and the orphanages (Foundation Arco Iris).
They brought generous personal gifts for the orphans – coloring books, crayons, hair bands, fingernail polish and more. These are treasures to the orphans who have so little. Due to limited resources sometimes the orphans’ “needs” are barely met at times and rarely are their “wants” met. Mira volunteered to work with Noelle in the orphanage and was our unofficial photographer this week.
Tony and I worked together for more than 10 years at Duke developing successful ambulatory walk-in, primary and specialty care clinics all over the Triangle Area, North Carolina. Tony’s expertise in clinic operations, medical facility space design and practice efficiency have been put to work this week as we have worked together to strategize the building of the first walk-in and private medical office within a shopping mall in Bolivia. The goal of this medical office is to provide affordable care in a facility that offers lab, x-ray and pharmacy, which is rare in Bolivia, with an additional goal of generating resources to support the mission and vision of Hospital and Foundation Arco Iris in serving the poor. As the needs and cost of health care continue to rise, Arco Iris must find innovative ways to support the provision of health care to the underprivileged. It was truly a pleasure working with Tony again.
Because of their generous and sacrificial hearts, Tony and Mira created wonderful vacation memories as “voluntourists” that they will never forget through their giving and serving in La Paz.
To read more about HOPE worldwide’s work in Bolivia go to www.hopeinbolivia.wordpress.com.
Originally Posted on February 3, 2012