community health clinics
State of Arauca, Colombia

La Variante Health Clinic

In Colombia, Oxy has helped bring medical care and health education to the rural communities surrounding the Caño Limón oil field in northeastern Colombia. Prior to Oxy’s arrival, residents traveled long distances to seek medical care, or did without. Oxy has helped build, equip and staff 11 medical facilities which provide emergency medical treatment and preventative care.

Oxy’s La Variante health clinic is located within the Caño Limón oil production facilities. Doctors on rotating shifts staff the office three mornings each week and in 2004, treated an average of 380 patients per month. The doctors are paid by Oxy, but employed by a private organization. The clinics introduced childhood immunizations into the area and provide medical care to treat a broad array of ailments, from arthritis to snakebites.

 “The medical clinic is marvelous,” said patient Paula Correa Rodriquez. “I give thanks to God first of all, and after that for the doctor, because he is very good to me. When I first came here, my knee was very swollen, but today I am healthy.”

Severely injured patients are transported from the clinic to Caño Limón’s emergency medical center. Six-year-old Tatiana was brought to the clinic on a motorcycle after she spilled a pan of hot milk, scalding her face, shoulders and chest. Her third-degree burns were treated and bandaged at the clinic and she was then airlifted at Oxy’s expense to a hospital burn center. Because her family had no money for medical care, the Caño Limón Employees Association contributed to help pay for her hospital treatment. Tatiana has recovered from her burns with very little scarring and has returned home.

One of the highlights of treating community patients is welcoming new babies into the world. La Variante provides prenatal care for expecting mothers throughout their pregnancies, and when it comes time for the babies to be born, the mothers often -- as time allows -- come to Caño Limón for delivery. To date, more than 480 babies have been delivered at the Caño Limón medical center.

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