POTOSI
NATIONAL HEALTH FUND

The pneumonia plant is located within the so-called National Health Fund in Potosi. It is a small health center where miners with lung problems derived from the mine are mainly cared for and served. Every day after having breakfast in the central market I go to visit them. It has a bright central lobby on sunny days although the rooms are dark in general. In 2017 I used to accompany Dr. Valdivia on her daily visits to her patients, but she recently retired, they told me, so they delegated me to Dr. José Luis Zambrana (2023). The human attention of all the staff is very affectionate and close, although the means and resources are quite limited. There you find everything from 30-year-olds with tuberculosis to pre-retired adults bedridden with chronic and untreated silicosis. When they have breathing difficulties, they are admitted and connected to an oxygen bottle. They remain there for a few days until they improve, they are discharged and sent home until the next complication occurs, they come and go as their second home. After spending 1 hour in what I call “the time machine” you need to go out, disconnect and freshen up until the next day, it is a very dense environment, it shrinks the soul.