Guatemala banana plantation and CU doctors form unlikely partnership

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Photo: Guatemala medical clinicFor years, Dr. Edwin Asturias dreamed of building a health clinic in rural southwest Guatemala where he grew up. The area, known as the Trifinio region, is the poorest part of the country. More than 60 percent of children there test positive for parasites because of contaminated water and poor sanitation.

Asturias, who works at the Colorado School of Public Health, is making his dream a reality by teaming up with some friends who own a banana plantation in the region.

Together they opened a clinic. The plantation owners, brothers Fernando and Gustavo Bolanos, gave $1 million for the clinic, which is being staffed by residents and faculty at CU's School of Medicine.

CPR’s Andrea Dukakis spoke with Dr. Asturius and Dr. Jake Mark, a pediatric resident who recently returned from spending a month at the clinic.