Notes from Mexico – Monte Cristo

Carlos, Silvia and I wound our way over bumps and curves and patches of pavement, then dirt, then pavement to Monte Cristo. It is a 45-minute drive with beautiful views from Jaltenango to the DIF clinic where we would like to have the campaign. The clinic is sweet and small and we could take over the entire space for the week. After a quick tour, we sat down to talk about the feasibility of having the campaign there. The head of the DIF clinic, Lic. Maria Concepcion Dias Sanchez (Conchita), offered the space and her staff to support us during the campaign, and we started to brainstorm about logistics including transport and food, but much of it was dependent on what the municipality is willing/able to contribute.

When the wife of the municipal president walked in (Presidenta Amanda Velazquez Roblero), we started the conversation over – explaining the campaign and why we’re interested in Monte Cristo: to be close to the communities where the women live and to have a greater ability to monitor how things go. It is a small place that we can fully occupy for a week without interrupting other programs, activities, etc. Doña Amanda expressed her support and offered to help figure out transport/food options.

We jumped back in the truck and headed over to the IMSS clinic – the other site for health care in Monte Cristo – and spoke with the head nurse, Enfermera Guillermina Barrios who has been working at that site for over 20 years. She is already using a combination of VIA and Pap (VIA for anyone under 50, Pap for those over). Enfa. Guillermina sends her paps out to Caraza (about 5-6 per month, since the majority of her patients are younger) and there is usually a two-month delay to get results back. She already had heard about the possibility of our campaign and is very interested in becoming trained.

After noticing a big training effort happening behind the clinic, we asked what it was and learned that they were representatives of the IMSS promotora program. Enfa. Guillermina explained that IMSS has promotoras de manzanas (units of land) that are in charge of between 10-15 families each. Right now there are 32 promoters, but there is a lot of turnover. She agreed to help identify potential promoters who are interested in continuing in the role and participating with CESMACH for better community coverage. She showed us the rotafolio that they use for community talks and agreed to lend it to us during our March trainings and campaigns.

Our final stop was visiting the municipal offices and talking with el Presidente. After a long conversation about what he does and doesn’t like to support with municipal funds (yes for soccer uniforms, no to quinciñera parties), el Presidente said projects like ours bring resources in exchange for their investment. He too was enthusiastic about having the campaign in Monte Cristo and said we needed to write up a budget proposal so that he could see how they could support the program.

Over lunch we discussed the morning and the feeling that we were all sharing – that the enthusiasm and interest in working together was all we could’ve hoped for. All signs point to a great campaign.