Bolivia has a severe shortage of nurses. In U.S. hospitals there are less than five patients for every nurse, while in Bolivia there are 30 patients for every nurse. During the night shifts at public hospitals, there are 50 patients for every nurse, thereby reducing the safety of medical care and risking thousands of lives.
Strengthening Healthcare While Reducing Poverty
Another issue is the lack of vocational opportunities for high school graduates living below the poverty line in Bolivia. Many orphans and impoverished teenagers graduate from high school but are unable to continue career training or enter into competitive professions like healthcare. HOPE worldwide Bolivia has created an innovative approach to address the nursing shortages and career opportunities for these young people.
We have developed a nursing curriculum for a one-year nursing assistant program, which will introduce the concept of the nursing assistant to Bolivia. Currently, auxiliary nurse certification requires at least two years at a vocational school, which is unaffordable for young adults with limited resources. The impact of this program is considerable because it addresses both the thousands of medical patients facing healthcare shortages and it begins to provide opportunities for vulnerable teenagers with few professional opportunities.
A Dream Realized
This has been HOPEww Bolivia’s dream to implement the nursing assistant program. But financially, it was impossible for us to fund the program. With the help of generous donors from the Northview Church of Christ in Roswell, Georgia, we are now able to give this dream to those with a thirst to learn. Recently, we have also received support from La Universidad Mayor de San Andres (UMSA), a very distinguished university in La Paz. They have decided to provide accreditation for the nursing assistant program, which will allow the graduates from the course to receive a certificate of completion. The certification will open opportunities for employment in other healthcare institutions within the city.
“Courage is like love; it must have hope for nourishment” -- Napoleon Bonaparte
This program will equip vulnerable young people with the courage to become self-sufficient and enable young adults to lift themselves out of poverty. HOPE worldwide Bolivia is grateful for the opportunity to help future students with the tools to start anew.