ELAM-Graduated Doctors Work in Fire-Affected Zones in Chile

Chilean ELAM Graduates Provide Medical Care in Devastated Biobío Region
A group of Chilean graduates from the Latin American School of Medicine (ELAM) is currently working in the Biobío region, providing care to victims of the devastating wildfires ravaging the south-central part of the country.

Field Clinic Established in Hard-Hit Penco
The brigade, coordinated by Cindy Álvarez, has set up a health post in the Chinese neighborhood of Lirquén, in the municipality of Penco—one of the areas most affected by the disaster, with 80 percent of homes burned.

"There we provide consultations, but beyond that, as ELAM graduates, we go directly into the field where people whose houses burned down are located. They often cannot leave because they have to clean and remove debris," Dr. Mario Gómez Mannarelli told Prensa Latina.

Methodology Rooted in Cuban Training
He explained that they first conduct a survey to determine the number of children and adults, identify any chronic conditions or decompensated states, and then provide the necessary medications.

"That is always our way of acting in the face of disasters. It's what we learned in Cuba," he said.

The wildfires have resulted in a preliminary toll of 21 deaths, over two thousand homes destroyed, and 20,000 people affected.

Addressing Physical and Psychological Trauma
"At night, we go to the shelters where people come to sleep, and there are always needs. There are many cases of post-traumatic anxiety disorders because they have lost everything," the doctor explained.

The physicians, who are part of the ELAM-Chile Development NGO, traveled to Biobío using their own resources and brought their own medical supplies.

"We are the White Coat Army, and we present ourselves as doctors graduated in Cuba, from ELAM and the Henry Reeve Brigade," he concluded.

National Forestry Corporation teams, volunteer firefighters, and security forces, supported by machinery and aircraft, are working to control the flames. They are joined by brigades from Mexico and Uruguay.