Ramona's Emergency Medical Fund



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Providing Emergency Medical Services in the Highlands of Chiapas

The development of a comprehensive and autonomous health care system is the first and most important priority of the contemporary Zapatista movement.  Over the last 10 years, the Autonomous Zapatista Health Care System has made great strides and has become a viable and important force in improving health care services for Indigenous peoples, Zapatistas and non-Zapatistas, statewide. 

In the larger Zapatista communities closer to established cities (like Oventic, 1 hour outside of the heavily touristed city of San Cristobal de las Casas), the development of Health Care services includes hospital level care, a dental clinic and the creation of smaller micro clinics and "Casas de Salud" through out the zone.  In these sites, health care promoters are able to provide a very high level of service including the treatment of complicated medical and even surgical cases.  In addition, the Zapatista Health Care system treats everyone... Zapatista and non-Zapatista alike.  Treatment is entirely without charge for Zapatista constituents and provided for very low cost to all others.

There are, however, occasional health care needs that defy the resources available in the system for diagnosis and/or treatment.  The Ramona Fund for was created in an attempt to fill that gap in the array of services and provide, here to fore unavailable, emergency medical services in the Highlands of Chiapas. 

This new fund was begun in 2006 with a donation of $6000 and has three purposes:

1.    To pay for diagnostic testing that cannot be carried out in Oventic.

2.    To help with food, transportation, and housing of patients and their families during the testing.

3.    To facilitate special treatments after the tests are completed.

This fund is concieved as a rovolving fund which we will regularly "top up" with new donations.  Currently, these funds are being used exclusively in the Highlands zone.  Over time, we hope to establish similiar funds in the other 4 zones. 

This is an important project with truely life saving potential and we are seeking ongoing funding that will also us to continue provided these critically needed funds.

If you would like to make a contribution to this fund today, please click here.

If you would like to participate in helping to secure the necessary ongoing funding for the long term, please click here to contact us!